How the U.S. war with Iran is widening inequality in Africa

July 31, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. EDTJust nowLUANDA, Angola — At crowded Catinton Market, men and women hawk fruits and vegetables under umbrellas that provide little protection from a scorching sun.The bustle on a recent weekday morning here in Angola’s capital felt far from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. But almost everyone had felt its impact.Vendors wait for shoppers in Luanda's Catinton Market. This African nation of 40 million is one of the world’s most unequal. Half the population lives on less than $3.65 a day. Oil revenue, meanwhile, enriches a small ruling elite.The Iran conflict has widened the divide.Angola is one of the few oil producers that doesn’t ship supply through the Strait of Hormuz. So while the rising prices of food, fuel and fertilizer hit the poor, growing reliance on Angolan oil has been a boon for the wealthy and the well-connected.Veronica Simon, center, and Isabelle Ferreira, right, sell red peppers at Catinton Market. Many at Catinton Market, located in a densely populated part of the capital city, are suffering.Veronica Simon, 35, and Isabelle Ferreira, 31, sat side-by-side one recent morning selling bright red peppers. The women, who described themselves as ...