Nairobi: One of the principal arteries of world trade has been chronically blocked for almost six months. Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has been reduced to a bare minimum since the first US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran at the end of February. Cargo ships have at times been fired on by Iranian forces; at others, threats from Tehran or Washington have been enough to bring shipping to a standstill. According to Deutsche Welle, various rounds of talks, a joint memorandum, and third-party deliberations about the creation of a maritime mission have not succeeded in stabilizing the situation. It remains to be seen whether a deal between Iran and Oman on establishing a shipping route through the strait will do so. The war has prompted fossil fuel prices to soar all over the world, with inflation rising as a result. Despite its relative proximity to the Gulf region, some parts of Africa have experienced serious shortages because of the bottlenecks, with long lines of cars at gas stations that have run out o f fuel. As many fertilizers are sourced from the Gulf region, this yharvests also threaten to be bad. African governments therefore have every reason to engage diplomatically in finding a permanent solution. Cautious diplomacy has dominated African responses to the Hormuz crisis in recent months. Liesl Louw-Vaudran from the International Crisis Group noted, "I believe their long-term plan is still based on the assumption that the crisis in the Middle East may continue for some time." Despite the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran in June, Louw-Vaudran observed, "We don't see any evidence that there was some kind of optimism or revising of any economic planning after the MOU." The current African members of the UN Security Council-the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and Liberia-backed a UN resolution in March condemning Iranian attacks on the Gulf states. However, African governments have avoided apportioning blame, particularly towards the US president, Donald Trump, a key figure in initiating the conflict. Dismas Mokua, a political risk analyst, highlighted the delicate position of African leaders, who fear the repercussions of openly criticizing Trump. Mokua remarked, "Every rational human being in the world knows that this crisis has been occasioned by Mr. Donald Trump," but noted a global reluctance to speak out against him. The African Union's cautious stance, influenced by past experiences, particularly during the Ukraine war, further complicates the continent's unified diplomatic approach. Louw-Vaudran explained, "The AU, with 55 member states, is very much divided," leading to hesitancy in making political statements. In addressing the crisis, practical measures have been essential. Mokua praised Kenya's strategic management of supply chains, ensuring steady delivery of oil and gas despite increased costs. Conversely, Ethiopia faced severe delivery bottlenecks, prioritizing fuel distribution for essential services and security agencies, highlighting the varied impacts across the continent.