Nearly 60% of Africans will live in cities by 2050, up from 43% today, UN says Global smart city market set to grow from $623.9 billion in 2023 to $4.65 trillion by 2032 Projects in Kenya, Senegal, Morocco, and Tunisia aim to modernise infrastructure and create jobs Africa’s cities are growing at breakneck speed, straining infrastructure, public services, and resources....

Nigeria’s $60bn bullet train wins key approvals and funding; groundbreaking could occur within a year, pending environmental clearance. The 1,600 km network, built in phases over 36 months, would cut Lagos–Abuja travel to under three hours. Freight links to ports and dry ports promise lower logistics costs, but security, land acquisition and power risks loom. Nigeria is...

Morocco projects avocado production at 80,000 tons for 2025/2026, down from last year’s record 115,000 tons. Extreme weather between March and July 2025 caused major fruit losses in orchards. The decline is expected to reduce export volumes, which account for about 90% of production. Morocco now forecasts a harvest of 80,000 tons of avocados for the 2025/2026 season, according to...

De Beers discovers new kimberlite field in Angola First major find in over 30 years for company Further drilling, analysis planned to assess diamond potential Diamond corporation De Beers announced Tuesday the discovery of a new kimberlite field in Angola, the company's first such find in over three decades. The discovery, located in a region where the company resumed exploration...

Benin restarts Sèmè oilfield after 27-year shutdown Project led by Akrake Petroleum, production starts by end-2025 Output projected at 15,000 barrels per day initially Benin's campaign to reactivate the Sèmè oilfield has officially begun, a move that will restore the nation's status as an oil producer after nearly three decades. The start of the drilling operations, which was...

Gabon to bar foreigners from select local economic activities Restrictions target e-commerce, informal trades, and unlicensed services Policy aims to boost local youth, women, and entrepreneurship Gabon announced on Tuesday that it will bar foreigners from a range of local economic activities as part of a new policy to boost national entrepreneurship and "economic...

EU rolls out biometric Entry/Exit System in Oct 2025, replacing passport stamps. Visa-free African states face new checks, longer queues, and strict stay limits. System boosts compliance, migration tracking, and EU leverage in negotiations. The European Union will start rolling out its long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) in October 2025, replacing passport stamps with biometric checks for...

MTN and SANTACO signed a reseller deal on 13 Aug 2025. Gauteng taxis gain MTN data, ICT, fintech tools first. Future pilots will add IoT tracking and cashless fares. MTN South Africa has partnered with the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) to modernize the country’s minibus-taxi sector through digital innovation. The initiative, announced on 13 August in an MTN LinkedIn post,...

• AFG Holding completes acquisition of Société Générale Guinée as part of regional growth plans.• The deal keeps all existing customer services and staff to ensure smooth operations.• Société Générale exits Guinea, continuing its strategic African portfolio streamlining since 2023. On August 11, 2025, AFG Holding, the Atlantic group’s financial arm, announced it had finalised...

• GDP growth will ease to 3.5% in 2025 from 3.7% in 2024 and below the 3.8% forecast.• Drought-hit livestock sector and weak diamond demand weigh on outlook.• Growth expected to recover to 3.9% in 2026, slightly above IMF’s forecast. Namibia’s real GDP growth will slow to 3.5% in 2025, down from the 3.8% initially forecast and 3.7% recorded in 2024, the Bank of Namibia said in a report...