DRC launches 2026-2030 digital plan, AI strategy in Kinshasa $1B investment to boost infrastructure, services, and digital skills Goal: become regional tech hub, create jobs, attract investment In Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Digital Economy, Augustin Kibassa Maliba, launched work on the country’s National Digital Plan 2026-2030 (PNN2) and its first...

730 million people lack electricity, 80% in Sub-Saharan Africa Region’s access stagnates despite new connections and global progress IEA urges reforms, financing to break decade-long energy poverty cycle Some 730 million people worldwide remained without access to electricity in 2024, according to data released by the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Thursday, October 9,...

Côte d’Ivoire launches 50 MW Kong solar plant project Plant to power 380,000 homes, cut 55,000 tons of CO₂ Part of 12-project plan to reach 45% renewables by 2030 Côte d’Ivoire is moving ahead with major solar initiatives, breaking ground on the Kong photovoltaic power plant after commissioning the Boundiali facility and launching work on the Ferké Solar and Amea Gontougo...

COMESA launches local-currency digital payment platform DRPP DRPP enables cross-border trade without using U.S. dollars Aims to cut costs, boost SME access, and reduce currency risk The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) said on Thursday, October 9, that it had launched a local-currency digital payment system known as the Digital Retail Payments Platform (DRPP). The...

TR4 fungus detected in Ecuador, top global banana exporter No cure exists; Cavendish variety faces major threat Industry under pressure, rising costs push toward diversification In late September 2025, Ecuador announced it had detected the “tropical race 4” (TR4) strain of Panama disease, sending alarm through the global banana industry. As the world’s top banana exporter—shipping...

• PRASA reports 77 million passengers in 2024/25, nearly twice the previous year• Revenues reach 708 million rand, supported by 21.1 billion rand in investments• Infrastructure damage, vandalism, and train shortages still hinder recovery South Africa’s Passenger Rail Agency (PRASA) announced it has nearly doubled its annual passenger traffic for the 2024/25 fiscal year, rising from 39.4...

• Canadian Sintana buys UK-based Challenger Energy in all-share deal worth $61 million• Merger covers offshore assets in Uruguay and Namibia’s PEL 79 and PEL 83 blocks• Move aims to help independents compete with major oil firms in Africa Canadian offshore explorer Sintana Energy announced on October 9 the acquisition of London-listed Challenger Energy Group. The all-share...

• Faso Films Fund aims to finance local and diaspora cinema projects• Initiative managed by the Burkinabè Film and Audiovisual Agency (ABCA)• Program targets production, promotion, and training across the value chain The Burkina Faso government has launched the Faso Films Fund, a national mechanism to finance film and audiovisual projects by local professionals and the diaspora. Presented...

• Guinea-Bissau now expects to export 250,000 tons of cashew nuts in 2025, up 25% from its initial forecast.• The country has already exported 180,000 tons since the campaign began in February.• Cashew exports generated CFA132.8 billion ($219 million) in 2023, accounting for 93% of national export revenues. Guinea-Bissau revised its 2025 cashew export forecast upward to 250,000 tons as...

• Mali’s state-owned SOREM signed an agreement with U.S.-based Flagship Mining to restart production at the Morila gold mine, which holds 2.5 million ounces in reserves.• The mine, previously operated by Barrick Mining and AngloGold Ashanti, produced over 6 million ounces before being acquired and later relinquished by Firefinch Ltd.• The talks come amid a 32% drop in Mali’s industrial...