South Sudan's Economy in Severe Crisis

 The World Bank published in March 2025 a major report titled "South Sudan Economic Monitor: A Pathway to Overcome the Crisis."

South Sudan's socio-economic outcomes have worsened over the past decade due to recurrent conflicts, fragility, and macroeconomic mismanagement compounded by global economic and climate shocks.  This dire situation is the result of: (1) nascent institutions and weak governance; (2) persistent mismanagement of the country's abundant natural capital, namely oil, and (3) recurrent community-level conflicts and violence that led to nationwide armed conflict in 2016 and localized ongoing conflict after the 2018 peace agreement.

South Sudan is now facing a severe crisis.  The economy is projected to contract by 30 percent in fiscal year 2024/2025, marking the fifth consecutive year of negative growth.  In fiscal year 2025, GDP per capita is estimated to decline to around half of the fiscal year 2020 levels.

China's Economic Slowdown Impact's Africa's Growth

 The IMF Country Focus published on 9 November 2023 an analysis titled "China's Slowing Economy Will Hit Sub-Saharan Africa's Growth" by Hany Abdel-Latif, Wenjie Chen, Michele Fornino, and Henry Rawlings.  

A one percentage point decline in China's growth rate could reduce growth in sub-Saharan Africa by 0.25 points.  China's loans to Africa have also plummeted.  

Economic Prospects for Africa in 2015

Drawing on recent studies by Ernst and Young, McKinsey, and the IMF, The Southern Times published an analysis on 9 March 2015 titled "Economic Prospects for Africa in 2015" by Carlos Lopes.  It concludes that Africa is the second most attractive investment destination after Southeast Asia and that Africa's GDP growth rate for 2015 will fall just under 5 percent. 

China's Economy and Future Impact on Africa

Daouda Cisse, research fellow at Stellenbosch University's Centre for Chinese Studies, published on 1 March 2012 a brief piece titled Chinese Economic Reforms, the Next Round - Impacts on Sino-African Economic Cooperation?

He notes that China's strong economic growth over the past three decades has been of direct benefit to Africa in terms of FDI flowing to the continent and helping Africa to emerge from the 2008-2009 global economic crisis by purchasing African raw materials.

Looking to the future, he quotes a World Bank study that suggests China's growth will slow from its previous rate of 9 percent annually to between 5 percent and 6 percent. If reforms focusing on a consumption-driven economy occur in China, the volume of Chinese outward FDI to Africa will slump and export volumes might never be like before. Cisse adds that "China will undoubtedly issue policies to reduce Chinese State Owned Enterprises and bring them home to contribute to Inward Foreign Direct Investment. China's priorities will be directed towards other sectors in order to sustain its economy."