• Rwandan government to inject new funds into delayed Bugesera Airport project• Allocation included in 2025/2026 budget to help meet new 2027 launch target• Airport aims to handle up to 14 million passengers by 2032 The Rwandan government is preparing to restart construction of Bugesera Airport with fresh funding from the 2025/2026 national budget. The project, located about 25 km south of...

• Zimbabwe will halt lithium concentrate exports in 2027 to boost local processing• Chinese firms are building two lithium sulfate plants to support this shift• Value-added products like lithium carbonate bring far higher export earnings Zimbabwe, the top lithium producer in Africa with 2.4 million tons of concentrate in 2024, plans to stop exporting lithium concentrate from January 2027....

• Nigeria’s $5 billion loan from Saudi Aramco stalls due to falling oil prices• Deal tied to 100,000 barrels per day faces risk amid production constraints• Lenders demand stronger guarantees; Nigeria eyes alternate borrowing routes Nigeria is seeking new options to raise funding for its national budget, including a $5 billion loan agreement with Saudi Aramco, the Saudi...

• Ethiopian Airlines and Etihad form partnership linking Africa with Asia and Australia• Direct flights between Addis Ababa and Abu Dhabi begin July 15 and October 8• Agreement supports Ethiopian's Vision 2035 to grow destinations to 207 Ethiopian Airlines has entered into a code-sharing agreement with Etihad Airways. Announced in June, the partnership aims to enhance air connectivity...

• Diamond sales drop 50%, pushing Botswana into fiscal and employment strain• Debswana to cut 1,000 jobs as government and De Beers launch talent programs• IMF forecasts -0.4% GDP growth in 2025, citing lack of diversification The Botswanan government and De Beers launched on June 10 several national talent development programs. The initiatives, part of a broader partnership signed in...

• Ghana reduces 2024/2025 cocoa forecast to a maximum of 600,000 tons• Structural issues continue to affect output, including disease and climate change• Global cocoa prices remain under pressure, rising to $9,602 per ton in June West Africa remains the center of global cocoa production. With market conditions tight and uncertainty surrounding regional exports, attention is focused on...

• CBK reduces prime rate to 9.75% following easing inflation and stable exchange rates• May 2025 inflation falls to 3.8%, below the 5% midpoint target• Rate cut aims to boost private sector lending and economic activity The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has reduced its prime lending rate by 25 basis points to 9.75 %, according to a statement released on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. This...

• Direct tariff impacts on African exports to the U.S. are expected to stay limited• Key risk lies in falling demand from China, which could lower global commodity prices• More than half of African countries rely on raw materials for over 60% of their export earnings The new U.S. trade tariffs introduced under the Trump administration may not hit African countries directly, but the nations...

• Nigeria posted Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest net cereal deficit in 2023 at $2 billion• Wheat and rice imports remain high despite local maize self-sufficiency• South Africa reported a net cereal surplus of $170 million due to strong corn exports Nigeria ranked as the top cereal importer in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2023, recording a net cereal deficit of $2 billion. This...

• Government plans to expand TVET access and build centers in every region• TVET funding rose 224% since 2018, but enrollment growth remains stagnant• Deputy Minister calls for stronger links between training, jobs, and industry Only 43 percent of Ghanaians aged 15 to 24 are currently enrolled in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Ghana is now working to expand access...