IMF flags social tensions

The IMF fears the security situation in Ethiopia is still volatile, despite the peace agreement that ended the northern Ethiopia war 18 months ago, notes The Reporter. ‘Social tensions and the prospect of further violence remain elevated in Ethiopia despite a peace deal,’ reads the IMF's Sub-Saharan regional 2024 outlook report, A Tepid and Pricey Recovery. Security risks in the region, spiralled by terrorist attacks, are high in the Horn, according to the report. ‘Moreover, the intensifying conflict in Sudan could further harm the economy and humanitarian conditions in nearby countries,’ it reads. The IMF has forecasted a 6.2% economic growth rate for Ethiopia in 2024, down a full percentage point from last year's outlook. The IMF forecasts 6.5% growth for 2025.