Speaking in Brussels on Monday, Albares criticised remarks Rajoy made in a newspaper column published ahead of Tuesday's World Cup semi-final between Spain and France.

Rajoy wrote in El Debate that France had a world-class squad, "but without French players," prompting criticism in both Spain and France.

"I am not a judge, but of course that phrase conceals something terrible," Albares said.

"It is not only hurtful, but extraordinarily dangerous. We cannot allow it. We cannot allow that under phrases spoken in such a way, which seem to conceal, deep down, directly or indirectly, racist and xenophobic sentiments."

The foreign minister urged Popular Party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo to publicly reject Rajoy's remarks and called for the article to be withdrawn.

"France, alongside Spain, is a driving force of European construction. We share values. The Popular Party is acting against all of that. Going against all of that is nothing more and nothing less than a former Prime Minister. I respect the figures of former Prime Ministers immensely, but I also demand responsibility from them in how they conduct themselves and what they say," Albares said.

Feijoo, who has a long-standing political and personal relationship with Rajoy, had not publicly responded to the minister's demand at the time of publication.

The controversy also drew criticism from France.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described Rajoy's remarks as unacceptable and said France is a diverse country where everyone has a place.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also weighed in, saying a person's national identity should not be judged by their "surname, place of birth, or skin colour."

"You made us proud, truly proud. We cherish you and everything you have accomplished," El-Sisi said.

"You brought joy to everyone's hearts because your performance was characterised by competitiveness, competence, merit, and above all, high values," he added.

El-Sisi also said Egypt's population of 120 million should be capable of producing many more football stars like Mohamed Salah and the current national team.

Egypt's campaign ended with a 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the Round of 16 on July 7, marking the country's best-ever World Cup performance in its fourth appearance at the tournament.

"The Executive Committee meeting held this Saturday, July 11, 2026, decided to initiate the termination procedure for the national head coach, Mr Pape Thiaw, as well as his entire technical staff," FSF Head of Communications Bakary Cisse said.

He added that the decision followed a review of the team's recent performances and future prospects.

Senegal's football federation has also tasked FSF President Abdoulaye Fall with formally notifying Thiaw and overseeing a broader reorganisation of the country's national teams.

Senegal were knocked out in the Round of 32 of the World Cup after surrendering a 2-0 lead to Belgium before losing 3-2 after extra time.

The disappointing campaign has prompted criticism of the federation's leadership, with local reports questioning the team's preparations and raising concerns over the FSF's financial management.

Viory reports that former France international Patrick Vieira, who was born in Dakar, has been linked in local media as a possible successor to Thiaw.

"So what made us angry? That when Orlando Gill... offers his hand with all the humility of a Paraguayan... this son of a bitch refuses his hand and shouts in his face. That is not French," she said.

The senator also dismissed criticism from French supporters on social media and urged Mbappe to "stop crying like a woman."

The dispute began after Amarilla posted comments about Mbappe on social media that he described as racist. Mbappe accused the senator of "brazen racism," while the French Football Federation filed a complaint and French prosecutors opened an investigation.

During Wednesday's session, Senator Juan Carlos "Nano" Galaverna also criticised Mbappe over an on-field exchange with Paraguay defender Juan Jose Caceres and made comments about the player's personal life. Senator Yolanda Paredes described the France captain as "arrogant" and "ill-mannered."

Paraguay's government has distanced itself from Amarilla's remarks, saying they reflect her personal views rather than those of the state. French authorities said President Santiago Peña had also written to French President Emmanuel Macron condemning the senator's comments.

"I'm very frustrated because I believe the referee was completely against us. Every time an Argentine player was touched, he gave them a foul, but we didn't get the same treatment. From the beginning, they wanted Argentina to win," said supporter Farah.

"Messi is FIFA's golden boy, we all know that, and they want him to win," he added.

Despite the defeat, Farah praised Egypt's performance and paid tribute to captain Mohamed Salah. "He's a legend. One of the main reasons we wanted to win today was for Salah as well," he said.

