- Malawi, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Lesotho recorded slight increases in diesel prices this month.
- The global average diesel price rose from $1.59 to $1.66 per liter.
- Central African Republic (CAR) and Rwanda saw their diesel prices decline compared with last month.
- Mozambique and Seychelles recorded no change in diesel prices.
Nigeria and Namibia show how quickly higher diesel costs can feed into the wider economy
In Nigeria, diesel was selling at about ₦1,825 per litre on September 21, up 9.8% from ₦1,662.50 a month earlier
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The price was also 83.4% higher than a year ago, putting pressure on businesses that rely on diesel powered power generators, a prevalent piece of equipment that results from the country’s poor electricity supply
Additionally, diesel powers much of Nigeria’s commercial transport
Namibia finds itself in a similar situation as the country recently began dealing with higher diesel costs, even as it just completed a pivotal energy deal with TotalEnergies
The Namibian government raised diesel prices by N$1.60 per litre in September, taking diesel to N$27.86 per litre, as seen in The Namibian
Authorities attributed the increase to higher international petroleum prices, geopolitical tensions and disruptions to crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz
For African economies that rely heavily on road transportation, expensive diesel can have effects far beyond filling stations
Higher logistics costs can raise the prices of food, construction materials and manufactured goods, while increasing operating expenses for farmers, retailers and manufacturers
The pressure can also weaken economic activity as businesses redirect more money towards fuel and away from expansion, hiring and investment
With that said, here are the African countries with the most expensive diesel in September 2026, per data seen on GlobalPetrolPrices
Compared tolast month’s list, when the global average price of diesel was 1.59 U.S. dollars per liter, diesel prices for Malawi, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Lesotho increased slightly this month, when the global average was 1.66 U.S. dollars per liter
Meanwhile, prices for CAR and Rwanda decreased
Mozambique’s and Seychelles’ diesel prices remained the same