IMF-Regional Economic Outlook Update Sub-Saharan Africa-Hard-Won Gains Under Pressure
you are currently viewing::IMF-Regional Economic Outlook Update Sub-Saharan Africa-Hard-Won Gains Under PressureApril 16, 2026-After a strong 2025 with regional growth estimated at 4.5 percent, sub-Saharan Africa entered 2026 reaping the benefits of hard-won stabilization gains. But the war in the Middle East has clouded the outlook. The shock has caused a rapid increase in key commodity prices, particularly in fuel and fertilizer. Poverty, food insecurity, and other social indicators, already weakened by the pandemic, face renewed headwinds from declining foreign aid and rising food prices. Regional growth is expected to decline to 4.3 percent in 2026 with significant heterogeneity across countries. Downside risks are significant amid high global uncertainty and regional macroeconomic vulnerabilities. Policy must focus on addressing the shock in the near term and building resilience over the medium term. Source: imf.org |
August 10, 2026---Câte d'Ivoire remains largest economy in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), expected to grow by 6.5% in 2025
West Africa demonstrated economic resilience in 2025, recording growth of 4.8%, above the continental average of 4.4%, amid geopolitical tensions, insecurity in parts of the region, increasing fragmentation of the global economy and heightened volatility in international financial markets.
August 10, 2026---Chairman of the House Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters, Ahamadu Usman Jaha, has said Nigeria's fintech ecosystem has become one of the largest in Africa, noting that the country's growing payment ecosystem continues to attract significant investment.
August 6, 2026--Zimbabwe ended last month as Africa's best-performing equity market, overtaking Nigeria, the continent's most populous nation, after months of sustained gains driven by easing inflation, a more stable domestic currency, and renewed investor appetite for local equities.
August 5, 2026--The Nairobi Securities Exchange is building East Africa's first exchange traded fund focused on AI stocks, with plans to offer it to investors before year-end- though its chief executive says the launch could be delayed if the global AI rally starts to look overdone.