Other supporters also voiced frustration with the officiating, with some alleging that teams from the Global South receive unfair treatment. "Everyone knows Infantino is behind it, and the US is behind it. There's so much politics behind it. They just don't want a team from the Global South to win," one supporter claimed.

Fans said they had hoped to see an Egypt-Morocco final. With Egypt now out of the tournament, many said they would be backing Morocco for the remainder of the competition.

The tradition stretches back to Mexico's first time hosting the tournament in 1970. This year, after briefly being halted at another church over concerns it was inappropriate, the custom was revived by the cathedral, where the figure remained on display throughout the competition.

The cathedral's location, just steps from FIFA's Fan Fest in the Zócalo, turned the statue into an unlikely pilgrimage site. Supporters from Mexico and beyond stopped to pray, pose for photographs or quietly ask for a little divine intervention before kick-off.

It made little difference on the pitch.

England ended Mexico's dream with a dramatic 3-2 victory at the Estadio Azteca, despite playing much of the second half with ten men. Jude Bellingham scored twice before Harry Kane's penalty helped send England into the quarter-finals, silencing a stadium that had hoped faith might provide one final advantage.

The Baby Jesus will remain dressed in Mexico's colours until the end of the tournament, cathedral officials say, regardless of the result.

Perhaps that is the more enduring story. Football can inspire prayer, hope and ritual. But even with what may have been the holiest supporter at the World Cup, there are some miracles that never arrive.

De Ogum is part of a community of pais and mães de santo - priests and priestesses of Afro-Brazilian religions - who regularly hold ceremonies to support Brazil during major football tournaments.

"We are Brazilians, so first of all, we have to support ourselves and pull things a little in our favour. And there is also the player who was born here in my neighbourhood, Vinicius Junior, who lived in the same neighbourhood as me, here in Portão do Rosa, in São Gonçalo. This is very important to us," he said.

The priest said his support for Vinicius Junior also reflects pride in the forward's stand against racism in football. "The greatest pride is honouring our Black people ," he said.

Brazil take on Norway on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium in the Round of 16. It will be only the second World Cup meeting between the two sides. Their only previous encounter came at the 1998 World Cup in France, when Norway defeated Brazil.

Long before kick-off, football collided with immigration policy . Iranian supporters faced uncertainty over travel, while FIFA revoked the Iranian federation's ticket allocation without public explanation. Ghanaian fans applied for Canadian visitor visas in large numbers, yet only a small proportion were approved. Elsewhere, players and officials encountered their own obstacles. Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was detained on arrival before eventually being allowed through. A Somali referee, despite holding valid travel documents, was reportedly turned back at the border.

For some teams, preparation meant training sessions and tactical meetings. For others, it also meant navigating visa applications, airport questioning and the possibility of being refused entry altogether.

The barriers did not end there. FIFA promoted a more inclusive tournament, yet many supporters found ticket prices far beyond what had originally been expected. Hydration breaks, introduced in response to the summer heat, have also prompted debate, with some researchers arguing the pauses are too short to provide meaningful cooling while creating additional opportunities for advertising.

None of these issues alone proves that football itself is unfair. Together, however, they raise a broader question. Can a tournament truly call itself global if borders, passports and wealth increasingly determine who can participate?

And yet the story of this World Cup is not simply one of exclusion.

African teams have delivered some of the tournament's most memorable performances. Nine reached the Round of 32, while Morocco once again demonstrated that its run in Qatar was no one-off. Cape Verde, making its World Cup debut, captured attention through the performances of its 40-year-old goalkeeper, whose displays became one of the defining stories of the competition.

That is the paradox of this World Cup. It has showcased the widest range of footballing talent the tournament has ever seen. But it has also exposed how uneven the road to the pitch can be. If the World Cup is meant to belong to the world, then participation must be about more than qualification alone.

World Reframed episode 43

Click here to watch our previous episodes

World Reframed is produced in London by Global South World, part of the Impactum Group. Its editors are Duncan Hooper and Ismail Akwei.

ISSN 2978-4891

Inside the Association des Sénégalais d'Amerique (ASA) office, Senegal Rekk by legendary Senegalese musician Youssou N’Dour and other songs composed for the World Cup blasted from a giant speaker. 

