In Kumasi, the historic capital of the Ashanti Kingdom in Ghana, traditional buildings stand as living testaments to the cultural legacy of one of West Africa’s most influential peoples. Descendants of a powerful empire founded in the 17th century, the Ashanti have preserved a distinctive architectural style—one that is both functional and symbolic, deeply rooted in the rhythms of the natural...

Gabon and Guinea are pushing to become major iron ore producers in Africa, despite a grim market outlook. Both countries are moving forward with their iron ore projects even as a surge in global supply threatens to push prices down over the next decade.  The World Bank’s April 2025 “Commodity Markets Outlook” predicts iron ore will drop to $95 a tonne in 2025 and $88 in...

Just over 50 kilometers from Johannesburg, South Africa, lies Maropeng—the visitor center for the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the richest fossil-bearing regions on the planet. This extraordinary area offers a journey through nearly four million years of human evolution, inviting visitors to reconnect with our shared origins. The word Maropeng, meaning...

Each year, across various regions of Côte d’Ivoire—particularly among Akan communities such as the Baoulé, Agni, and Abron—the Yam Festival (Fête des Ignames) brings together tradition, spirituality, and celebration. Held at the end of the rainy season, the festival marks the start of a new agricultural cycle and serves as a time to honor ancestral spirits and protective deities. The...

Algeria summoned France’s chargé d’affaires over the irregular posting of 15 agents. The diplomatic dispute follows expulsions, visa blocks, and rising political tensions. Longstanding disagreements over Western Sahara, migration, and colonial memory persist. Algerian authorities demanded yesterday the immediate repatriation of several French personnel, accusing them of being...

Nigeria targets 300 billion naira (about $186.7 million) through a sukuk to build roads. The bond offers a 19.75% annual return and is open for subscription until May 20. The funds will support roadwork in all six geopolitical zones of the country. The Nigerian government has launched a 300 billion naira fundraising (about $186.7 million) through an Islamic bond known as a sukuk....

Tidjane Thiam says legal pressure forced him to quit as PDCI-RDA president He was taken off the voter list and can no longer run in the 2025 election Ernest N’Koumo Mobio will lead the party for now while it prepares for what comes next Tidjane Thiam (pictured) said late Sunday, May 11, that he is stepping down as president of the PDCI-RDA. In a video posted on his social media pages,...

 Algeria and Oman will each contribute to a $300 million joint investment fund.  The fund will target food security, mining, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals. Several other agreements were signed, including deals in energy, mining, and education. Algeria and Oman have agreed to create a joint investment fund worth 115 million Omani rials, or about $300 million. The deal...

Senegal’s president met with Axian Group to discuss digital transformation plans. Axian aims to grow telecom and fintech services through its brand YAS Sénégal. The company plans major investments in 4G, 5G, and public-private innovation. Axian Group Strengthens Ties with Senegal to Support National Tech Transformation Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye met on May 9 with a...

On April 24, 2025, the SNEL, the DR Congo’s power utility, signed a contract with Chint, a Chinese firm, to rehabilitate the electricity distribution network in northern Kinshasa, covering five communes: Barumbu, Gombe, Kasa-Vubu, Kinshasa, and Lingwala. Initially, the project aimed to build 60 new low- and medium-voltage cabins, modernize 35 existing cabins, and reinforce a substation and a...