Oil majors expand offshore exploration from Senegal to Angola Gulf of Guinea accounts for about 11% of global hydrocarbon discoveries since 2020 Regulatory reforms and offshore potential drive renewed investment The Gulf of Guinea is once again emerging as a major exploration zone for oil majors, driven by offshore discoveries and regulatory reforms. This momentum comes as energy demand...

S&P expects loan growth and asset quality to improve across most African markets Strong growth is forecast in Egypt, Morocco, and Nigeria, with a mild recovery in South Africa About 50% of rated African banks carry a positive outlook The outlook for African banks remains broadly positive in 2026, supported by economic and financial conditions favorable to loan growth and improving asset...

City plans municipal rules to tax short-term rentals at hotel-level rates Properties mainly used for short stays would face a 135% tax increase Cape Town had 26,484 Airbnb listings as of September 2025 The city administration of Cape Town in South Africa plans to tighten taxation on properties used for short-term rentals, including those listed on Airbnb and Booking.com, Mayor Geordin...

Deposits grow 2.7%, supporting lending recovery Average loan sizes small, credit risk persists Loans granted by Togolese microfinance institutions rose by 8.4 billion CFA francs at the end of September 2025, up 2.4%, according to data from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). The increase marks a recovery after a weaker second quarter, when outstanding credit fell by 7 billion...

Togo develops local organic certification framework for producers Standards aim to ease access to organic labels and markets Framework reviewed at Lomé workshop with GIZ support Organic farming stakeholders in Togo are developing a regulatory framework based on local standards to certify organic products, aiming to improve domestic producers’ access to certification. The...

The Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) will run from February 7 to 22, 2026, in Los Angeles, positioning itself as a major soft power platform for African countries and the diaspora. The festival holds Oscar-qualifying status, allowing selected short films to compete in three Academy Award categories. Beyond cinema, PAFF generates direct economic opportunities through ArtFest, a...

Ethiopia and the European Investment Bank signed a €110 million ($130 million) loan agreement for rural development financing. The project targets micro and small enterprises through rural financial institutions nationwide. IFAD and the European Union co-finance the initiative with grants and additional loans. Ethiopia and the European Investment Bank signed a €110...

TotalEnergies will operate the offshore PEL104 exploration license in Namibia with a 42.5% stake. The license sits in the Lüderitz Basin and covers about 11,000 square kilometers. Offshore discoveries could push Namibia’s oil output above 500,000 barrels per day within a decade. TotalEnergies ranks among the leading players in offshore oil exploration in Namibia. In December...

African airlines increased air cargo volumes by 6.0% in 2025, beating global growth. December traffic rose 10.1%, the fastest increase among all regions worldwide. IATA expects global air cargo growth to slow to 2.4% in 2026. African carriers increased air cargo volumes by 6.0% in 2025 compared with 2024, according to the latest report from the International Air Transport...

Renewables and nuclear could generate around half of global electricity by 2030, according to the IEA. Solar power and nuclear energy drive most of the projected growth. Africa accelerates solar deployment while nuclear interest rises despite funding gaps. In its report Electricity 2026, published on February 6, 2026, the International Energy Agency said renewable energy and...