Sub-Saharan Africa Strengthens Global Connectivity
Sub-Saharan Africa has recorded notable gains in global connectedness, according to the DHL Global Connectedness Report 2026, which tracks international flows of trade, capital, information, and people across more than 180 countries. Namibia and Mozambique rank among the strongest long-run improvers since 2001, while Nigeria and Zambia feature among the countries with the largest connectedness gains since 2022. Among the region's best-performing economies in the 2024 overall rankings, Seychelles leads at 40th, followed by South Africa (53rd), Mauritius (65th), Namibia (68th), Ghana (97th), and Kenya (119th).
The report also highlights a full recovery in people flows following the Covid-19 collapse, with UN data showing Africa recorded a 17% increase in international tourist arrivals in 2025 compared with 2019 - the second-largest increase among world regions, behind the Middle East. Global connectedness reached 25% in 2025, matching the record high set in 2022, with the report's authors noting that despite escalating geopolitical tensions and rising trade tariffs, actual cross-border flows have remained broadly resilient. DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa CEO Hennie Heymans noted that countries strengthening their global links are gaining visibility in international trade networks, describing Africa as "increasingly shifting from a narrative of aid to one of trade."
Source: Platform Africa
