Carlo McLeod named special advisor and deputy director in Namibia’s upstream unit. His public-private background aligns with goals to shape oil and gas policy direction. The presidency aims to review regulations and boost local content as projects advance. Following her inauguration in March, Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah decided to channel the management of...

Dangote Group is backing a new 32-ton/hour rice mill in Niger State, Nigeria. The mill is part of the Niger Foods Initiative, a public-private agriculture program. Nigeria is projected to import 3M tons of rice in 2024/25, 37% of total demand. In Nigeria, Niger State is set to host a new rice mill on a 30-hectare site in Wushishi. Fatima Wali Abdurrahman, the senior special adviser...

Kenya is promoting adventure tourism to create rural jobs amid 70% youth unemployment. The Kenya Tourism Board launched a global campaign with BBC StoryWorks on May 25. Job creation in guiding, hospitality, and local services is a key strategy. With about seven out of ten young people unemployed, according to the Federation of Kenyan Employers (FKE), Kenya seeks to rejuvenate its...

Kasapreko will offer up to 25% of its equity by end-2025 in Ghana’s first IPO since MTN. The move aims to diversify financing and increase investor interest in local markets. Kasapreko’s revenue hit $256M in 2024, with strong growth continuing in early 2025. Kasapreko Company Limited, a local drinks manufacturer, has confirmed its plans to go public by the end of 2025....

Canyon Resources gets CFA82 billion in financing from AFG Bank Cameroon. Funds will cover rail, port, and transport needs for the Minim Martap bauxite project. The company aims to begin bauxite exports from Cameroon by 2026. Canyon Resources, an Australian mining company, has secured a loan facility worth CFA82 billion, or approximately $140 million, from AFG Bank Cameroon. The...

Agence Ecofin, widely regarded as the leading French-language source for pan-African economic reporting, is now aiming higher: to become the top economic media outlet for the entire continent. To support this ambition, Ecofin’s newsroom—currently made up of 51 African business journalists—will gradually integrate English-speaking reporters and open additional regional bureaus. With...

Burkina Faso plans to install 800 telecom towers in 2025 to expand network access. The project targets 1,000 white zones by 2027, up from 183 connected by 2022. Security risks and infrastructure vandalism may hinder full implementation. The government of Burkina Faso plans to roll out 800 telecom towers in 2025 to facilitate network coverage in “white zones,” or areas devoid of...

DRC and the US are nearing a deal granting mineral access in exchange for security support. The agreement could counter China’s mining dominance and aid M23 conflict resolution. Talks follow a $1B US-backed investment in DRC’s Manono lithium deposit. Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are seeking to balance China's dominance in the mining sector. The...

• Kaduna Electric signed an MoU for a 100 MW solar project with battery storage.• The project will serve Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states with decentralized power.• Nigeria aims for universal electricity access and 50% renewables by 2030 To address Nigeria's energy deficit, Kaduna Electric is embarking on a 100 MW solar energy project with storage facilities, aligning with...

• The NPA will begin dredging Lekki Port under a $1.5B deal with CHEC.• The aim is to deepen the channel to 19 meters and attract larger vessels.• Lekki Port supports export growth and relieves congestion at Lagos ports. The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is set to start dredging works at the Lekki deep-sea port, located on the outskirts of Lagos. According to the local press, the...