Niger’s economy is on course to expand 5.2 percent this year and continue at the same pace in 2018 on the back of growth in its oil and services sectors, the International Monetary Fund said in a statement on Monday.

IMF Headquarters in Washington D.C

“Niger’s overall macroeconomic performance remains satisfactory, despite security challenges and unfavourable commodity prices, especially for uranium,” it said. “Over the medium run, government reform efforts should be rewarded by a pickup in growth.”