USTHB and Transylvania University signed a cooperation agreement in Algiers The partnership targets joint programs, academic exchanges, and research projects The deal comes amid pressure to align training with labor market needs Algeria’s Houari Boumediene University of Science and Technology (USTHB) on February 2 signed a partnership agreement with Romania’s Transylvania University to...

A state-owned banking holding is planned for launch in 2026 The structure will centralize and manage public shareholdings in banks The move follows a broader rise in state ownership across WAEMU banking Burkina Faso plans to create a public banking holding in 2026 to hold and manage the state’s shareholdings in selected public banks. The announcement was made on February 2 by Economy...

The Vision 2060 roadmap places digital technology among key growth drivers The strategy prioritizes AI, digital inclusion, and cybersecurity Structural gaps persist in skills, coverage, financing, and governance Yesterday, Benin officially launched its roadmap intended to guide the country’s development over the next 35 years. The “Vision Benin 2060 Alafia, a World of Splendors,”...

The bank received its provisional headquarters in Nigeria on February 2 Initial capital is set at $500 million, with a long-term target of $5 billion Member states have begun contributions ahead of the planned June launch The African Energy Bank (AEB) project reached a key milestone on February 2 with the handover of its provisional headquarters in Nigeria. The...

Morocco opened a continental training school for robotic surgery in Casablanca through the Mohammed VI Foundation for Science and Health. The initiative followed Morocco’s ranking as Africa’s second-most prepared country for frontier technologies, according to UNCTAD. Global robotic surgery markets showed double-digit growth projections, reinforcing the sector’s strategic...

Benin launched its “Benin 2060 Alafia” national development vision, adopted by parliament in July 2025. The strategy rests on four pillars: peace, good governance, shared prosperity, and international cultural influence. Authorities anchored the vision in strong economic growth, reforms, and long-term policy alignment. President Patrice Talon officially launched the national long-term...

The United States advanced talks to source critical minerals from the DRC, targeting assets operated by Ivanhoe Mines and Glencore. Ivanhoe said discussions covered exporting zinc, copper, lead, germanium, and gallium from the Kipushi mine to the United States. A U.S.-backed consortium agreed to value Glencore’s Mutanda and Kamoto mines at about $9 billion under a proposed stake...

Akrake Petroleum completed the AK-2H production well at the offshore Sèmè field. Technical results confirmed high porosity and oil saturation, supporting commercial potential. Production start slipped beyond January 2026, with no revised timetable announced. Akrake Petroleum, an indirect subsidiary of Rex International, announced the successful completion of drilling at the AK-2H...

Equatorial Guinea increased GEPetrol’s stake from 5% to 32.55% in the Aseng Gas project. Chevron committed to finance the increase while retaining its role as project operator. The project supports a $690 million gas development plan linked to existing LNG infrastructure. Equatorial Guinea and U.S. oil major Chevron signed an agreement covering the Aseng Gas project that provides...

African banana exports rose 5% to 753,000 tonnes in 2025, according to FAO estimates. Ghana recorded the fastest growth, increasing exports 27.72% to 129,000 tonnes. Cameroon saw exports fall 4% to 244,000 tonnes due to persistent security disruptions. African countries exported about 753,000 tonnes of bananas in 2025, according to the latest estimates from the Food and Agriculture...