In its latest report published in January 2025, the World Bank announces an impressive growth forecast of 9.7% for Senegal, making the country the leader in Africa in terms of economic growth for the coming year. This positive dynamic is largely attributed to the benefits of the exploitation of gas resources, particularly those from the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) deposit, a strategic project shared with Mauritania, which should also experience solid growth of 7.8%.
At the regional level, growth in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated at 4.1% in 2025, with a slight increase to 4.3% expected in 2026. These figures reflect an improvement in economic conditions, fueled by a gradual decline in inflation and an easing of financial conditions. However, this average hides strong disparities between different countries. Nations like Niger (8.5%), Ivory Coast (6.4%) and Benin (6.4%) show robust growth prospects, while the continent’s two largest economies, Nigeria and South Africa, are struggling to regain significant dynamism, despite signs of slight recovery.
Exporters of industrial products in sub-Saharan Africa should benefit from an improvement in private consumption and a rebound in services. However, the World Bank warns of several risk factors that could slow down this recovery. These risks include a slowdown in the global economy, increasing geopolitical instability and adverse trade tensions.
On the fiscal front, African countries will face limited margins due to high debt and rising borrowing costs, which could constrain their abilities to increase public spending. Additionally, around 30% of the region’s economies are not expected to return to pre-pandemic GDP per capita levels by 2026, raising questions about the sustainability of the long-term economic recovery.
-Although Senegal and certain other sub-Saharan African nations have good growth prospects for 2025, structural and cyclical challenges remain significant and will require particular attention from political and economic decision-makers.
M.S/NDARINFO.COM
Senegal
