Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

Despite falling inflation, improving labor market conditions, and monetary easing, global growth is predicted to remain below the pace seen before the pandemic, and the world economy continues to face significant uncertainties, the UN World Economic Situation and Prospects 2025 report says.

The report forecasts the world economy will increase 2.9 percent in 2026.

The report says that lower inflation and ongoing monetary easing in many economies could provide a modest boost to global economic activity in 2025. However, uncertainty still looms large, with risks stemming from geopolitical conflicts, rising trade tensions and elevated borrowing costs in many countries.

These challenges are particularly acute for low income and vulnerable countries, where sub-par and fragile growth threatens to further undermine progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Growth in the United States is projected to moderate from 2.8 percent in 2024 to 1.9 percent in 2025, as labor markets soften and consumer spending slows.

Europe is expected to recover modestly, with gross domestic product (GDP) increasing from 0.9 percent in 2024 to 1.3 percent in 2025, supported by easing inflation and resilient labor markets, though fiscal tightening and long-term challenges, such as weak productivity growth and an ageing population, continue to weigh on the economic outlook.

East Asia is forecast to grow by 4.7 percent in 2025 — driven by China’s projected stable growth of 4.8 percent — supported by robust private consumption across the region.

South Asia is expected to remain the fastest-growing region, with GDP growth projected at 5.7 percent in 2025, led by India’s 6.6 percent expansion.

Africa is forecast to grow modestly from 3.4 percent in 2024 to 3.7 percent in 2025, thanks to recoveries in major economies including Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa.

Despite continued expansion, the global economy is projected to grow at a slower pace than the 2010-2019 (pre-pandemic) average of 3.2 percent, the report says. “This subdued performance reflects ongoing structural challenges such as weak investment, slow productivity growth, high debt levels, and demographic pressures.”

Global inflation is projected to decline from 4 percent in 2024 to 3.4 percent in 2025, providing some relief to households and businesses. Major central banks are expected to further cut interest rates this year as inflationary pressures continue to ease.

Yet, inflation in many developing countries is expected to remain above recent historical averages, with one in five projected to face double-digit levels in 2025.

In particular, food inflation remains elevated, with nearly half of developing countries experiencing rates above 5 percent in 2024. “This has deepened food insecurity in low income countries,” the report warns.

For developing economies, easing global financial conditions could help reduce borrowing costs, but access to capital remains uneven, according to the report. Many low-income countries continue to grapple with high debt-servicing burdens and limited access to international financing.

The report emphasizes that governments should seize any fiscal space created by monetary easing to prioritize investments in sustainable development, especially in critical social sectors.

The report calls for bold multilateral action to address the interconnected crises of debt, inequality, and climate change.

“Monetary easing alone will not be sufficient to reinvigorate global growth or bridge widening disparities. Governments must avoid overly restrictive fiscal policies and instead focus on mobilizing investments in clean energy, infrastructure, and critical social sectors such as health and education,” it says.

This was emphasized during a meeting held on January 7, 2025, which brought together the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE), organizations representing genocide survivors, and local authorities in Nyamagabe District.

Nyamagabe District Mayor Hildebrand Niyomwungeri stressed that achieving complete justice involves concluding cases, apprehending offenders, and ensuring they serve their sentences.

“We have a list of over 200 individuals hiding in different parts of the country, particularly in Nyamagabe. Over the past three weeks, we have already apprehended 62 of them. We will continue these efforts to ensure that by the end of this month, everyone on that list will have been apprehended,” he said.

He stated that Nyamagabe District is determined to arrest those involved in the genocide who remain at large to ensure they face justice.

Patrick Sindikubwabo, President of Ibuka in Nyamagabe District, noted that one of the reasons the perpetrators have evaded capture is the difficulty in identifying them, as many used fake names or committed genocide in areas where they were not permanent residents.

“In the data collection process, we found that some of their real names were unknown. Some were referred to by aliases such as Kibonge, Rudomoro, or Mushi, which made identification challenging,” he explained.

“Some of those being sought relocated to other areas of the country. For instance, someone might have committed genocide in a sector where they worked as a housekeeper or herder, making it difficult to trace them. However, through survivor meetings in Nyamagabe, we have been sharing information and recalling those times, which is yielding positive results.”

