Mali has kicked off the construction of a major solar power plant with the help of Russia. This project comes after the two countries recently signed a civil nuclear agreement. Malian Energy Minister Bintou Camara announced the construction of the solar photovoltaic plant. The facility will be the largest in West Africa, she said on national television ORTM. "This plant, the largest in the...

African startups are unveiling the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) across sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and finance. However, broad adoption of this disruptive technology requires public policies. While some African countries lead in AI readiness, the overall integration of AI faces significant obstacles such as digital infrastructure deficits, underinvestment in...

Cobalt prices have plummeted to under $30,000 per tonne, down from over triple that amount just years ago. As the world's largest consumer, China seeks to increase its strategic cobalt reserves amidst the price drop. China announced it would buy a record 15,000 tonnes of cobalt on the market starting next month to bolster its strategic reserves. Beijing's decision comes as global supply...

Côte d'Ivoire has partnered with a Chinese company to exploit a coltan deposit. This will position the West African country as a new supplier alongside Rwanda and the DRC.  Côte d’Ivoire paired with a Chinese firm to exploit “an economically viable coltan deposit” in the Issia department. According to the May 22 Ministers’ Council report, SODEMI, the State-owned mining company,...

Google has revealed plans for a new fiber optic cable system named Umoja, connecting Africa to Australia to enhance digital connectivity across the continent. The American tech giant announced this initiative on Thursday, May 23. The terrestrial portion of the network will be built in partnership with Liquid Intelligent Technologies. This segment will link Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic...

Benin has closed the river trade route to Niger, citing its use as a hub for informal trafficking between the two countries. President Patrice Talon had previously justified banning the export of Nigerien crude oil from Sèmè by highlighting the illicit activities along this route. On May 22, local media reported that a contingent of security forces was deployed to enforce the closure of the...

The Institut national polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB) in Côte d'Ivoire has climbed to second place in the Top University Rank 2024 ranking of Francophone African universities, just two points behind Morocco's Mohammed V University. The growing prestige of the INP-HB is reflected in its improved international rankings, a testament to the quality of its teaching and research...

The upcoming decisions of the European Central Bank (ECB) regarding its key interest rates are being closely watched by the international financial ecosystem. This scrutiny is particularly crucial for the Central Bank of Central African States (BEAC) and the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), which manage currencies pegged to the euro at a fixed parity and have cooperation agreements...

The African Development Bank is the driving force behind one of the world's most ambitious energy projects: the Desert to Power initiative aims to bring energy to one of the least developed and most marginal parts of the continent. This transformative and bold effort aims to turn Africa’s vast, sun-drenched Sahel region – one of the most vulnerable regions in the world - into a powerhouse of...

Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings expects increased exports of raw materials over the next 24 months to significantly reduce Côte d'Ivoire's external and budgetary imbalances. Côte d'Ivoire has overtaken South Africa to become the second-best-rated country in Sub-Saharan Africa for sovereign risk concerning external debt. On May 17, Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings affirmed Côte...