Zambia’s REA launched the $637,000 Lui Grid Extension Project on July 17 to connect 600 users in Western Province. The project highlights the cost gap with private solar mini-grids, which are cheaper and faster to deploy. Critics argue continued focus on public grid extensions may hinder more scalable off-grid solutions amid low rural access. Zambia's latest power grid...

Zijin Mining has offered $500M for Barrick’s Tongon gold mine in Côte d’Ivoire. Barrick is divesting the asset, with no official comment yet. The deal needs Ivorian government approval. Chinese firm Zijin Mining has reportedly submitted a $500 million offer to Canadian company Barrick Gold to acquire its Tongon gold mine in Côte d’Ivoire. Reuters reported the news...

Perched in the rugged heights of the Djebel Nefoussa in northwestern Libya, Qasr Al Haji (also spelled Ghasr Al-Hajj) is a striking example of traditional Amazigh architecture and communal organization. Built in the 13th century, this circular fortress-like structure once served as a communal granary and vault for local Berber tribes—a silent yet enduring testament to the ingenuity and...

Qatar will inject $4 billion into a new tourism megacity on Egypt’s northern coast. The site will cover 24,000 hectares, with luxury hotels, residences, and a marina. Egypt targets $42 billion in FDI for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to boost its weak economy. Egypt is betting big on Gulf wealth to pull its sluggish economy out of crisis. Reeling from multiple...

Israel supports Ghana’s digital education with cutting-edge EdTech. Over 30% of Ghanaians remain offline despite a 69.9% Internet penetration. Israel’s MASHAV agency has trained Ghanaian teachers since 2013. Ghana and Israel have deepened their partnership to transform Ghana’s education system using Israeli technology and innovation. The Ghana News Agency (GNA) confirmed this...

Morocco and North Macedonia signed a diplomatic training MoU on July 21 in Skopje. The deal includes joint programs and expertise exchanges. It supports Morocco’s regional outreach and North Macedonia’s EU goals. Amid increasingly complex geopolitics, Morocco and North Macedonia have signed a memorandum of understanding on diplomatic training. The deal, signed on Monday, July...

Benin will build a new Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kétou to target the Nigerian market. The 983-hectare site will focus on cereals and integrated industries. The move follows a 2025 bilateral deal aiming to deepen Benin-Nigeria trade ties. Benin’s government has greenlit the creation of a new Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kétou, as part of its push to drive industrial...

Niger State signed a five-year cooperation deal with AfricaRice to boost rice output. The project aims to increase paddy rice production from 707,000 tonnes to 10 million tonnes. A $1.2 billion investment will fund a 5,000-hectare seed farm and expand cultivation to 500,000 hectares. Niger State has launched an ambitious $1.2 billion project to scale up rice production...

Morocco launched a nationwide logistics system, breaking ground on a $61.3M zone in Oulad Saleh, Nouaceur, on July 22. The 500,000 square-meter zone will include storage, distribution, and e-commerce facilities to streamline supply chains. Part of a broader network, the initiative aims to cut logistics costs and boost regional and port connectivity. Morocco has confirmed the...

Dangote Refinery plans to bypass intermediaries and sell fuel directly starting August 15. Oil distributors warn the new model threatens thousands of jobs across logistics and retail. NOGASA and PETROAN call for urgent talks and may stage a work stoppage. With just three weeks to go before launching its own fuel distribution network, the Dangote Group faces mounting resistance from...