The Stears Weekly Macroeconomic Report highlights the macroeconomic trends and policy shifts shaping the African investment landscape, helping you make informed decisions in dynamic markets.
Country Updates
Cameroon
- Foreign Exchange: The Central African CFA Franc (XAF) lost 1.1% w/w from FCFA629.1/$ to close at FCFA636.3/$ as the Euro weakened to a two-year low against the US dollar. The Euro's weakness was driven by a weak growth outlook, sluggish manufacturing sector performance, expectations of higher natural gas prices in the Euro area, and the expected monetary policy dissonance between the European Central Bank (ECB) and the US Federal Reserve (US Fed) in 2025. The Euro’s bearish performance will likely linger this week as the US dollar maintains its strength, impacting the XAF’s trend.
- Cross-Border Insecurity: On December 3-4, armed herders from Nigeria attacked Bakinjaw, Cameroon, killing at least five people, including Cameroonian soldiers, and wounding several others. The attack disrupted informal trade networks critical
