The recently released report by McKinsey & Company on reimagining economic growth in Africa offers a wealth of valuable insights and analyses. However, one aspect that I believe received insufficient attention in the report is the positioning and integration of different clusters of countries, particularly in relation to their global market geography.

One striking observation is that almost all African countries bordering the Indian Ocean and those supplied through it have experienced strong and consistent growth over the past two decades. In contrast, other regions in Africa have had a more varied track record of economic performance (the graphic’s limited scope up to 2019 also fails to capture the present security challenges in the Sahel, which have severely hindered economic growth in those countries).

To leverage their natural advantages of proximity to India, China, and the Gulf, it is crucial for East African nations to continue leading the way in reducing restrictions on the flow of labor and goods. With this in place, there is no doubt that the region will continue to drive the continent forward.