By kick-off, the room was packed with Senegalese, other African nationals, and fans from different countries as well as the New York City media. The chatter in the room was reduced to grunts and shouts at missed opportunities by Senegal to score in the early moments of the game. 

When Habib Diarra scored Senegal’s first goal in the 24th minute, there was an explosion of joy and hugs all around. With Senegal taking the lead, fans were hopeful they would win the match. Ismaila Sarr’s 51st-minute goal was greeted with shouts of celebration from the stores lining 116th Street. 

But the mood soon changed when Romelu Lukaku scored in the 86th minute of the game. The disappointment of Senegal’s supporters was managed as they hoped the game would end 2-1 in their favour until Youri Tielemans’ equaliser a few minutes later. And when Belgium finally took the lead in extra time, most fans knew there was no coming back. 

The drumming, singing, and euphoria that preceded the game never returned after Belgium’s first goal. As fans walked out of the viewing centre, their disappointment with the team was evident. Some blamed the coach for his choices, particularly his latter substitutions, but others felt the team as a whole did not approach the match as though they really wanted to advance to the next stage. 

Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey is an award-winning international journalist, writer, and host of the A55 Podcast. Nii Akrofi has worked with local and international media in Ghana, Congo and the United States . He has contributed to news platforms like Zenger News, Africanews, W42ndST, and foreignpresscorrespondents.com.

“Who does Brazil have that is good at football now?” Lula asked the audience.

A young boy responded: “Neymar.”

“Neymar isn't even playing, my friend. I saw something yesterday saying that Neymar is the world's first home-office call-up. Any day now we're going to have to make a national team with artificial intelligence ,” Lula said, drawing laughter from those in attendance.

The president’s comments came as Neymar remains sidelined with an injury sustained while playing for Santos FC in the Brazilian Championship on May 17.

The injury occurred one day before Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti named the 34-year-old forward in the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Lula has made several remarks about Brazil’s national team during the tournament. Earlier, he urged players to approach matches with more “soul” and “grit”. He also joked that Brazil should try to convince Argentina captain Lionel Messi to play for the Seleção.

Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, has struggled with injuries in recent years, limiting his appearances for both club and country. His absence has left Brazil without one of its most experienced players during the World Cup campaign. Brazil secured its first 3 points at the World Cup with a 3:0 win over Haiti after drawing its first game against Morocco.

Zhuang brocade, with a history of more than 2,200 years, has traditionally been used in ethnic clothing and remains closely associated with the Zhuang people, China’s largest ethnic minority. By linking the craft to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Tan hopes to expand its reach beyond Guangxi and integrate it into modern daily life, bringing greater international recognition to the heritage.

The match saw Iran respond to two goals from New Zealand’s Elijah Just, with strikes from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi earning a point. The result leaves all teams in Group G level, while Iran’s participation has been overshadowed by visa issues that forced changes to their tournament preparations.

For many, the result was secondary to the achievement itself, as the small Caribbean nation marked a milestone in its sporting history . Supporters highlighted pride, resilience and global recognition, with Curacao also earning a Guinness World Record as the smallest country to ever compete in a World Cup.

Interpreter Omar Martinez explained that the project was designed to ensure that fans with disabilities could fully participate in the excitement of the tournament.

“What we are doing today is interpretation for deaf people and for a deaf-blind person, in which we use tactile sign language, where the deaf person touches the hands and can understand the interpretation and what is happening in the match,” Martinez said.

Among those attending was Jose de Jesus Loera, who was born deaf or hard of hearing and later lost his sight completely. He described the experience as his first World Cup match.

“I feel more emotions, with the vibration, with the speakers and the screen. I feel that it is much more exciting,” he said.

Another fan, Manuel Martinez Garcia, said the initiative allowed people with disabilities to enjoy the event without communication barriers.

“It gives me more emotions to see that there are many people and to be with all the people so that we are not excluded,” he said. “It's very exciting to feel it, and I hope Mexico wins.”

FutFest 2026 was created to bring the World Cup closer to local communities through free public screenings, cultural activities and inclusion programmes aimed at making the tournament accessible to a wider audience.

