Located about 3 km (1.8 miles) off the coast of Dakar, Senegal’s capital, Gorée Island is one of the most emblematic historical sites in West Africa. Despite its small size—only 28 hectares—the island holds immense significance as a former hub of the transatlantic slave trade. In 1978, Gorée was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in recognition of its symbolic and historical...

Mali applies to reopen Loulo-Gounkoto gold mine, closed by Barrick since January Court decision expected May 15; new management could oversee operations Dispute over unpaid taxes between Barrick and government remains unresolved The Loulo-Gounkoto gold mine in Mali, the country’s largest and Africa’s second-biggest, has been inactive since January 2025, following a suspension by...

In March, Prospect Resources released an initial resource estimate for Mumbezhi, indicating a potential of 107.2 million tonnes with a copper grade of 0.5%. This estimate included the Nyungu Central and Kabikupa deposits. On May 14, 2025, Prospect Resources announced the launch of the second phase of its exploration program at the Mumbezhi copper project in Zambia. The Australian company aims to...

• Kenya’s biosafety agency begins campaign to counter public distrust of GMOs • The KES 1.94B plan runs through 2027, with focus on public education and biosafety • A recent court ban and activist pushback show deep concerns over food sovereignty Kenya has launched a national campaign to promote genetically modified (GM) crops and counter widespread public mistrust. The initiative is...

• Nigeria may reintroduce a 5% tax on data and voice services under 2024 Finance Bill• Operators warn it could raise costs and slow digital access across the country• Over 40% of Nigerians remain offline, highlighting digital inclusion concerns Nigeria may bring back a 5% excise tax on telecom services, according to the 2024 Finance Bill passed by the Senate last week. The tax would apply...

• Unemployment among South Africans aged 15–24 rose to 62.4% in Q1 2025• Total youth jobless rate (15–34) reached 46.1%, up 9.2 points in 10 years• Nearly 1.9 million young people stopped looking for work, Stats SA reports South Africa is facing a growing unemployment crisis among its young population. According to data published by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on May 13,...

• Tidjane Thiam re-elected as head of Côte d’Ivoire’s PDCI party with 99.77% of the vote• He dismissed recent criticism and pledged to focus on leading the party back to power• His leadership faces legal challenges just five months ahead of the presidential election Tidjane Thiam has been re-elected as president of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire – African Democratic Rally...

Italy has reaffirmed its partnership with the African Development Bank and expressed keenness to explore mutual growth opportunities in Africa under the Mattei Plan. Stefano Gatti, Director General for Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (FAIC) and Lorenzo Ortona, Head of the Mattei Plan Task Force led a delegation to the Bank’s Abidjan...

• Ethiopia has signed $1.7 billion in investment deals, mainly in mining and solar panel production.• Most commitments come from Chinese companies, reinforcing China’s lead as top investor.• The deals align with Ethiopia’s reform efforts under its $3.4 billion IMF-backed program. Ethiopia has signed $1.7 billion worth of investment agreements, Finance Minister Ahmed...

Cabo Verde has inaugurated the Mindelo Technology Park, completing the second campus of the TechPark CV project funded by the African Development Bank. The facility aims to establish the country as a digital hub connecting Africa with global markets. The ceremony took place on May 6 with representatives from the government, industry, and development partners in attendance. The EUR 51.85 million...