Ethiopia

Africa's second-most populous nation (126 million people) fuels this expansion through agricultural modernization, boosting cereal yields by 8% annually, and industrial parks that exported $4.3 billion in 2025. However, reconstruction post-Tigray conflict (2020-2022) still strains public coffers, with reconstruction costs topping $5.6 billion. Addis Ababa's role as AU headquarters attracts diplomatic ties, yet private investment remains 30% below pre-war levels, tempering the nation's long-term sprint.