©Agence France-Presseafp@anba.com.brDubai – Middle Eastern and North African economies are headed for a slowdown this year, the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday, warning impoverished countries including conflict-hit Sudan will continue to suffer high inflation. Growth will hit a “soft patch”, down from last year’s 5.3 percent to 3.1 percent in 2023, the IMF said in its regular regional outlook. The report covers 32 countries and territories from the wealthy, resource-rich Gulf to North Africa and war-torn Yemen as well as Central Asia and Pakistan. However, Azour said the drop “is not sufficient compared to the needs of these countries”, which include Sudan, Yemen, Mauritania, Somalia and Djibouti. “The extension of the OPEC+ agreement to reduce oil production had an impact on the oil-exporting countries,” Azour said.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 03, 2023 17:51 UTC