Africa is proving resilient to shocks, but its room for maneuver is narrowing. On the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (FMI) and the World Bank in 2026 being held in Bangkok, leaders of the African Caucus and the Managing Director of the FMI, Kristalina Georgieva, called for consolidating macroeconomic stability while accelerating the structural transformation of the continent's economies.
African growth is expected to reach 4,5% this year, despite the repercussions of the war in the Middle East. Inflation, meanwhile, is expected at 9,3%, a level that remains high despite the anticipated slowdown in prices.
However, this resilience masks persistent fragilities. In several countries, debt service absorbs a significant share of public resources, to the detriment of infrastructure and social investments.
The decline in foreign aid and the high cost of borrowing accentuate this constraint. Faced with these pressures, the African Caucus advocates for increased mobilization of domestic resources.
The modernization of tax systems, the broadening of the tax base, and better management of public expenditure must make it possible to generate additional revenue without excessively increasing the burden on vulnerable households. Beyond economic stabilization, the challenge is to transform growth into jobs.
This requires an environment more favorable to investment, the development of financial markets, and strengthened regional integration. The effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is notably presented as a lever to expand commercial opportunities, structure regional value chains, and strengthen the competitiveness of African companies.
The FMI reaffirmed its commitment to supporting African states through targeted financing, economic advice, and technical support. African leaders also insisted on the need to strengthen the continent's representation within the institution.
Created in 1963, the African Caucus brings together the African governors of the FMI and the World Bank Group to voice a common position on the continent's development issues and to influence the decisions of these institutions. Its advocacy has contributed, over the last five years, to progress in matters of financing, debt, climate, energy, and African representation.
Published on 15/10/26 13:17 The Editorial Staff