Brazil received eight red cards in a chaotic 1-0 loss to the United States women's national team in Fortaleza. Coach Arthur Elias and three assistants were sent off during the second half, while players Bia Zaneratto and Tarciane were dismissed late in the match. Kerolin and Ludmila also saw red after the final whistle for dissent. Sophia Wilson scored the game's only goal in the 63rd minute, with Brazil failing to register a shot on target before a crowd of more than 55,000 fans.

Brazil intercepts 108 Cuban migrants as asylum requests surge

Brazilian authorities rescued 108 Cuban migrants from suspected smugglers in Roraima state, marking the largest humanitarian rescue operation ever recorded in the region. Five alleged traffickers were arrested. Officials say the operation reflects a growing wave of Cuban migration through Brazil's northern border with Guyana. Cubans became the leading nationality seeking refugee status in Brazil in 2025, with more than 40,000 applications, driven by Cuba's deepening economic crisis. Roraima and neighbouring Amapá have emerged as key entry points, with authorities warning that migration flows could continue to rise amid worsening conditions on the island.

EU deepens digital ties with Brazil to reduce reliance on US tech

The European Union and Brazil are set to sign a digital partnership covering data , cybersecurity, connectivity and online safety, as Brussels seeks to strengthen ties with trusted partners and reduce dependence on U.S. technology. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said Brazil will become the bloc's fifth digital partner, joining Canada, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. The move follows the EU-Mercosur trade agreement and comes as Europe works to boost its own tech sovereignty, particularly in cloud services and semiconductor production.

Brazil's Alisson unfazed by World Cup favourites tag

Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker says being labelled a World Cup favourite offers no advantage, insisting what matters is a team's form when the tournament begins. The Liverpool keeper, fully fit for his third World Cup, credited coach Carlo Ancelotti with improving morale after a difficult qualifying campaign. He said Brazil have become more organised defensively under the Italian and is ready for their opening match against Morocco in New Jersey.

Brazilian woman, 38, accused of posing as child in years-long fraud

A 38-year-old Brazilian woman has been arrested for allegedly posing as a 12-year-old girl and deceiving a couple who housed and supported her for more than a year. Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira is accused of fraud and identity offences after reportedly creating a fake identity, convincing the family to cover her expenses and treating her as a child. Prosecutors described the case as an "elaborate fraud scheme" involving emotional manipulation. Authorities say Oliveira has faced similar allegations in other Brazilian states.

For the first time in World Cup history, 48 nations will compete for the trophy, expanding the tournament from its traditional 32-team format. The expansion means more countries, more matches, and more opportunities for teams to make history.

The tournament will also be the first to be hosted by three countries. The United States will stage matches across 11 venues, while Mexico will host games in three cities and Canada in two. The competition will run until 19 July 2026, with the final scheduled for MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The opening match will see Mexico face South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

The expanded tournament will feature 104 matches, a significant increase from the previous 64. Teams will be divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing, along with the eight best third-placed teams. Those 32 teams will then move into a newly introduced Round of 32 knockout stage.

The list of qualified teams includes some of football’s most successful nations. Former champions Brazil , Argentina, Germany, France, England, Spain and Uruguay are all back. Brazil arrives as the tournament’s most successful nation and is identified as a five-time World Cup winner.

Several countries that have reached World Cup finals without lifting the trophy are also in the field, including Croatia, the Netherlands, Sweden and Czechia.

Among the teams with semifinal appearances in their history are Morocco, the United States, Austria, Belgium, South Korea, Portugal and Türkiye. Morocco enters the tournament as the highest-ranked African team, ranked eighth in the world.

Other nations, including Senegal, Switzerland, Mexico, Colombia , Ghana and Paraguay, will be aiming to improve on previous quarter-final appearances.

The tournament also features a large group of countries that have never gone beyond the quarter-finals. Among them are Japan, Australia, Algeria, Norway, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, South Africa , Egypt, Scotland, Canada, IR Iran, Iraq, DR Congo, Haiti, New Zealand, Panama, Qatar, Côte d'Ivoire, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Some teams are returning after long absences. Scotland is back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, while Iraq returns for the first time since 1986.

