The economic fallout from the Middle East war and a reduction in foreign aid are pushing more African countries to the International Monetary Fund, the Fund said on Thursday.
The Fund cut its 2026 growth forecast for the continent to 4.3% in its global outlook on Tuesday, warning that energy importers without a strong resource buffer would come under particular strain.
Against that backdrop, a growing number of governments are seeking IMF loans.
Some 27 of the region's 45 countries are currently on IMF-supported programmes, the Fund said.
Middle East conflict effects
Gabon has formally requested an IMF loan, while Chad and the Central African Republic are undergoing programme reviews.
Equatorial Guinea remains under a staff-monitored arrangement, Zimbabwe agreed one in February to clear arrears, and Mozambique is seeking IMF backing to unlock debt talks.
"Just as the region is beginning to recover, growth was recovering, then you have this new shock," Abebe Selassie, IMF Africa director, said. He added that the Middle East war was "taking the froth off what had otherwise been really good recovery."
The conflict is testing Sub-Saharan Africa's stabilisation gains, lifting fuel and fertiliser costs and disrupting trade, tourism and remittances, while in some countries undermining power generation, transport and mining.
'African century'
Adding to the strain, bilateral aid fell in 2025, driven mainly by donor decisions rather than conditions in recipient countries, the IMF said.
OECD data published in early April showed aid to developing countries, including those in Africa, dropped by more than 20% in 2025.
The IMF also forecasts that inflation in Africa will rise to 5% by the end of 2026.
Despite the challenges, Selassie said he remained upbeat about Africa's longer-term growth potential. IMF analysis shows that closing half the gap with emerging markets in governance, business regulation and the external sector could boost regional output by up to 20% over the next decade.
"In the long run, I remain as optimistic as ever about the region," Selassie said. "I think this will be the African century."
