KPMG report: African CEOs prioritize AI and resilience amid economic uncertainty

The 2026 KPMG Africa CEO Outlook reveals that while 79 percent of African business leaders are confident in their organizations' growth prospects, they face significant challenges in translating revenue into sustained profitability. Although 86 percent of respondents reported revenue growth in the last financial year, only 58 percent expect annual earnings growth of at least 2.5 percent over the next three years, trailing the global average of 68 percent.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a top priority, with 72 percent of CEOs citing it as a primary investment area. However, a significant technological gap exists: only 14 percent of African CEOs believe their organizations are keeping pace with or leading in AI developments, compared to 66 percent globally. Experts suggest that investment must move beyond excitement toward direct alignment with specific business needs, such as cost savings or risk mitigation.

To navigate geopolitical disruption and structural constraints, leaders are focusing on operational discipline. Key threats to growth include cybersecurity, data security, and supply-chain resilience, each cited by 31 percent of respondents. Consequently, 45 percent of CEOs are increasing investments in cybersecurity and digital-risk resilience.