1. Hamas Launches Surprise Attack on Israel

The world woke up on October 7th, 2023, to developments that could lead to a large-scale global war between Hamas and Israel. Hamas had launched approximately 5000 rockets on Israel, catching everyone by surprise. The Israeli Prime Minister declared the country to be at war.

2. Geopolitical Standings and Reactions from Different Countries

Iran and Hezbollah were among the first countries to commend Hamas, with Russian President Putin calling for an immediate end to the conflict. Israel, on the other hand, launched a counterattack dubbed Iron of Swords, with America backing them and Russia backing Iran and, consequently, Hamas.

3. Global Impact of the Conflict

The conflict was not expected to remain confined to Israel and Palestine, with chances of escalation leading to regional and potentially global conflict. The peace talks between Saudi Arabia and Israel would most likely suffer as a result.

4. Diplomatic Complications for Several Countries

The conflict would also pose diplomatic complications for Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar, as America provides almost 100% of their security architecture. Hezbollah and Iran promised military support for Hamas, with Israel likely rolling out new technologies to secure a swift victory.

5. China’s Strategic Advantage

China stood to gain from either outcome of the conflict, with President Deng warning against going to war with the West. Beijing would remain focused on economic power and practice ambiguity diplomacy in the Middle East.

6. Lessons for Africa and Nigeria

Africa and Nigeria, in particular, would suffer the consequences of unproductive and distraction-filled internal debates. As inflation and the exchange rate worsen, developmental issues would fall to the wayside. Leaders must prioritize innovation, technology, and diplomacy.

7. Urgent Call to Wake Up

With the world facing an unprecedented crisis, African leaders must remain vigilant and work on getting their diplomacy right. The Chinese leader, President Xi, is a prime example of focusing on what matters most: economic power. Africa, therefore, could benefit from taking a cue from China’s strategies. 

As the world stands at the brink of a major global crisis, Africa should not waste this pivotal moment. They must act fast and practice astute diplomacy to ensure that the in-coming crisis can be averted, or at the very least, mitigated to avoid devastating consequences.