Key Facts
—The split. A jump in oil prices divided Africa cleanly: countries that export oil gained, while the larger number that import it paid more.
—The downgrade. The World Bank trimmed its 2026 growth forecast for sub-Saharan Africa, holding it at 4.1% but revising it down by 0.3 points.
—The winner. Nigeria, a major oil exporter, saw its foreign reserves climb to a 17-year high of $51.04bn, up about 35% in a year.
—The squeeze. Importers face higher costs for fuel, transport, fertilizer and food, feeding inflation the World Bank expects to rise to 4.8%.