Perhaps the biggest stories, however, belong to four nations that will experience the World Cup for the first time. Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan have all secured historic debuts and will be making their first appearances on football’s biggest stage.

The measure is intended to ease pressure on the city's roads as large crowds are expected for the start of the tournament.

“To avoid traffic and problems on the day of the World Cup,” Sheinbaum said when explaining the decision.

The president stressed that the decree does not require all private businesses to close or suspend operations. “It is not an obligation,” she said.

According to the government, industrial production, manufacturing activities and essential services will continue operating as normal. Restaurants, shops and other businesses will also remain open.

Exemptions from the remote-work directive include healthcare services, national security agencies, transport operations, social programmes and activities directly linked to the organisation of the World Cup.

Educational institutions in Mexico City will also suspend classes on June 11, including public pre schools , primary and secondary schools, as well as upper-secondary and higher education institutions under the Public Education system.

Mexico is one of the co-hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Canada.

“There are 15 people and most are team managers, part of the technical staff as well,” he said. “If they do not show up, it will be a challenge for our team.”

Despite the setback, the ambassador said Iran remained determined to participate in the tournament and would continue efforts to secure the necessary travel documents.

Pasandideh described the World Cup as an opportunity to showcase Iranian talent and promote international understanding through sport.

“The presence of the Iranian national football team in the World Cup is an opportunity to showcase the sporting capabilities of Iranian youth and, at the same time, strengthen friendship and understanding between peoples,” he said.

He stressed that sporting events should remain separate from political disputes. “We believe that sports should be a bridge to bring people together and not a tool to impose restrictions or exclusions. Sports should unite nations, not separate them,” he added.

The ambassador called on FIFA to engage with the relevant authorities to ensure the full participation of Iran's delegation in matches scheduled in Los Angeles and Seattle.

The visa dispute comes on the back of ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington and could complicate preparations for Iran's opening World Cup match against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles.

Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé said the initiative seeks to unite the country as the national team, the Grenadiers, takes part in the competition. Haiti enters the tournament after a 4–0 warm-up victory over New Zealand and has been drawn in Group C alongside Brazil, Scotland and Morocco. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from 11 June to 19 July across the United States , Canada and Mexico.

Southern Asia recorded the largest net migration loss in Asia, while Western Asia remained the region’s strongest migration destination, according to migration data compiled from the UN Population Division and international migration studies .

A visual analysis published by Seasia Stats and World Visualized showed Southern Asia posting a net migration balance of -2.2 million people over a five-year average period, far exceeding outflows recorded in Eastern, South-Eastern and Central Asia .

Western Asia stood out as the only Asian subregion with positive net migration, recording a net gain of approximately 434,000 people.

Net migration measures the difference between immigrants entering a region and emigrants leaving it.

Migration experts say Western Asia’s positive migration trend is largely driven by Gulf economies, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait, which rely heavily on foreign labour across construction, healthcare, domestic work and technology sectors.

The World Bank and the International Organisation for Migration have repeatedly identified the Gulf region as one of the world’s largest migrant worker destinations due to higher wages and strong labour demand.

Large migrant populations from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines continue moving to the Gulf in search of economic opportunities.

Southern Asia’s large negative migration balance reflects longstanding outward migration patterns from countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Economic opportunity, overseas employment, education and family reunification remain among the biggest drivers of migration from the region, according to UNESCO and UN migration reports.

India alone has one of the world’s largest overseas diasporas, with millions of citizens living and working abroad.

Eastern Asia and South-Eastern Asia also recorded net migration losses, though at much smaller levels compared to Southern Asia.

Ageing populations, slowing economic growth and changing labour markets are believed to be reshaping migration trends in countries including China, Japan and South Korea.

Meanwhile, Southeast Asian nations continue experiencing both outbound labour migration and growing urban migration within the region.

The International Organisation for Migration estimates there were more than 281 million international migrants worldwide in recent years, with Asia remaining central to global migration flows.

