Africa

Two-thirds of African states are net oil importers, resulting in mixed economic effects from the price drop

The failure of international state-building processes is common, but depends more on political than technocratic factors

Africa's role as a supplier of speciality coffee beans is likely to grow, bolstered by changing Western consumer tastes

The AU will make progress on niche resilience-building initiatives, but transformative change will prove elusive

Currency depreciation in Africa is curbing investment banks' profits, but not necessarily wider business activity

African firms are leading the regional integration effort, as governments drag on policy and regulatory improvements

Militant armed Islamist groups in Africa use international jihadist branding, but are driven more by local motivations

State liabilities woes mean that African states' fiscal positions are probably weaker than is currently appreciated