The CFA zone remains Africa's primary cotton production hub. After a promising rebound in the 2023/2024 season, recovery prospects for 2024/2025 are facing a tougher reality due to climate uncertainties and ongoing pest and disease challenges. Seed cotton production in the CFA franc zone reached 2.3 million tons in the 2024/2025 season. This represents an 11.5% drop from the 2.6 million tons...

United Bank for Africa (UBA) plans to raise over 157 billion naira, approximately $102.5 million, through a rights issue. The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX) officially announced this in a market bulletin issued July 16. According to the bulletin, UBA proposes issuing 3,156,869,665 ordinary shares, each with a nominal value of 50 kobos and a unit price of 50 naira. The issue will proceed on...

France will return the skull of a Sakalava king, along with those of two of his warriors, to Madagascar in August 2025. This repatriation comes 128 years after their beheading in 1897. Madagascar's Minister of Communication and Culture, Volamiranty Donna Mara, confirmed the ceremony last week, marking the culmination of a 22-year diplomatic request. Beyond the symbolic gesture, Antananarivo...

The Democratic Republic of Congo is making a bold statement with its first World Music and Tourism Festival. Through this event, it aims to become a leading cultural force in Africa while simultaneously working to build up its still-developing tourism sector. The World Music and Tourism Festival (FMMT) energized Kinshasa from July 16 to 18, 2025. Centered around the theme  “The Rumba...

Highlights: • New 1% US tax on outbound remittances to take effect January 1, 2026• Africa received $100 billion in remittances in 2023, outpacing aid and FDI• Informal channels may rise as senders look to avoid higher costs At a time when remittances are a key source of external financing for African economies, a new US tax threatens to slow down formal money transfers and redirect...

Highlights: • Kobold Metals signed an agreement in principle with the DRC government on July 17, 2025.• The deal includes the Manono lithium project, which has strategic value.• The agreement signals U.S. efforts to counter China’s influence and support DRC stability. U.S.-based Kobold Metals has signed an agreement in principle with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for mining...

Highlights: • Global cocoa processing down across all major regions in Q2 2025• ECA: Europe’s grindings at lowest since 2020, Asia at lowest since 2017• Cocoa prices fall to 8-month low; Barry Callebaut expects 7% sales drop Global cocoa processing continues to decline as manufacturers face high raw material costs, squeezed margins, and weakening demand for chocolate...

Highlights: • Egypt targets 42% renewable energy share by 2030.• POWERCHINA to build 130-km high-voltage line signed on June 25.• National grid expansion remains critical as renewables grow. Egypt is scaling up its electricity transmission infrastructure as it pushes to integrate more solar and wind power into its energy mix, which it aims to make 42% renewable by 2030. A key step came...

Highlights: • EXIM Bank issues letter of intent for $150M to support Botswana's NexMetals• US eyes battery-grade nickel sulphates and cobalt from Tanzania’s Kabanga project• Competition with China intensifies over control of African critical metals The United States is taking new steps to consolidate its position in Africa’s critical minerals landscape, with a focus on securing...

Highlights: • Zimbabwe plans to restart the Darwendale project with $50 million in initial capital• Global platinum prices jumped 51% YoY, reaching $1,470/oz on July 17• Tharisa targets 200,000 oz/year from Karo, investing over $186 million in FY2025 Zimbabwe is preparing to relaunch development of the Darwendale platinum deposit, according to Trevor Bernard, CEO of Kuvimba...