The prospects for Africa's economies have improved over the past year, according to the OECD. The Paris-based think tank says that Africa as a whole is set to grow by 5.8% this year and 5.5% in 2007. But there is a big difference between countries who were oil exporters and those who have to import oil. In 2005 oil exporting African countries grew by 5.5%, compared to just 4.4% for those who were oil importers. Conflicts and natural disasters in countries like Sudan, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Nigeria also continue to dampen overall economic growth.