A curated overview of the latest developments shaping Africa’s economic, political, technological, and security landscapes.
📈 Business & Macro
- Nigeria: From January 2026, foreign equity investors in Nigeria’s stock market will face a 30% capital gains tax on share sales — a tripling of the current rate. Analysts warn this could dampen foreign portfolio inflows, though the government argues it will boost fiscal revenues.
- Kenya: President William Ruto announced plans to establish both an infrastructure fund and a sovereign wealth fund, designed to channel investment into long-term projects and safeguard savings for future generations.
- Continental Outlook: According to the African Development Bank, Africa’s economy is projected to grow 3.9% in 2025, with East Africa leading at nearly 6% growth, despite persistent inflation and debt pressures.
🌍 Climate & Energy
- Côte d’Ivoire: Italian energy major Eni signed a nine-year contract to explore an offshore oil block near Abidjan, expanding its portfolio in the country to 11 blocks.
- Regional Climate Action: The Africa Climate Summit 2 in Addis Ababa concluded with the Addis Ababa Declaration, demanding fairer climate financing and calling for Africa’s share of global renewable energy investment to rise from 2% to 20% by 2030.
- Innovation: A new Pan-African Green AI Alliance was launched by K’omani Energies B.V. and Africai, integrating renewable energy infrastructure with AI governance frameworks to ensure Africa’s digital future is powered sustainably.
⚖️ Human Rights
- Madagascar: Amnesty International condemned the use of deadly force against Gen Z-led protests, where at least 22 people were killed and over 100 injured. The organization urged investigations and repeal of repressive protest laws.
- Zambia: At a Lusaka conference, the UN Human Rights Office for East and Southern Africa warned that Africa’s energy transition risks repeating patterns of displacement, environmental degradation, and inequality unless human rights safeguards are embedded in extractive projects.
- UNHCR: The UN refugee agency reported a record 122 million people displaced globally, with conflicts in Sudan, the Sahel, and the Horn of Africa driving Africa’s share of the crisis.
🏛️ Geopolitics & Policy
- Eswatini: The kingdom will receive 11 deportees from the U.S. this month, continuing a bilateral deportation arrangement initiated earlier this year.
- Liberia: A court ordered the detention of several former senior officials over the disappearance of a 53.34-carat diamond, raising concerns about corruption and accountability.
- Chad: Lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment extending presidential terms from five to seven years, with no term limits — consolidating the rule of President Mahamat Idriss Déby.
- Regional Dynamics: Analysts note that Africa’s geopolitical weight is rising, with the U.S., China, and Russia competing for influence. The Trump administration’s “trade-over-aid” policy has introduced new tariffs on African exports, complicating relations.
💻 Tech & Deals
- Kenya: French infrastructure fund STOA invested $27 million in Atlas Tower Kenya, expanding telecom tower infrastructure to improve mobile connectivity.
- South Africa: State-owned Broadband Infraco, in partnership with Huawei, is scaling its backbone network capacity eightfold to 800 Gbps, a major boost for digital infrastructure.
- Continental Trends: Despite a 21% drop in M&A activity across Africa in 2025, local investors are driving deals in energy and telecoms, while global venture capital remains cautious amid currency volatility and political risk.
🔐 Security
- Somalia: Al-Shabab militants attempted to storm a Mogadishu prison, sparking clashes that left multiple fighters dead. Authorities say the attackers disguised themselves in military uniforms.
- U.S.–Africa Security: Washington is shifting its Africa strategy, urging nations to take greater responsibility for their own defense as the U.S. reduces its military footprint. Analysts warn this could embolden militant groups if local forces lack capacity.
- Nigeria: Security concerns persist in the north, with opposition figures warning that bandits control parts of Kwara State, underscoring the fragility of rural governance.
✍️ Summary
Africa’s week is marked by bold economic reforms, climate leadership, and technological investment, but also by political turbulence, human rights concerns, and security challenges. The continent’s resilience is evident in its growth outlook and innovation drive, yet governance and stability remain decisive factors for its future trajectory.
Sources: African Development Bank; Semafor, Business Tech Africa; Devdiscourse; E3G; The Conversation; Amnesty International; UN News; Al Jazeera; DW; TechAfrica News; Zawya; MSN.
