Reform prioritises practical skills, literacy and numeracy through 2030 Plan strengthens vocational pathways; all students literate and numerate by grade four Reform targets learning gaps, youth unemployment in one of world’s poorest countries Malawi's government on Friday unveiled an education reform plan aimed at refocusing teaching on practical skills and foundational literacy...

AES appoints Balibié Serge Auguste Bayala as first president of BCID-AES Bank created in 2025 to fund strategic projects in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Institution starts with initial capital of CFA500 billion, or about $900 million The Confederation of Sahel States (AES) has appointed Professor Balibié Serge Auguste Bayala as president of the Confederation Bank for...

Altona Rare Earths has secured U.S. support for the Monte Muambe rare earth project in Mozambique. The move reflects Washington’s push to diversify rare earth supply chains beyond China. Mozambique joins a growing list of African countries targeted by U.S.-backed rare earth projects. In a note published on Monday, February 9, British mining company Altona Rare Earths said it had...

South Africa has resumed local production of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines after a 21-year halt. The move comes as FMD outbreaks affect eight of the country’s nine provinces. Authorities aim to cut import reliance as local vaccine output gradually increases. South Africa’s Agricultural Research Council (ARC), the public body responsible for agricultural research and...

Phatisa reaches $86 million first close for food fund Backed by BII, IFC, and other development finance institutions Fund targets Africa’s food value chain, excluding primary farming Phatisa, a Mauritius-based private equity fund manager, said on Monday it had reached a first close of $86 million for its third food and agriculture fund. The fund, Phatisa Food Fund 3 (PFF3), is...

Algeria’s Annaba port expansion due for completion by end-2026 Project adds 10 million-tonne mineral quay linked to phosphate rail line Upgrade supports export diversification beyond hydrocarbons Works to expand the port of Annaba is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb said during an inspection visit last weekend. Launched in April 2024, the project...

Nigeria launched a 50-block oil licensing round in December 2025 and eased financial terms in January 2026. The upstream regulator urged state-owned NNPC Ltd to apply alongside private operators. Authorities seek to revive oil exploration, particularly in northern Nigeria. Nigeria launched a new oil licensing round in December 2025, offering a total of 50 oil blocks for auction. In late...

Africa’s two-wheel motorcycle market should reach $5.55 billion in 2026 and $7.29 billion by 2031, driven by urbanization and informal transport. Rising import dependence, currency volatility and supply chain pressures continue to push motorcycle prices higher. Cities struggle to regulate motorcycle taxis amid congestion, pollution, road safety risks and social...

The United States committed $156 million to Burundi’s health sector over five years under a new memorandum of understanding. Burundi must mobilize $26 million in domestic funding by 2030, representing about 17% of the total envelope. The program prioritizes HIV/AIDS, malaria, and infectious disease control amid persistent system constraints. Burundi and the United...

South Africa decided to withdraw more than 700 troops from the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo by end-2026. Pretoria cited the need to consolidate and reorganize national defense resources. The withdrawal comes amid persistent insecurity in eastern Congo and rising displacement. South Africa decided to withdraw its military contingent from the United Nations...