Angola’s central bank raised its benchmark interest rate by 50 bps to 19.5%, the first back-to-back increase in nearly a decade. This decision follows a rise in inflation to 28.2% last month, exacerbated by a 37% depreciation in the kwanza against the USD over the past year. The bank revised its year-end inflation forecast to 23.4%, up from 19%, citing factors like rising diesel and transport costs due to reduced fuel subsidies.