Fort Jesus is a fortress located in Mombasa, on Kenya’s coastline, at the entrance to the natural harbor that long made the city a hub of trade in the Indian Ocean. The structure was built between 1593 and 1596 on the orders of King Philip II of Spain, who at the time also ruled Portugal, to safeguard Portuguese interests along the Swahili coast. It was designed by the Italian architect...

The UN cuts Togo’s 2023 population estimate to 8.13 million, from about 9.3 million. The revision lifts GDP per capita to $1,281 in 2024, about 14% higher than earlier estimates. Long-term demographic growth trends remain unchanged. Togo’s population is lower than previously estimated. That is the main conclusion of an update released on January 19, 2026 by the United Nations...

(ACTIVA) - As part of its strategic regional partnership with LaLiga, ACTIVA has officially launched the ACTIVA x LaLiga digital platform, an initiative designed to strengthen engagement among football fans across its African markets. The online landing page features an interactive matching cards game, inviting participants to match LaLiga players with their respective clubs. Every month, four...

Egypt moves to increase fish exports to Italy after EU import ban was lifted in 2024. Talks focus on sanitary standards, inspections and export approvals. Italy accounted for 38% of Egypt’s EU fish exports before the 2021 suspension. Egypt is seeking to increase its fish exports to the Italian market following a meeting on February 15 between Tarek El-Houby, head of the National Food...

Scatec signs private power purchase agreements for a 255 MW solar plant. The Thakadu project marks its entry into South Africa’s wheeling market. Financial close for phase one is expected in the first quarter of 2026. Norwegian group Scatec is deepening its presence in South Africa’s power market. In a Feb.16 statement, the company said its joint platform Lyra Energy has signed power...

GCB Bank plans to launch a Sharia-compliant banking window in partnership with IIFM. The move aims to offer non-interest financial products based on international standards. Ghana’s authorities are working to expand non-interest banking services. GCB Bank, Ghana’s largest local bank, is preparing to expand into Islamic finance as part of efforts to diversify the country’s financial...

MENA holds 46% of global desalination capacity. Water demand could rise 20%–50% by 2050. Desalination costs have fallen below $1 per cubic meter. Energy still makes up to 75% of operating costs. Annual funding needs reach $6.3–$7.2 billion in CAPEX and $5.4–$6.7 billion in OPEX through 2029. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), tackling water scarcity will...

Gabon suspended import duties, VAT, and scanning fees on essential goods for six months to curb living costs. The government targeted food staples and construction materials to protect purchasing power and limit housing cost pressures. The measure added strain to public finances, already weakened by falling oil and gas output and rising debt. Against a backdrop of persistent...

Senegal launched phase 3 of the “Sukaabe Jango” program to provide hot meals to 135,424 students in six southern departments. The initiative will deliver 57.2 million meals using 8,690 tons of U.S. agricultural products and 2,366 tons of locally sourced cowpeas. The United States has invested $107 million in Senegal’s education sector since 2007 through the McGovern-Dole...

The DRC’s Universal Service Development Fund (FDSU) launched a 2026–2035 strategy to connect nearly 68 million rural residents. The plan relies on a shared “TowerCo Lead” model combining tower companies, mobile operators and regulatory oversight. Around 80% of the Congolese population did not use the internet in 2024, according to the ITU. The Democratic Republic of Congo...