African Continental Brief: Business, Politics, Security and Development

World
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Business & Macro

  • 🇦🇴 Angola will delay issuing a eurobond this year unless international financing costs decline further, according to the head of its debt management unit.
  • 🇳🇬 Nigeria’s insurance sector saw its strongest stock surge in 20 years after a new law mandated insurers to raise additional capital.

Climate & Energy

  • 🇰🇪 Kenya: Standard Chartered Bank Kenya reported $23 million in revenue from green project financing in 2024, doubling last year’s figure.
  • 🇬🇳 Guinea: Germany’s CleanPower Generation will build two 42 MW solar plants in partnership with the government to meet 50% of power needs in Kankan and Siguiri regions.

Tech & Deals

  • 🇳🇬 Nigeria’s food delivery startup Chowdeck raised $9 million in a funding round led by Novastar and Y Combinator.
  • 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso: Dutch development bank FMO approved a $13 million loan to Dédougou Solaire for an 18 MW solar project.

Geopolitics & Policy

  • 🇹🇩 Chad: Opposition leader and former PM Succès Masra was sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined $1.8 million for inciting violence.
  • 🇲🇱 Mali: The ruling junta arrested dozens of soldiers, including Gen. Abass Dembele, over an alleged coup plot amid rising internal discontent.
  • 🇺🇬 Uganda: Opposition leader Kizza Besigye was denied bail despite exceeding the legal pre-trial detention limit; he faces treason charges.
  • 🇸🇸 South Sudan – 🇺🇬 Uganda: Ugandan military officials met with President Salva Kiir following recent border clashes. The African Union is urging UPDF withdrawal to de-escalate tensions.
  • 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau: President Umaro Sissoco Embaló declared he will run as an independent in November elections, extending his tenure amid political crisis.
  • 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast: Thousands protested in Abidjan against the electoral exclusion of key opposition leaders, including ex-President Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam.

Conflict & Humanitarian

  • 🇸🇩 Sudan: At least 63 people died in one week from malnutrition in El-Fasher, North Darfur, as fighting between the army and RSF intensifies.
  • 🇨🇩 DR Congo: Authorities report over 80 civilian deaths in recent weeks attributed to Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, threatening the Qatar-led peace process.
  • Horn of Africa–Yemen Migration Route: At least 558 migrants have died in 2024 attempting the Eastern migration route, primarily due to shipwrecks, per the IOM.

Technology

  • 🌍 Africa-wide: Telecom giant Orange will integrate OpenAI’s large language models to develop AI tools for translating African languages. Customized models will also be offered to governments for public sector use.

Sources: semafor.com, africancenter.org

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