"Sub-Saharan Africa resilient, despite mounting global shocks" - Abebe Selassie

Sub-Saharan Africa entered 2026 with its strongest economic momentum in over a decade... before a new global shock abruptly altered the outlook.

“Sub-Saharan Africa entered 2026 with the strongest economic momentum it had seen in a decade. And then came the war,” said Abebe Aemro Selassie, presenting the latest Regional Economic Outlook at the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund.

“How to hold the line, preserving hard-won gains while absorbing yet another shock is the central challenge,” he added.

A decade-high growth momentum now under pressure

According to the report, 2025 marked a year of significant progress across the region. Economic growth reached 4.5%, the fastest pace in more than ten years, driven by improved external conditions and, crucially, domestic reforms.

Countries such as Ethiopia and Nigeria implemented key macroeconomic measures, including exchange rate adjustments, subsidy cuts, and tighter monetary policy, leading to improved fiscal balances, declining inflation, and even sovereign rating upgrades.

Inflation fell to a median of 3.4% by the end of 2025, while fiscal deficits narrowed and public debt levels declined.

“In short, 2025 was a year of hard-won stabilization gains,” Selassie said. “Policymakers across the region deserve credit.”

Yet those gains are now under strain.

War-driven shock hits vulnerable economies hardest

The conflict in the Middle East has triggered a new wave of economic strain, pushing up oil, gas, and fertilizer prices, increasing shipping costs, and disrupting trade, tourism, and remittances.

As a result, the IMF has revised regional growth down to 4.3% for 2026, with inflation expected to rise to around 5%.

The impact varies sharply across countries. Oil exporters may benefit from higher revenues but remain exposed to volatility, while oil-importing countries, particularly fragile and low-income states, face worsening trade balances and rising living costs.

“The human consequences could be severe,” Selassie warned.

He also highlighted a less visible but critical factor: a sharp and unprecedented decline in official development assistance.

“What we are seeing now appears more structural,” he said, noting that aid cuts are hitting the most vulnerable economies hardest, where such support is essential for basic services like healthcare and food security.

Resilience built through reform

Despite these mounting pressures, Selassie stressed that African economies have already shown significant resilience.

“Don’t underestimate how much countries have done to contain the impact of successive shocks,” he said.

However, sustaining this resilience will require continued effort. In the short term, governments must protect vulnerable populations and maintain essential public spending, particularly in areas such as food security.

Over the longer term, rebuilding fiscal buffers and strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation will be key. These reforms, Selassie acknowledged, require difficult political choices and broad engagement.

“They require engaging in difficult conversations with different stakeholders,” he noted.

Ghana’s recovery and cautious optimism

Among standout performers, Selassie pointed to Ghana as an example of improving macroeconomic stability.

“I’m very happy to see the improvement in macroeconomics in Ghana,” he said, expressing optimism about the country’s growth trajectory and long-term potential.

Still, he emphasized the importance of maintaining reform momentum beyond current programs to ensure lasting stability.

“The potential there is tremendous,” he added.

On Senegal, Selassie addressed concerns over previously undisclosed debt, indicating that the IMF is working closely with authorities to design a response that avoids placing undue burden on the population. Discussions remain ongoing.

A shifting global order

Beyond immediate challenges, Selassie pointed to a deeper transformation underway in the global economy.

“This is a big shift in the global order that all Sub-Saharan African countries will have to grapple with,” he said.

To navigate this evolving landscape, countries will need to strengthen resilience through structural reforms, deeper financial markets, and greater regional integration, notably through initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area.

A farewell marked by recognition

The briefing also carried an emotional moment. Selassie had already announced his retirement as Director of the IMF’s African Department, bringing to a close years of engagement with the continent’s economic challenges.

He was met with a standing ovation from journalists in the room, a rare tribute reflecting the respect he has earned.

Looking ahead

As Sub-Saharan Africa faces a more uncertain global environment, the IMF’s message is clear: the region has made real progress, but the path forward will require sustained reform efforts.

“The gains of 2025 are real, and they are worth defending,” Selassie concluded.

With continued support from the IMF through financing, policy advice, and capacity development, the challenge now is not only to preserve these gains, but to turn them into a foundation for stronger, more inclusive growth.