Africa in need of a robust strategy to mitigate conflicts

GLOBAL TURBULENCE

- DR SIZO NKALA

THE global shocks Africa has had to deal with have been coming fast and furiously in recent years.

The Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and the re-election of Donald Trump as the US president in 2024 are some of the external shocks that have had a massive impact on Africa’s economic standing and prospects. As the continent was still trying to find its feet from the devastation caused by these geopolitical wrecking balls, another, potentially more devastating one, suddenly emerged on the horizon.

On June 14, the world woke up to the news of Israel’s surprise attack on its long-time foe, Iran in the so-called Operation Rising Lion. The Jewish state deployed hundreds of its warplanes over the Iranian skies dropping bombs on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and other military facilities while also targeting key military leaders and nuclear scientists.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified his country’s actions arguing that Iran was rapidly moving towards developing a nuclear weapon which would have presented an existential threat to Israel. Netanyahu said Israel was therefore carrying out pre-emptive strikes to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

As expected, Israel retaliated with a barrage of missiles striking different cities in Israel proclaiming the right to defend itself. The latest attacks mark a significant escalation of long-simmering tensions between the Middle East’s two largest and most powerful militaries.