🏢 Business & Macro
🇨🇩 DR Congo: CMOC Invests $1.08 Billion in Copper Expansion
China’s CMOC Group will invest $1.08 billion to expand its KFM copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, adding 100,000 metric tons of annual output. The second phase begins in 2027, following full capacity achievement in 2023. The move reinforces China’s dominance in critical mineral supply chains amid global copper shortages MINING.COM SABC News.
🇦🇴 Angola: Endiama Bids for De Beers Stake
Angola’s state-owned diamond firm Endiama has submitted a formal bid to acquire Anglo American’s 85% stake in De Beers, challenging Botswana’s ambition to become majority owner. Endiama CEO José Manuel Ganga Júnior described the proposal as “concrete and well-defined.” Angola recently surpassed Botswana in diamond output by value Mining Weekly MINING.COM.
⚡ Climate & Energy
🇸🇳 Senegal: Renewables Make Up 29% of Power Mix
Senegal’s installed power capacity reached 1,903.8 MW, with 29.1% derived from renewable sources, according to a national survey by the Ministry of Energy. While fossil fuels dominate urban electricity generation, rural areas show higher renewable adoption. The findings will guide future energy policy and infrastructure planning Energy Capital & Power.
🌍 Sub-Saharan Africa: AFC Secures $100M for Clean Energy
The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) secured a $100 million, 10-year loan from FinDev Canada to fund renewable energy and low-carbon transport projects across sub-Saharan Africa. This marks AFC’s debut in the Canadian market and FinDev’s first infrastructure financing in the region ZAWYA Ecofin Agency.
🌍 Geopolitics & Security
🇳🇬 Nigeria: Army Repels Drone Attacks, Kills 50 Militants
The Nigerian Army announced it killed over 50 Boko Haram militants during coordinated drone and ground assaults on bases in Borno and Yobe States. The insurgents launched attacks from northern Cameroon and Katarko village, using drones to drop explosives. Ground troops and air support neutralized the threat and continue to pursue injured fighters The Independent Arab News.
🇪🇹 Ethiopia: Peace Talks Resume Amid Tigray Tensions
Ethiopian federal officials and Tigrayan leaders have resumed peace negotiations in Nairobi, mediated by the African Union. Talks aim to solidify ceasefire terms and address humanitarian access, following renewed clashes in Amhara and Oromia regions. The AU has urged restraint and transparency in the process.
💻 Tech & Deals
🇿🇦 East Africa: Standard Bank Finances Fiber Expansion
Standard Bank has arranged a $42 million loan for Bandwidth & Cloud Services Group (BCS) to expand its 80,000 km fiber optic network across East Africa. The facility, structured with flexible repayment terms, supports BCS’s mission to improve regional connectivity and digital infrastructure Corporate and Investment Banking | Standard Bank.
🇰🇪 Kenya: Safaricom Launches AI-Powered Mobile Lending Platform
Safaricom has unveiled M-Pesa SmartCredit, an AI-driven mobile lending service offering dynamic credit limits based on user behavior. The platform aims to reduce default rates and expand financial inclusion, particularly among informal sector workers.
🛡️ Human Rights & Civil Freedoms
🇸🇩 Sudan: Civilians Trapped Amid Escalating Urban Conflict
Human rights groups have raised alarm over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Khartoum and El Fasher, where clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have left thousands of civilians trapped without food, water, or medical aid. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for immediate ceasefires to allow humanitarian corridors, warning that indiscriminate shelling may constitute war crimes.
🇪🇷 Eritrea: UN Urges Transparency on Detained Journalists
The United Nations Human Rights Council has renewed calls for Eritrea to release or disclose the status of 11 journalists detained since 2001. Despite repeated inquiries, the government has refused to confirm their whereabouts or legal status. Advocacy groups say the prolonged incommunicado detention violates international human rights norms and press freedom standards.
🇨🇲 Cameroon: Internet Shutdowns Raise Concerns Over Democratic Rights
Following contested presidential election results, Cameroon’s government has reportedly imposed regional internet blackouts, particularly in opposition strongholds. Civil society organizations and digital rights advocates have condemned the move as a violation of freedom of expression and access to information, urging international observers to monitor the situation closely.
Summary:
Africa’s economic and security landscape is shifting rapidly. Major investments in mining and fiber infrastructure signal growing global confidence, while regional security challenges persist. Climate resilience and digital transformation remain central to the continent’s development agenda.