“They asked us if they can stay overnight in Mexico. And we said yes, there is no problem, we have no issue with it. So, they are looking for the venue to be in Tijuana, so that they can stay overnight and travel to the games that will take place in the United States . So, we have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” the Mexican president stated.

Iran is scheduled to play all three of its group-stage matches in the United States during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to Sheinbaum, US authorities reportedly do not want the team based in the country between matches.

The proposed arrangement would likely see the Iranian team staying in Tijuana, a Mexican border city near Southern California , while travelling into the United States for matches.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The tournament is expected to involve complex travel and coordination arrangements as teams move across North America for the expanded competition.

According to IMF data compiled by African business intelligence platform Intelpoint and visualised by World Visualized, Nigeria achieved a GDP above $100 billion in 1994, just 34 years after independence in 1960.

The ranking tracks how long African countries took to surpass the $100 billion GDP mark between 1988 and 2025, revealing significant differences in growth trajectories across the continent.

Angola ranked second, reaching the milestone 36 years after independence, while Algeria followed at 43 years. Morocco, Kenya and South Africa also featured prominently among Africa’s fastest-growing economies by long-term GDP expansion.

The findings highlight how resource wealth, population growth, industrialisation and economic reforms have shaped Africa’s emergence as one of the world’s most dynamic economic regions.

Nigeria’s rise to a $100 billion economy was driven largely by oil exports, rapid urbanisation and its growing population, which is now estimated by the United Nations to exceed 220 million people.

As Africa’s largest oil producer for decades, Nigeria benefited heavily from petroleum revenues during the late 20th century, helping finance infrastructure, banking expansion and import-driven consumer growth.

Economic analysts say Nigeria’s large domestic market also gave it advantages unavailable to many smaller African economies.

Despite repeated currency crises, inflation shocks and governance challenges, the country remains one of Africa’s largest economies by nominal GDP alongside South Africa and Egypt.

The International Monetary Fund has projected continued medium-term growth for Nigeria, supported by services, telecommunications, financial technology and a fast-expanding digital economy.

Angola reached the $100 billion threshold in 2011, approximately 36 years after independence from Portugal in 1975.

The country experienced one of Africa’s fastest economic expansions during the 2000s, largely due to booming crude oil exports and rising Chinese investment after the end of its civil war in 2002.

At its peak, Angola became one of China’s largest African oil suppliers, helping fund large-scale infrastructure reconstruction projects including roads, railways and housing developments.

However, economists note that Angola’s heavy dependence on oil left the economy vulnerable to global commodity price swings, particularly during the 2014 oil market collapse.

Algeria and Morocco both ranked among the continent’s fastest economies to surpass a $100 billion GDP.

Algeria crossed the mark in 2005, driven largely by hydrocarbon exports. The country possesses some of Africa’s largest natural gas reserves and remains a major energy supplier to Europe.

Morocco reached the milestone in 2008 after decades of gradual industrial diversification and export-oriented growth.

Unlike several oil-dependent economies, Morocco expanded sectors including automotive manufacturing, phosphates, renewable energy and tourism.

The country has increasingly positioned itself as a manufacturing and logistics hub connecting Europe and Africa through major infrastructure projects such as the Tangier Med port complex.

Kenya became one of the newest African economies to exceed a $100 billion GDP, reaching the threshold in 2019.

The East African nation has built a reputation as one of the continent’s leading technology and financial centres, anchored by Nairobi’s role as a regional commercial hub.

Kenya’s economy has benefited from growth in mobile banking, agriculture, transport and digital services .

Ghana reached the $100 billion benchmark in 2025, according to the IMF-based Intelpoint analysis, highlighting the growing economic significance of West Africa beyond Nigeria.

The country has expanded rapidly over the past two decades through gold production, oil exports, cocoa trade and services growth.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia crossed the threshold in 2022 after roughly 81 years, despite never being formally colonised apart from a brief Italian occupation during the 1930s and 1940s.

Ethiopia recorded some of the world’s fastest growth rates during the 2000s and 2010s, powered by state-led infrastructure investment, manufacturing expansion and agricultural reforms.

However, conflict, debt pressures and foreign exchange shortages have recently slowed momentum in Africa’s second-most populous country.