- Stock markets diverge going into weekend
- BHP, Vale agree to pay $30bn compensation for Brazil dam disaster
- Verstappen says 'definitely' his intention to remain at Red Bull
- Mbappe can launch Madrid career in first Clasico
- A monumental dump and Obama the rapper: an offbeat US campaign week
- Biden to apologize for abusive Native American boarding schools
- Pressure is part of manager's life, says troubled West Ham boss Lopetegui
- Gaza ministry says Israel forces detaining hundreds at hospital
- Hirscher confirms return from retirement at World Cup opener
- IMF raises concerns about effects of Sudan conflict on neighbors
- Seoul slams Russian treaty with N. Korea, Zelensky urges 'tangible pressure'
- De Zerbi hails Greenwood as Marseille await Paris Saint-Germain
- Under-fire Ten Hag blames injuries for derailing Man Utd
- Wounded Arsenal must show 'ruthless mentality' against Liverpool: Arteta
- Howe challenges Newcastle stars to step up
- UK's Labour govt prepares to unveil its first budget
- New Zealand eye history after Santner's 7-53 in India Test
- Guardiola backs Man City's Foden to emerge from slump
- England reeling at 24-3 after gritty Shakeel century
- Pakistan judicial reforms see next top judge passed over
- Germany promises more visas for Indians during Scholz visit
- Postecoglou says hype will not affect teenage star Moore
- PSG reject league order to pay Mbappe 55 mn euros in back pay
- Olympic champion Zheng finds mojo to reach Tokyo semis
- Gritty Shakeel century gives Pakistan lead over England in third Test
- Tropical storm leaves towns submerged, 76 dead in Philippines
- Ancelotti 'not losing sleep' over improved Barca ahead of Clasico
- New Zealand lead by 301 after Santner's 7-53 in India Test
- Stock markets diverge in steady end to week
- UK climate strategy ruled lawful in landmark court case
- Lebanon says Israeli strike that killed media workers a 'war crime'
- Slot targets Arsenal scalp after flying start for Liverpool
- Shakeel's gritty century lifts Pakistan to parity in third Test
- Uganda court sentences former LRA commander to 40 years
- Marc Marquez clocks lap record to go fastest in Thai MotoGP practice
- Smog in Pakistan megacity ends outdoor play for schoolkids
- New Zealand on top after Santner's 7-53 in India Test
- 'End of an era' for Hezbollah after Israel killed its leader
- 'End of an era' for Hezbollah after Israel's killed its leader
- Lebanon minister says Israel strike puts second Syria crossing out of service
- Ahmed triple strike leaves Pakistan 187-7 in third Test
- Lebanon says Israeli strike killed 3 media workers
- Asia markets diverge after Tesla boosts Wall Street
- Tunisian freediver Walid Boudhiaf eyes records and developing the sport
- Schauffele makes up ground in Japan after opening-day nightmare
- Santner takes seven as New Zealand bowl out India for 156
- Lebanon says Israeli strike kills 3 journalists
- Beyonce v Joe Rogan: stars power up US election
- Locals fume as Lisbon's historic trams become tourist 'toy'
- India 107-7 after Santner takes four wickets for New Zealand
RBGPF | -0.05% | 62.97 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.12% | 24.65 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.83% | 7.26 | $ | |
VOD | 0.11% | 9.52 | $ | |
SCS | -0.32% | 12.55 | $ | |
NGG | -1.21% | 65.55 | $ | |
RELX | 1.02% | 47.585 | $ | |
RIO | 1.34% | 65.49 | $ | |
GSK | 0.45% | 37.909 | $ | |
BTI | -0.1% | 34.615 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.16% | 24.86 | $ | |
BP | 0.25% | 31.38 | $ | |
BCC | 0.01% | 136.98 | $ | |
BCE | -0.94% | 32.83 | $ | |
AZN | -0.56% | 75.48 | $ | |
JRI | 1.33% | 13.145 | $ |
IMF raises concerns about effects of Sudan conflict on neighbors
The war in Sudan is likely to cause heavy economic damage in neighboring countries, the IMF's deputy director for Africa, Catherine Pattillo, told AFP.
"What is going on there for the people in Sudan is just so heart wrenching and devastating. For all of the neighboring countries too," she said in an interview in Washington ahead of the publication on Friday of the International Monetary Fund's regional outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa.
"A number of these countries that are neighbors are also fragile countries with their own challenges," she said.
"And then to be confronted with the refugees, the security issues, the trade issues, is very challenging for their growth," she added.
The IMF's report predicted that the Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia and South Sudan could be particularly hard hit by the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
- Oil pipeline -
For South Sudan, the situation has become particularly worrying following the loss in February of one of its main sources of income after an oil export pipeline was damaged in Sudan.
The pipeline is crucial for transporting South Sudanese crude oil abroad, which is especially important given that oil accounts for around 90 percent of the landlocked country's exports.
The war in Sudan has been raging since April 2023 between the army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of his former deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who is also known as Hemedti.
The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives, according to the UN.
More than 10.7 million people have been displaced across the country, and a further 2.3 million have fled to neighboring countries.
The conflict has also exacerbated food insecurity; a famine was declared in July in the Zamzam camp for displaced people near the town of el-Facher, in Darfur.
"You could think of Sudan (and) also some of the security issues in the Sahelian countries, also affecting growth," Pattillo said. "Those are the internal conflicts."
At the same time, other "external conflicts" like the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine are also impacting things like food prices, fertilizer and energy costs, she added.
The IMF notes that growing protectionism was also having a negative impact on growth in Africa, at a time when trade tensions are translating into tariff hikes between the world's three most powerful trading blocs: The United States, Europe and China.
The economic slowdown in developed countries and China still represents a major challenge for African countries, the IMF noted, predicting growth in Sub-Saharan Africa of 4.2 percent next year.
This is slightly better than the 3.6 percent growth expected this year.
F.Bennett--AMWN