Faced with high costs linked to poor infrastructure and regulatory barriers, about 34% of African business leaders are increasingly adopting digital tools to facilitate trade within the continent. This is the finding of a report published on January 20 by the UK-based research firm Economist Impact. Titled "Trade in Transition Regional Insights Africa: Navigating Regional Ambitions and Global...

Khaled El Enany, candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO, was received by Pope Francis during a private audience at the Vatican. Their discussion focused on the urgent need to strengthen intercultural dialogue as a means to combat extremism and foster a culture of peace. At a time of rising global tensions and growing extremism, building bridges between cultures and religions has...

Africa is shifting away from a venture capital-only model, embracing a more diversified approach that may seem pragmatic. Debt is gaining traction, but can the market handle this shift without sacrificing disruptive innovation to financial caution and cost pressures? A few years ago, venture capital was the go-to option for funding African startups. But things have changed. Debt is now becoming...

Trump’s Return Has Global Development Banks on Edge. With budget threats, geopolitical battles, and climate funding tensions, Washington is reshaping global finance. Who will survive the shake-up? Donald Trump’s return to the White House is already rattling global financial institutions. True to his transactional approach, the president has signed an executive order calling for a review of...

In recent years, West Africa has seen a surge in terrorist attacks. The Sahel remains the epicenter, accounting for 47% of terrorism-related deaths worldwide in 2023, according to the Global Terrorism Index. But the threat isn’t confined to the region—coastal nations are feeling the impact too. Senegal and Mali have pledged to deepen their military cooperation to enhance regional security....

South Africa has one of the richest sub-soil in Africa, housing large reserves of gold, iron ore, and coal. It also hosts critical minerals like platinum group elements (PGMs), manganese, and nickel, which are vital to energy transition. South Africa has started exploring the definition of essential minerals within a national framework, separate from global standards. This initiative was...

The Trump administration's decision to suspend American aid to foreign countries for 90 days has caught many African governments off guard. In the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), where USAID plays a crucial role in financing infrastructure, health, and humanitarian programs, the impact of this decision is expected to have a harsh impact. Sahel: A Sudden Halt to Humanitarian...

This initiative aims to bridge the funding gap holding these businesses back, giving them the resources to grow and fully contribute to the country’s economic expansion. Senegal is launching a major financial initiative to support small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs and SMIs) struggling with limited access to funding. A coalition of economic players, led by the Agency for the Development...

Morocco is working on a new mining code. According to the Fraser Institute, the country, already recognized as one of Africa's most attractive mining jurisdictions, has significant copper, cobalt, and phosphate reserves. Mining contributes between 8% and 10% of Morocco's GDP, as reported by ONHYM. Moroccan authorities recently launched public consultations to draw a draft bill to amend the...

With over 100 million tonnes of ore reserves, the Minim Martap project is poised to become Cameroon's first bauxite mine. The project's owner, Canyon Resources, plans to use the existing rail infrastructure to move the mine’s output Canyon Resources secured the Cameroonian government’s approval for the location of its inland rail facility. In a press release dated February 4, 2025, the...