Donald Kaberuka believes internal strife poses more of a threat to African economies than external shocks. However, in an interview with the Financial Times, the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) still forecast average growth on the continent would rise in 2008 to 6.5 per cent.

Speaking at the AfDB in Tunis, Mr Kaberuka said African economies had enjoyed their longest period of growth for decades - reaching almost 6 per cent on average last year - as a result of better management and debt relief as well as surging commodity prices.