Africa Economics Weekly Nigeria flip-flops, policymakers in financing pickle Mixed signals from recent policy announcements in Nigeria raise doubts about the administration’s commitment to pro-business reforms, especially in relation to the currency. At least the government... 27th November 2020 · 5 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly “Vaccine boost” to take time, let’s talk about debt A string of good news from COVID-19 vaccine producers may be followed by further positive updates in the coming weeks, but it is likely to take longer for the “vaccine boost” to reach much of Sub... 20th November 2020 · 8 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Vaccines and wars... recoveries and restrictions... The announcement this week of a successful trial of a COVID-19 vaccine is without doubt good news, but the economic gains for Africa may not be as sweeping as many might hope. Meanwhile, Ethiopia... 13th November 2020 · 7 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Ethiopian tinderbox, soft South African recovery Frictions between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray region turned into military confrontation this week, which will inflict damage not only on the population but also on the economy. In... 6th November 2020 · 5 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Debt and despair in SA & Zambia, election jitters South Africa’s Medium Term Budget Statement outlined harsh austerity measures, but it wouldn’t take much to knock the plans off course and leave debt on an unsustainable trajectory. In Zambia, there... 30th October 2020 · 5 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly COVID in South Africa, Nigeria protests, Zambia hopes The recent rise in newly recorded COVID-19 cases in South Africa appears to reflect higher testing more than anything else. But it’s a reminder that a renewed outbreak of the virus poses a major... 23rd October 2020 · 6 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Default and debt relief, stale SA recovery plan Debt relief efforts took different turns for African governments this week. For many, the extension of a debt service suspension deal will come as good news. But a stand-off between Zambia, China and... 16th October 2020 · 5 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Nigeria’s deficit financing options diminishing This week’s 2021 budget presentation by Nigeria’s President Buhari points to challenges in financing the government’s ambitious spending plans, raising the risk that the authorities turn to financial... 9th October 2020 · 4 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Zambia’s debt roller coaster, budget rumours in Nigeria Zambia’s first steps towards debt restructuring have not got off to a good start, reinforcing our fears that the process will be long and arduous. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s rumoured budget proposals... 2nd October 2020 · 5 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Shades of debt relief, rand battered in risk-off mood The latest debt developments in Angola and Zambia show that, while there has been progress towards debt restructuring in the region, it will be an arduous path for most. Meanwhile, the South African... 25th September 2020 · 6 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Angola’s expanded IMF deal, SA lockdown easing The formal expansion of Angola’s IMF programme this week will go some way towards easing the country’s balance of payments pressures, but further debt restructuring (including private creditors) is... 18th September 2020 · 6 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly South African economy stumbles, oil price falls Q2 GDP figures released in South Africa this week weren’t quite as ugly as we had feared, which has prompted us to revise up our full year growth forecast (to -8.5% from -11.0%). Even so, the country... 11th September 2020 · 5 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly US aid to Ethiopia on ice, debt relief state of play The US’s move to suspend some aid to Ethiopia amid tensions over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam risks further actions that would limit Ethiopia’s fiscal space. Meanwhile, momentum to expand a... 4th September 2020 · 7 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Flurry of FX action in Nigeria, looming strikes in SA The Central Bank of Nigeria this week took further steps to tighten its oversight over foreign currency transactions and, even if the country’s multiple exchange windows are set to a unified rate, we... 28th August 2020 · 6 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Nigeria’s limited fiscal space bites, SA banks in spotlight Nigerian government spending proposals for 2021, floated this week, signal just how much of a bind the authorities are in. Letting the naira weaken would be one way to address the large budget deficit... 21st August 2020 · 7 mins read
Africa Economics Weekly Covid cases fall in SA, security risks to Mozambican gas 14th August 2020 · 5 mins read
