Nigeria bans raw shea nut exports for six months Policy aims to boost local processing, $300M annual revenue Joins West African trend reshaping global shea butter market Nigeria has banned the export of raw shea nuts for the next six months, effective August 27, 2025. The announcement was made in a government statement, which specified that the prohibition is intended to...

Unlike gold or copper, there is currently no benchmark price for bauxite. As the world's leading exporter of the raw material, Guinea has decided to launch its own index in the coming months, hoping to succeed where others have failed. Guinea's Minister of Mines, Bouna Sylla, announced in July 2025 the launch of the Guinea Bauxite Index (GBX), a national benchmark price intended to bring...

African leaders have pledged to reduce the use of fossil fuels to combat climate change. However, the continent's pressing development needs suggest a different reality: in Africa, the fossil fuel sector may continue to grow for the foreseeable future. Africa is projected to increase its refining capacity by 1.2 million barrels per day by 2030, according to OPEC’s 2025 World Oil Outlook. This...

Senegal’s Faye, France’s Macron discuss trade, defense, investment ties Sixth intergovernmental seminar set for September in Dakar Paris remains key investor as Senegal seeks “win-win” partnership Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye met with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, while in Paris for the Entrepreneurs' Meeting of...

Africa launches $231M cholera response plan at WHO meeting Targets 90% death reduction, elimination in 20+ countries by 2030 2025 forecast: 200K cases, 6,020 deaths; 10M vaccines needed On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, African countries launched a six-month continental plan to prepare for and respond to cholera outbreaks during the 75th session of the World Health Organization's...

Nigeria launches digital platform to report real estate fraud Second system introduced to monitor construction projects in real time Aims to boost housing transparency amid 28M-unit deficit, land disputes Nigeria's Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has launched a new digital platform to report real estate fraud. Housing Minister Ahmed Musa Dangiwa announced the tool on...

Gabon banks’ liquidity up 47%, deposits drive Q1 2025 growth Credit drops 13%, private sector loans fall despite cash surplus Non-performing loans rise 16%, hit 10.9% of total credit The Gabonese banking system saw a significant improvement in liquidity during the first quarter of 2025, according to a recent report from the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The total balance...

BGFIBank demands $8.8M from Tamoil RCA, threatens asset seizure Tamoil disputes debt size, cites existing repayment agreement Fuel shortages, tax issues deepen CAR energy sector crisis Gabonese bank BGFIBank has issued a formal notice to oil products distributor Tamoil RCA, formerly Total Centrafrique, demanding the payment of 4.68 billion CFA francs (about $8.8 million)...

SCZone, EVERFAR sign $130M deal for textile factory in Egypt Facility to export fabrics, clothing, accessories from West Qantara West Qantara emerging as major textile hub with foreign investment The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) signed a $130 million investment agreement on Tuesday, August 26, with EVERFAR Textile Egypt LLC, a subsidiary of a Chinese industrial...

97.5 MW Damlaagte solar plant begins operations in South Africa Project to supply 270 GWh/year to Sasol, Air Liquide for 20 years Marks first decarbonization step for Secunda complex, more needed The 97.5 MW Damlaagte solar project, developed by Mainstream Renewable Power in South Africa's Free State, has begun commercial operations. As the first decarbonization plant for the...