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Business & Macro
🇿🇦 South Africa | Tariffs Cause Major Automotive Losses
Jendamark Automation, a South African manufacturer supplying BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, announced it has lost contracts worth $41 million. The losses stem from the 30% U.S. tariffs imposed on South African exports.
Climate & Energy
🇳🇬 Nigeria | Dangote Refinery Appoints New CEO
The Dangote Refinery has appointed David Bird, a former Shell executive in Australia, as its new chief executive, signaling a move to enhance leadership capacity at Africa’s largest oil refinery.
🇰🇪 Kenya | KenGen Installs Battery Storage Facility
Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has commissioned a 1.16 MWh battery storage system in Nairobi to store surplus power and support its data center, marking a key step toward grid stability and digital infrastructure.
Geopolitics & Policy
🇷🇼 🇨🇩 Rwanda-DR Congo | Energy & Infrastructure Pact
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed on a framework to boost economic cooperation in energy, infrastructure, and related sectors, according to the U.S. State Department.
🇲🇱 Mali | Ex-Prime Minister Jailed over Social Media Post
Former Prime Minister Moussa Mara was arrested and charged with “undermining the credibility of the state” after publicly supporting jailed government critics. His trial is scheduled for September 29.
🌍 Regional | EAC, SADC, and AU to Merge DRC Peace Efforts
Leaders from the East African Community and Southern African Development Community agreed in Nairobi to consolidate their respective peace initiatives in the DRC under the African Union’s mediation.
Technology & Deals
🇿🇦 Vodacom to Boost Mpumalanga Services
Vodacom will invest $34 million in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province during FY2025/26, up from $22 million the previous year, to improve service availability and network resilience.
🇳🇬 Nigeria | Court Halts 54Gene Asset Sale
A Nigerian court has blocked the asset sale of defunct genomics startup 54Gene following a lawsuit by founder Abasi Ene-Obong, who alleged corporate misconduct by top investors.
Security & Humanitarian
🇳🇬 Nigeria | Mass Kidnapping in Zamfara
Over 50 people were abducted in Zamfara State by armed bandits, according to a UN conflict monitoring report. The incident highlights a shift toward large-scale attacks in northwestern Nigeria, with ties between bandits and jihadist groups deepening.
🇸🇩 Sudan | Al-Fashir Under Siege
Hundreds of thousands are trapped in al-Fashir, Darfur’s last major Sudanese Army stronghold, under constant RSF artillery and drone attacks. Civilians face starvation, cholera, and soaring prices as aid access remains blocked.
🇸🇩 Sudan | Flooding Affects 21 Areas
Severe flooding across 21 regions in Sudan is worsening health risks amid a collapsing healthcare system. The rainy season, expected to bring above-average rainfall, is coinciding with high malnutrition and displacement levels.
🇲🇿 Mozambique | Violence Displaces Tens of Thousands
Renewed attacks in Cabo Delgado forced nearly 47,000 people to flee in late July, bringing total displacement in 2025 to over 95,000. The Islamist insurgency continues to destabilize the region despite regional military support.
🇾🇪 Gulf of Aden | 68 Ethiopian Migrants Dead in Boat Tragedy
At least 68 Ethiopian migrants died and 74 are missing after a boat capsized off Yemen’s coast. The vessel was carrying 154 people attempting to reach Gulf states via one of the world’s deadliest migration routes.
Political Developments
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast | Opposition Alleges Political Repression
The PPA-CI opposition party accused authorities of “arbitrary arrests” after six members were detained. Tensions are rising ahead of the October 12 presidential election, amid the exclusion of key opposition figures.
Social & Legal
🇰🇪 Kenya | Child-Sex Trafficking Exposed in Maai Mahiu
A BBC Africa Eye investigation uncovered child sex trafficking in Kenya’s Maai Mahiu town. Despite undercover footage and evidence submitted to police in March, no arrests have been made to date.
🇿🇦 South Africa | 1,000 Illegal Miners Arrested
Police arrested about 1,000 undocumented miners at a site in Mpumalanga. Illegal mining remains a major issue, with frequent cross-border involvement and recent deadly crackdowns.
Culture & Heritage
🇫🇷 France | New Law to Accelerate Return of African Artefacts
France unveiled a bill allowing the restitution of colonial-era artefacts by government decree, bypassing parliamentary approval. Only 27 items have been returned in the past six years, sparking criticism over the slow pace of repatriation.
Food Insecurity
🌍 East & Central Africa | Over 88 Million Face Hunger
A joint FAO-IGAD report estimates 88.5 million people in East and Central Africa are acutely food insecure. Conflict, displacement, and climate shocks in countries like Sudan, DRC, and Somalia continue to drive the crisis.
Sources: africacenter.org, semafor.com
