• Mali secures majority ownership in refinery built with Russia’s Yadran• Facility to process up to 200 tons of gold per year• Project aims to boost local value creation in the mining sector The government of Mali will hold a 62% stake in the country’s first national gold refinery, according to a decree adopted by the Council of Ministers on May 28, 2025. The project, developed in...

• UBA Group expands asset management arm to Abidjan with UCAMWAL• Subsidiary to offer diversified investment solutions beyond Nigeria• Strategy aims to tap into growing West African demand for financial products United Bank for Africa (UBA), led by Nigerian businessman Tony Elumelu, has launched a new asset management subsidiary in Côte d’Ivoire as part of its regional expansion. The...

• CcHub and Mastercard Foundation launch third EdTech Fellowship cohort• 12 startups selected, including 6 led by women, receive up to $100,000 each• Focus on offline, AI-driven, and scalable tools for inclusive education Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has announced the third cohort of its EdTech Fellowship program, aimed at advancing equitable...

• Uganda to secure €500M from Afreximbank, Ecobank, and DBSA for infrastructure• Rising domestic costs and limited concessional funding drive borrowing shift• Public debt reached $29.1B by end-2024, up 18% year-on-year Facing rising domestic borrowing costs and reduced access to concessional loans, Uganda plans to borrow €500 million ($567 million) from three regional...

• Benin forms agency to develop maritime and lagoon infrastructure• New company to manage shipyard, dredging, and coastal protection• Initiative supports lake transport and aims to ease road congestion Benin has approved the creation of the Beninese Maritime and Lagoon Infrastructure Company, a new public entity charged with managing the country’s coastal, river, and lagoon...

• Eastern authorities threaten force majeure over key oil terminals• NOC denies export disruption, but internal divisions raise concerns• Oil output reached 1.38M bpd in April, highest in over a decade Libya is facing renewed risks to its crude oil exports following a warning from authorities in the east of the country. On May 29, 2025, the eastern administration threatened to declare a...

• Solar Panda enters Senegal to supply off-grid households with solar power• Over 350,000 homes in Kenya already equipped with its solar kits• The kits offer lighting, charging, and TV access for rural communities Canadian renewable energy firm Solar Panda has announced its entry into the Senegalese market, aiming to improve access to electricity for off-grid households. The company...

• Guinea withdraws 129 exploration permits, including three held by Resolute• Resolute says it received no official notice and may pursue legal action• One affected permit includes a key asset tied to a $175M sale to AngloGold On May 26, 2025, the Guinean government announced the withdrawal of 129 mining exploration permits covering various metals, including gold. Among the affected...

• Nearly 90% of Burundians lacked internet access in 2023, per ITU• Government targets 4G coverage in 178 rural divisions, reaching 786,000 people• Project includes national roaming, renewable energy, and open infrastructure As of 2023, almost 90% of Burundi’s population had no access to the internet, according to data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). To address...

• Cape Town’s central rail line resumes service after $73 million in repairs• Line was shut since 2019 due to vandalism and infrastructure decay• Government targets broader rail recovery to ease urban congestion South Africa has reopened the central railway line in Cape Town after a five-year shutdown, marking a key step in the government’s broader plan to restore the national...