World Bank: Africa's GDP growth to slow to 3.7 Percent this year

Commodity-dependent economies from Zambia to Nigeria have suffered this year from the price rout of commodities like copper and oil, triggering currency falls that forced policymakers to tighten interest rates in response.

Repeating long-standing advice to commodity producers, the Bank's vice president for Africa, Makhtar Diop, said the slowdown should encourage policymakers to diversify economic activity.

"The end of the commodity super-cycle poses an opportunity for African countries," Diop said.

"Implementing the right policies to boost agricultural productivity, and reduce electricity costs while expanding access, will improve competitiveness and support the growth of light manufacturing," he said.

The report said Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Mozambique and Tanzania are still expected to grow robustly, posting 7 percent or more growth per year between this year and 2017.