Kigali, 17 February 2026 (ECA) - The UN Economic Commission for Africa, office for Eastern Africa convened Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Rwanda for an in‑depth briefing on the region’s economic outlook. A clear takeaway emerged: Eastern Africa is progressing—but not yet progressing together.
Speaking at the briefing, Mr. Ozonnia Ojielo; UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda emphasized how African economies are are deeply and inextricably interconnected. “What affects one of us inevitably affects us all. A shift in one market is felt in the next. A disruption in a single trade corridor sends tremors through the entire region” he said.
Andrew Mold, Director of ECA in Eastern Africa, presented an analysis of the region’s economic performance, highlighting strong growth across key economies but warning of widening disparities, rising social pressures, and increasing dependence on mineral exports.
He noted that the region is currently seeing growth rates of close to 6% %, comfortably exceeding the African average of 4.1%. According to the forecasts by the International Financial Institutions, in 2026 Africa’s economy is projected to grow faster than Asia’s for the first time in recent history.
The growth was led by exceptional performances in some countries. Rwanda recorded an impressive expansion of more than 11% in its most recent quarterly results. Tanzania followed with a solid 6.4% growth rate in the third quarter of 2025, while Kenya maintained steady resilience at 5% over the same period. Uganda’s economy showed a strong early-year surge, peaking at 8% in the first quarter of 2025 before easing to 4.8% by the third quarter. Meanwhile, smaller and more isolated economies continued to face tougher conditions. Burundi posted a 2.6% growth rate, and the Seychelles—despite its status as the region’s wealthiest nation with a per‑capita income of $15,000—experienced its characteristic volatility driven by tourism and fishing dependencies.
The "Divergence" Danger
Despite these figures, Mold issued a warning regarding economic divergence. “Historically, between 2010 and 2020, the continent experienced a period of convergence whereby poorer countries grew faster than their wealthier neighbours. , However, from 2020 to 2024 this trend went into reverse. In Eastern Africa, the trend towards economic divergence has been even more pronounced”, explained Mr Mold.
The session also discussed preparations for the 58th ECA Conference of Ministers, taking place 2–3 April in Tangier. Countries were encouraged to participate actively—particularly Ministers of Finance and ICT—under this year’s theme: “Growth Through Innovation: Harnessing Data and Frontier Technologies for Africa’s Transformation.”
ECA reaffirmed its commitment to providing high‑quality analytical support and working closely with governments and diplomatic missions to strengthen resilience, promote regional integration, and unlock Africa’s economic potential.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org