African economy
Geopolitics hastens China’s Hunan-led shift in Africa trade and investment
Beijing’s Hunan-based Africa strategy gains urgency amid US-China tensions and Middle East disruptions to trade and energy flows
China’s Africa tariff reset: who wins, who loses
China grants zero tariffs to nearly all of Africa, but the gains are likely to flow to its more developed economies
Uganda faces higher fuel costs as US-Iran war roils oil markets
Uganda faces dearer fuel imports and currency pressure as the US-Iran war pushes oil prices higher, but first oil in H2 2026 offers a longer-term upside
The G20 must end the cost-of-capital penalty imposed on Africa
Africa's cost of capital crisis is not rooted in economics alone, but is perpetuated by perception and precedent, as well as the structural inertia of a global financial system that systematically overprices African risk
Africa’s debt crisis demands more than G20 declarations
African nations are trapped: spending more on debt servicing than on health or education, whilst climate shocks compound their struggles. South Africa's G20 tenure has highlighted the crisis, but substantive solutions remain elusive
IMF upgrades sub‑Saharan Africa forecast as reforms blunt external shocks
The IMF has raised its growth forecast for sub-Saharan Africa, crediting improved macroeconomic management in several large economies and resilience amid external pressures
Stronger currencies ease inflation pressures across sub-Saharan Africa
Strong currencies have helped curb inflation in several sub-Saharan African countries, giving central banks room to ease interest rates and stimulate business activity
What are the chances that African countries adopt a unified stance against Trump’s tariff assault?
Although some analysts and trade experts have called for a unified African response to Trump’s tariff assault, there has so far been no sign of one, either from the African Union or elsewhere
Why bartering Africa’s minerals for security is a bad idea
A US-brokered peace deal between the DRC and Rwanda binds the two nations in a worrying arrangement: one where a country signs away its mineral resources to a superpower in return for vague promises of securityMore African economy
China benefits most from its relations with Africa: where’s the imbalance?
The eight Focac summits since 2000 have not resulted in mutual gain, particularly in trade and industrialisation for Africa, with China reaping most of the benefits
Fitch warns mpox outbreak could dent regional economies
An escalation of the mpox outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa could lead to a slowdown in economic activity and financial distress for governments of the affected countries
Raising revenue from land: what African cities can learn from Hong Kong’s unique leasehold system
Often cited as a prime example of effective land value, Hong Kong uses a variety of land-based financing models that have proven effective in funding key public projects
The IMF is failing countries like Kenya: why, and what can be done to stop it
IMF’s declining resources relative to the size of the global economy has meant less funding than members need, forcing austerity and weakening its bargaining position in crises
The liquidity crisis in developing countries is not over
External debt ratios of low-income and lower-middle-income countries are lower than before, but liquidity pressures have increased due to various shifts in the global economy
Africa’s debt crisis demands a bold new approach
Africa cannot rely on the global community to provide adequate funding or debt relief to address its development needs and crises, such as pandemics or extreme weather events
African countries need to shift from exporting commodities to tapping domestic demand
Recent internal instability and external shocks have created a vicious cycle of economic and financial distress in Africa, raising questions about the continent's ability to shape its own destiny
Africa needs a grand revival plan from the West and China
Africa's crises have fuelled a surge in migration to Europe unlikely to abate soon unless rapid population growth is matched by improving economic conditions
Fixes for Africa’s exploding debt and collapsing currencies
Highly indebted African countries face stark trade-offs between servicing expensive debt, supporting growing development needs, and stabilising domestic currencies