Sindikubwabo added that most of those being pursued were sentenced by Gacaca courts to 30 or 25 years in prison, with only a few receiving life sentences.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the declaration on January 7, 2024, as Sudan continues to grapple with a conflict that has plunged the country into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.

“Based on overwhelming evidence, I have concluded that members of the RSF and allied militias have committed genocide in Sudan,” Blinken stated, citing systematic attacks targeting ethnic groups. The acts include mass murders, rape, and the deliberate prevention of civilians from accessing essential supplies.

The RSF, a paramilitary force led by Mohammad Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, along with allied militias, has been accused of ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, and war crimes since the conflict erupted in April 2023.

What began as a power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has had catastrophic consequences for civilians. Over 30 million Sudanese require humanitarian aid, with tens of thousands dead and hundreds of thousands facing famine.

The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on Hemedti and seven RSF-affiliated companies based in the United Arab Emirates, citing their roles in acquiring weapons for the RSF.

Additionally, Hemedti has been designated under Section 7031(c) for his involvement in gross human rights violations, including the mass rape of civilians in Darfur. This designation bars Hemedti and his immediate family from entering the United States.

“Hemedti has wantonly ignored international humanitarian law and commitments made in the 2023 Jeddah Declaration and the 2024 Code of Conduct,” Blinken said, referencing agreements aimed at protecting civilians and facilitating humanitarian aid.

Despite the accords, the RSF has continued to commit war crimes under Hemedti’s leadership, including sexual violence and attacks on fleeing civilians.

“The United States does not support either side of this war,” Blinken emphasized, noting that both factions bear responsibility for the ongoing violence and lack the legitimacy to govern Sudan’s future.

In addition to sanctions, the U.S. has pledged $30 million to support Sudanese civil society actors working toward a peaceful and democratic future.

The toll of the conflict on Sudan is staggering. Since April 2023, millions have been displaced, with entire communities destroyed and left without access to basic necessities.

Blinken signalled the potential for further sanctions against RSF affiliates and other actors undermining peace in Sudan, stating: “We will continue to evaluate additional measures to ensure accountability.”

Humanitarian groups have welcomed the U.S. measures but stress that more international coordination is urgently needed to address the crisis effectively.

The company announced the end of its third-party fact-checking program, introduced in 2016, and plans to replace it with a new system called “Community Notes,” akin to the feature on Elon Musk’s platform X (formerly Twitter).

CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained the move as a step toward restoring free expression.

“The recent U.S. elections felt like a cultural tipping point, and it’s time to prioritize speech again,” he said.

The Community Notes system will allow users to provide context to posts, ensuring diverse perspectives are included. Unlike traditional fact-checking, Meta will not manage these notes but will rely on contributors with varying political views to maintain balance.

The fact-checking program had drawn criticism for alleged biases and overreach. Meta’s global affairs head, Joel Kaplan, admitted that mistakes were made, particularly regarding legitimate political discourse being flagged or suppressed.

“Experts, like everyone else, have biases. These surfaced in their choices of what to fact-check and how,” Kaplan said.

The changes align with Meta’s broader strategy to focus enforcement on high-severity violations, such as terrorism, child exploitation, and scams, while relying on user reports for less severe cases. Automated systems will also be fine-tuned to reduce mistakes that may restrict free expression.

Meta’s decision comes as Donald Trump prepares for his second term as U.S. president. The company appears to be recalibrating its relationship with the administration, elevating Republican policy executive Joel Kaplan to global affairs head and adding Trump ally Dana White to its board.

Trump welcomed the changes, calling Zuckerberg “impressive” and suggesting the move might be a response to his earlier threats against the CEO.

The rollout of Community Notes will begin in the U.S. over the coming months, with plans for refinement based on user feedback.

Meta will also restore visibility to political and civic content, previously de-emphasized due to user complaints, by implementing personalized recommendations.

Critics, however, have expressed concerns. The International Fact-Checking Network challenged Zuckerberg’s characterization of its members, asserting that their role has always been to provide context rather than censor. Others, like Ross Burley from the Centre for Information Resilience, labeled the move as political appeasement amid growing misinformation challenges.

While these changes currently apply only to the U.S., Meta faces scrutiny abroad, especially in the European Union, where platforms are held to stringent content moderation standards under the Digital Services Act.

Meta’s pivot could set the tone for broader shifts in the social media landscape.