Ramaphosa made the comments ?at an African energy conference in Cape Town, which is taking place at a time of extreme volatility on global energy markets. Sign up here. Oil and gas prices have surged following Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran and retaliation by Tehran that forced shutdowns of oil and gas ?facilities across the region and disrupted shipping in the crucial Strait of Hormuz. 

"Africa is already experiencing the impact of the escalating conflict in ?the Middle East, with strains on supply chains and higher energy prices," Ramaphosa told the Africa Energy ?Indaba conference. 

"As we have seen with Russia-Ukraine and during the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting ?geopolitical sands underscore the vulnerabilities of import-dependent economies across Africa," Ramaphosa added. 

Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Writing by Anathi Madubela; Editing by Alexander Winning 

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