Increased private consumption and declining inflation are supporting an economic rebound in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the recovery remains fragile due to uncertain global economic conditions, growing debt service obligations, frequent natural disasters, and escalating conflict and violence, according to the World Bank’s latest Africa’s Pulse report. Transformative policies are needed to address deep-rooted inequality to sustain long-term growth and effectively reduce poverty.

The report projects that growth will rebound in 2024, rising from a low of 2.6 percent in 2023 to 3.4 percent in 2024, and 3.8 percent in 2025. However, this recovery remains tenuous. While inflation is cooling across most economies, falling from a median of 7.1 to 5.1 percent in 2024, it remains high compared to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. Additionally, while growth of public debt is slowing, more than half of African governments grapple with external liquidity problems, and face unsustainable debt burdens.

Overall, the report underscores that despite the projected boost in growth, the pace of economic expansion in the region remains below the growth rate of the previous decade (2000-2014) and is insufficient to have a significant effect on poverty reduction. Moreover, due to multiple factors including structural inequality, economic growth reduces poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa less than in other regions.

“Per capita GDP growth of 1 percent is associated with a reduction in the extreme poverty rate of only about 1 percent in the region, compared to 2.5 percent on average in the rest of the world,” said Andrew Dabalen, World Bank Chief Economist for Africa. “In a context of constrained government budgets, faster poverty reduction will not be achieved through fiscal policy alone. It needs to be supported by policies that expand the productive capacity of the private sector to create more and better jobs for all segments of society.”

The report highlights that external resources to meet gross financing needs of African governments are shrinking and those available are costlier than they were prior to the pandemic. Political instability and geopolitical tensions weigh on economic activity and may constrain access to food for an estimated 105 million people at risk of food insecurity due to conflict and climate shocks. African governments’ fiscal positions remain vulnerable to global economic disruptions, necessitating policy actions to build buffers to prevent or cope with future shocks.

What’s more, inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the highest in the world, second only to the Latin America and Caribbean region, as measured by the region’s average Gini coefficient. Access to basic services, such as schooling or healthcare, remains highly unequal despite recent improvements. Disparities also exist in access to markets and income-generating activities, irrespective of people’s skills. Taxes and poorly targeted subsidies may also have an outsized impact on the poor.

“Inequality in Africa is largely due to the circumstances in which a child is born and accentuated later in life by obstacles to participating productively in markets and regressive fiscal policies,” said Gabriela Inchauste co-author of a forthcoming World Bank report on tackling inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa. “Identifying and better addressing these structural constraints across the economy offers a road map for a more prosperous future.”

Africa’s Pulse calls for several policy actions to foster stronger and more equitable growth. These include restoring macro-economic stability, promoting inter-generational mobility, supporting market access, and ensuring that fiscal policies do not overburden the poor.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

The President of the Republic of Seychelles, Mr Wavel Ramkalawan, the in his capacity as one of the Patrons of the Ocean Decade Alliance, will participate in the upcoming 2024 United Nations (UN) Ocean Decade Conference to be held in Barcelona, Spain from 10th to 12th April.

The Ocean Decade, was a decision of the 2017 United Nations General Assembly  (UNGA) in New York, which was officially launched in January 2021. It provides a convening framework for a wide range of stakeholders across the world to engage and collaborate outside their traditional communities to trigger nothing less than a revolution in ocean science. It is geared towards generating the data, information and knowledge needed for more robust science-informed policies and stronger science-policy interfaces at global, regional, national and even local levels as well as align research, investments and initiatives around a set of common ocean challenges.

Following the UN Decade Conference, the President will proceed to Athens, Greece to attend the 9th Ocean Conference from 15th to 17th April, themed “Our Ocean, An Ocean of Potential.”

The Our Ocean Conference (OOC) initiative began in 2014 and is aimed to draw international attention to the serious threats facing the world’s ocean and to take concrete action around the globe to support marine conservation and sustainable development.

2024 is the tenth year anniversary to the first inauguration of the OOC in the USA. The principal goal of this action-oriented Conference is to boost ambitious commitments and actions and muster all stakeholders for the noble cause of assuring clean and healthy oceans and seas.

During President Ramkalawan’s absence from the country, his duties and responsibilities will be discharged by Vice-President Ahmed Afif.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), on Monday donated assorted food items to vulnerable families and Internally Displaced People (IDPs) living in the outskirts of the ATMIS Al-Jazeera II camp in Mogadishu.

The food donation which included rice, wheat flour, sugar, powdered milk, and spaghetti, will support 30 families affected by conflict and the effects of climate change in celebrating Eid-Ul-Fitr, marking the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

“It’s in the spirit of solidarity that ATMIS staff –the military, police and civilians made individual monetary contributions to support the most vulnerable people, particularly IDPs displaced from their homes and whose livelihoods have been disrupted during this Ramadan period,” said Maj. Gen. Ngendabanka, acting ATMIS Force Commander, who presided over the event on behalf of the Head of ATMIS, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef.

Maj. Gen Ngendabaka reaffirmed ATMIS’ unwavering commitment to supporting ongoing efforts by the Federal Government of Somalia to combat Al-Shabaab and ensure peace and stability.

“ATMIS will continue to support the Somalia government to combat Al-Shabaab, restore peace and stability, and provide services so that the Somali people can coexist in harmony and celebrate Eid in a peaceful environment,” he added.

ATMIS Senior Humanitarian Officer, Abdul Diabagate said apart from security provided by ATMIS military and police personnel, the mission also supports communities with relief assistance to help alleviate people’s suffering.

“ATMIS supports local communities by providing relief assistance, providing water, escorts for people to move from one place to another and security escort to humanitarian agencies assisting vulnerable communities living across South-Central Somalia,” said Mr Diabagate.

Khadija Ali, a community representative, thanked ATMIS personnel for their selfless support.

“This is a good gesture which should be emulated, this month of Ramadan calls on us to give to charity, and that is why they remembered us. We want to sincerely thank them for their donations,” said Khadija.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

South Africa welcomes the adoption by the Human Rights Council of Resolution A/HRC/L.30 on the Human Rights Situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Obligation to Ensure Accountability and Justice by 28 votes in favour, 13 abstentions and eight votes against.

The adoption of the resolution is historic as this is the very first time that the Human Rights Council has taken action on the unprecedented human tragedy taking place in Gaza, where at least 32,975 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 14,500 children, since Israel launched its onslaught over 180 days ago.

In calling for accountability and justice, the resolution emphasises the need to ensure that all those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law are held to account and highlights the need to ensure the provision of an effective remedy for all victims and the need to pursue practical steps to ensure the prevention of future violations and international crimes.

As part of this process, the resolution recognises the importance of the order issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that indicated provisional measures in the case lodged by South Africa against Israel on the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

South Africa believes that it is only through ensuring accountability and justice that the impunity accorded to Israel that has entrenched the ongoing unlawful occupation can finally be brought to an end.

It therefore remains crucial that Israel respects and implements the ICJ’s orders, together with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2728 (2024) demanding an immediate and lasting ceasefire, which resolution A/HRC/L.30 will no doubt contribute to its securing.

*During the debate on the resolution, South Africa’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Mxolisi Nkosi, stated that, “the international community can no longer choose to apply a parallel system of international law to Israel, nor can we be complicit in facilitating its actions. For international law to be credible, it must be uniformly applied and serve the victims that it is designed to protect”.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation.