In April 2025, South Africa’s annual consumer inflation rose slightly to 2.8%, up from 2.7% in March, primarily driven by increased food prices. Despite this uptick, inflation remains below the South African Reserve Bank’s target range of 3% to 6%. Monthly inflation also eased to 0.3% from March’s 0.4%. Economists had anticipated inflation to hold steady at 2.7%. Notably, food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation reached 4.0%, marking the highest rate since September of the previous year.

South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is set to present the national budget to parliament for a third time on May 21, amid ongoing coalition disputes. The proposed budget faces a critical challenge: bridging a 75 billion rand ($4.1 billion) shortfall, caused by the government’s decision to abandon a planned VAT increase in response to legal and political resistance, notably from the Democratic Alliance. Previous budget attempts failed due to opposition from coalition members, threatening funding for key services and state-owned entities like Eskom.

In Goma, a city in eastern DR Congo seized by anti-government fighters in January, cash has become so scarce that residents are resorting to bartering goods and services. The lack of access to banking services and the closure of financial institutions have exacerbated the crisis, leaving many unable to purchase basic necessities.

Congolese refugees in Burundi are facing dire conditions as international aid cuts lead to food shortages and increased vulnerability to violence. Many refugees express fear of starvation and insecurity within overcrowded camps, with limited access to essential services.