South Sudan and Ethiopia have emerged as Africa’s weakest-performing currencies in the first eight months of 2025, as declining export revenues, limited foreign exchange inflows, and persistent macroeconomic pressures undermined FX stability, according to the latest Africa’s Pulse report by the World Bank.
Across the continent, currency weakness has continued to shape inflation dynamics, import costs, and investor sentiment. For instance, a weaker naira increases import bills and inflationary pressures while signaling economic fragility and lower investor confidence.
South Sudan: Conflict disrupts oil pipeline and spurs triple-digit inflation
According to the World Bank, “the weakest performing currencies in 2025 are the South Sudanese pound and the Ethiopian birr, with year-to-date reductions in value that exceeded 10%. In South Sudan, the weakening of the currency is attributed to damage in the oil pipeline from the war in neighboring Sudan, which has lowered export revenues.”
South Sudan, one of the world’s youngest nations, relies heavily on oil exports, which account for over 90% of its foreign earnings. The conflict in Sudan has severely disrupted its crude oil pipeline to Port Sudan, crippling revenues and triggering a sharp depreciation of the South Sudanese pound.
As a result, inflation has soared. The National Bureau of Statistics of South Sudan reported that inflation, which stood at 2.4% in 2023, has surged to a triple-digit rate of 107.9% in September 2025 — one of the highest in the world. The spike underscores the broader economic crisis facing the country amid persistent insecurity, import dependence, and a lack of fiscal discipline.
Nigeria has launched an initiative to train over 10,000 young graduates and technicians in top oil and gas skills, aiming to bridge critical workforce gaps and prepare the next generation for emerging energy projects.
Nigeria has launched an initiative to train over 10,000 young graduates and technicians in top oil and gas skills, aiming to bridge critical workforce gaps and prepare the next generation for emerging energy projects.
