By: Nyima Sillah
Dr. Lamin Manneh, former senior official at the African Development Bank (ADB), has warned that the ongoing war involving Iran is creating serious financial consequences for West African countries, as it is shifting global donor priorities and tightening access to international support.
Dr. Manneh was speaking during an exclusive interview granted to the Voice newspaper on Tuesday.
“Conflicts in the Middle East, especially those involving major global powers, often reshape the flow of aid and concessional financing worldwide. We are competing with global crises. The war in Iran means donor countries may now redirect financial resources towards emergency responses, military operations, or humanitarian assistance in those regions, while countries like The Gambia are left behind,” Manneh stated.
According to him, West African nations that rely on budgetary support from bilateral and multilateral donors may face delays or reduced disbursements due to the shift. “Even if the money comes, the conditions have changed. You borrow at a higher cost, under stricter terms, and you’re at the mercy of global markets and shifting priorities.”
He noted that such global tensions cause disruptions in national financial planning, leaving governments uncertain about whether anticipated support will arrive. This, he said, has direct consequences for critical public sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure, which are often underfunded when external support is delayed or withdrawn.
He further stated that the region is not only losing financial assistance but also its ability to influence international attention.
“Once a major conflict breaks out elsewhere, African voices are drowned out. The spotlight moves. The support moves. And the consequences are felt almost immediately on the ground,” he said.
Dr. Manneh also warned that the current global financial climate is making it increasingly difficult for low-income countries to access affordable loans. “We are forced to borrow in an environment where interest rates are rising, and donor governments are tightening their budgets. So we end up paying more for less,” he noted.
He says the trend is leaving African governments in a vulnerable position, stretched thin by domestic needs while unable to secure the external resources they had planned for.
Dr. Manneh called on African leaders to invest more in internal resilience and reduce dependency on foreign support.
“We must begin to build internal capacity. Otherwise, every conflict that breaks out in another part of the world will continue to shake our foundations.”
