Africa's economies may be at a turning point should the 'right policy choices' be made according to the IMF's African Department Director Abebe Selassie...

African Department Director Abebe Selassie acknowledges the IMF receipt of proposed Ghana Eurobond-holder terms...

The public view of IMF African Department Director Abebe Aemro Selassie was that Kenya would return to the markets hopefully 'sooner rather than later'...

It is also a concern to the IMF whose Africa Department Director Abebe Aemro Selassie emphasised at October's IMF/World Bank annual meetings that he had no knowledge of any debt restructuring discussions involving Nigeria...

IMF Africa Department Director Abebe Aemro Selassie says African governments now face four main challenges – excessive inflation downwards pressure on exchange rates 'elevated' debt pressures amidst a continuing 'funding squeeze' (AC Vol 64 No 10 No brave new Bretton Woods in sight) and frequent debt distress and 'subdued' per-capita incomes particularly in resource-intensive economies...

Specifically warning of a serious 'funding squeeze' is IMF Africa Department director Abebe Aemro Selassie who six months ago urged African governments to tackle food insecurity improve fiscal balances and debt sustainability fight inflation and facilitate 'high quality' growth (AC Vol 63 No 20 Interest rate pressures mount across region)...

For the moment at least publicly the IMF's Africa director Abebe Aemro Selassie states that it does not expect Kenya to engage in debt restructuring and the consensus view is that Kenya is in little danger of defaulting on its debts...

IMF Africa Department director Abebe Selassie emphasises four key policy challenges facing governments: the fight against food insecurity prioritising those most in need; reducing budget deficits despite poor financing conditions raising revenues while targeting spending cuts and maintaining debt sustainability; fighting inflation via gradual interest rate increases; balancing central bank credibility against the dampening effect of higher interest rates on growth; creating the conditions for 'high-quality' growth in an era of climate change and boosting renewable sources of energy...

IMF Africa department director Abebe Selassie said policymakers faced three main challenges: to protect vulnerable populations from rising food and fuel prices while keeping an eye on debt sustainability; to control inflationary pressures without undermining growth recovery; to respond to pressure on their exchange rates largely driven by interest rate hikes in the biggest economies...

IMF Africa department director Abebe Selassie – whose home country Ethiopia is counting the cost of its own conflict – says the invasion could drive revisions to economic forecasts to be released at this month's meetings...