Copper is essential for building and operating data centers, which are expanding rapidly due to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). This increased demand for copper adds to the already growing needs related to the energy transition. BHP, the mining giant, has projected that global copper demand will surge to 50 million tonnes by 2050, a significant increase from the current 32 million...

Benin’s army neutralized 17 attackers in Banikoara, a town in the north of the country, during an assault on February 15, according to local media reports. The attack led to an exchange of gunfire, resulting in the deaths of six Beninese soldiers. So far, no further details have been provided. This marks the second attack in early 2025. The previous assault, on Wednesday, January 8, left 28...

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) produced over 2 million tonnes of refined copper in 2023, according to the International Copper Study Group. This figure is expected to grow with the commissioning of Ivanhoe Mines' new smelter, but much of this increased supply is already tied to China. The DRC exported 1.48 million tonnes of refined copper to China in 2024, up 71% year-on-year. According...

The IMF believes international re-engagement is essential for resolving Zimbabwe’s debt and clearing its arrears. Zimbabwe needs to secure a full restructuring of its external debt before getting new financial support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In a statement issued last week, the institution urged authorities to work on clearing debt arrears and adopting a debt reform plan in...

Despite having much wider coverage than the regional average, mobile internet usage in Benin remains low. This paradox raises questions about the barriers to digital adoption and its impact on the country’s digital inclusion. Benin has made significant progress in mobile internet coverage over the past four years, according to the GSM Association (GSMA). Between 2020 and 2024, high-speed...

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye recently met with Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote and Afreximbank President Benedict Oramah to discuss potential partnerships across key sectors. The pan-African trade finance institution shared details of the meeting on X (formerly Twitter) on February 16. Discussions focused on financing and investment opportunities in strategic industries such as...

The report highlights that, in today’s climate of a cooling venture capital market and economic challenges across the continent, mergers and acquisitions, along with geographic expansion, have become key strategies for African startups to sustain their growth and remain viable. Africa’s tech sector saw a wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in 2024 as startups struggled to secure funding,...

While Fitch has stopped monitoring Dangote Industries, other agencies like Moody’s and S&P Global Ratings are expected to continue assessing the company. Fitch Ratings announced on Feb. 11 it will no longer assess Dangote Industries. After keeping the Nigerian conglomerate under negative watch due to refinancing struggles, the credit rating agency has decided to withdraw all its evaluations....

In 2024, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) put Côte d'Ivoire on its watchlist, citing gaps in its efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. Côte d'Ivoire has created a new body called the Financial Surveillance Group (GSF) to step up its fight against money laundering, terrorist financing, and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. The announcement came after a...

This decision comes after Benin’s ambassador, Gildas Agonkan, publicly apologized to the Nigerien people during a ceremony. Benin has reportedly recalled its ambassador to Niger, Gildas Agonkan (pictured), for consultations with Foreign Minister Olushegun Bakari. The meeting was expected to take place on February 13, according to local media reports. Sources indicate that this decision...