In June 2024, Chemaf agreed to sell its Étoile and Mutoshi copper and cobalt mines to China’s Norinco for $1.4 billion to pay off $900 million in debt. However, Gécamines, Congo's state-owned mining company, blocked the deal, citing violations of lease agreements signed in 2015. China's Norinco has dropped its bid to acquire Chemaf’s assets. According to Bloomberg, the decision...

Manono's lithium reserves have ignited a high-stakes battle involving global mining giants. Australian company AVZ Minerals, Chinese firm Zijin Mining, and Congolese state-owned Cominière are entangled in a legal dispute over the lucrative deposit. Now, KoBold Metals, a U.S.-based company backed by billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, has entered the fray, potentially reshaping the future of...

The company strengthens its emerging presence in the AI market with a new partnership. It seeks to drive innovation and enhance productivity across key sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, and energy. Pan-African tech group Cassava Technologies announced on March 24 it has reached a partnership for an undisclosed amount with American tech giant Nvidia to strengthen its AI offers across...

On March 20, 2025, the West African Central Bank (BCEAO), through its COFEB training center, and the prestigious HEC Paris, launched the 2025 edition of their joint training program. The event kicked off with an international masterclass under the theme, "Finance and Climate: A Call to Action for Africa." The session aimed to place the climate crisis at the forefront of the continent's financial...

Angola announced today, March 24 it would step back from its mediation efforts for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to Angolan officials, the decision comes as President João Lourenço, who also serves as the current chair of the African Union, needs to focus on the broader priorities set by the continental organization. Angola expressed in a statement that it had made...

Surcharges on calls between Liberia and Sierra Leone will be removed on May 2, 2025, while those on calls between Liberia and The Gambia will be eliminated on July 1, 2025. The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) announced on March 20. This move aligns with ECOWAS Regulation C/REG 21/12/17, promoting free roaming within the West African region. The decision follows the signing of the...

By the end of 2023, Sub-Saharan Africa had 320 million mobile internet subscribers; a 27% penetration rate. This data was provided in an October 2024 report released by GSMA. Mobile internet access continues to be a major challenge for many people across Africa, with millions of individuals unable to fully benefit from the service despite being within coverage areas. GSMA’s The State of...

Digital transformation is a top priority for Sierra Leone's authorities. The country received a $50 million World Bank grant for this purpose in January 2023. Sierra Leone has launched several initiatives to enhance its cybersecurity, including establishing clear legal frameworks, increasing public awareness, and boosting local capabilities. These measures aim to support the country’s...

The unrest in East DRC remains worrisome. Mediation efforts, both regional and international, have failed to bring calm. New talks are now underway to try to ease internal divisions and genuinely seek sustainable solutions. Political talks to form a national unity government began Monday in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The announcement came from Désiré-Cashmir Kolongele Eberande, the...

This bond issuance strengthens the bank's ability to act, enabling it to expand its impact in low-income African countries, while maintaining a cautious risk profile. The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) successfully raised €750 million ($812.3 million) through an international bond issuance, set to mature in March 2028, with a fixed coupon rate of 3%. The bonds were...