A compact, multi‑sector snapshot of the continent’s latest economic, political, technological and human‑rights developments.
BUSINESS & MACRO
SPAR Group Restructures After Heavy Losses
South Africa’s SPAR Group reported R132.4 billion in revenue for the year to September 2025, a 1.6% increase driven by stronger grocery and liquor sales London South East.
However, profitability weakened: diluted headline earnings per share fell 8.96%, weighed down by elevated financing costs and a higher tax burden London South East.
SPAR has now exited Switzerland and Poland, and is negotiating the sale of its UK Appleby Westward unit as it refocuses on core markets in Southern Africa, Ireland and Sri Lanka fullview.co.za. The group recorded a R5 billion loss linked to its European exits, despite its South African operations remaining profitable businesstech.co.za.
Private Equity Momentum in Agribusiness
Development finance continues to shape Africa’s private‑equity landscape. FinDev Canada has committed US$25 million to Phatisa’s new pan‑African food‑value‑chain fund (PFF3), signalling rising investor confidence in agribusiness and supply‑chain resilience across the continent (user‑provided sources).
TECH & DIGITAL ECONOMY
Africa Rewrites Its Tech Rulebook
Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa have led a sweeping overhaul of digital regulation in 2025 — introducing new laws on AI governance, crypto markets, digital taxation, data protection and fintech oversight TechCabal.
These reforms aim to strengthen consumer protection and position African economies as competitive digital hubs, though experts warn of implementation gaps and risks of over‑regulation.
Cybersecurity Risks Intensify
Africa has become a central theatre in global cyber conflict, with state‑aligned actors from China, Russia, Iran and independent criminal networks exploiting weak digital infrastructure and governance gaps IOL.
The 2025 State of Cyber Security Report warns that Africa’s expanding digital footprint is outpacing its defensive capabilities, increasing exposure to espionage, ransomware and political interference.
CLIMATE & ENERGY
TotalEnergies Reshapes Nigerian Offshore Portfolio
TotalEnergies has agreed to sell a 40% stake in two offshore licences (PPL 2000 and 2001) in Nigeria’s West Delta basin to Chevron, leaving all three partners — TotalEnergies, Chevron and South Atlantic Petroleum — with equal shares (user‑provided sources).
The move reflects a strategic effort to derisk exploration while leveraging Chevron’s deep‑water expertise. Nigeria hopes the deal will help revive upstream investment amid regulatory reforms.
GEOPOLITICS & POLICY
ECOWAS Deploys Troops After Failed Coup in Benin
A coup attempt in Benin on 7 December 2025 was swiftly foiled after mutinous soldiers briefly appeared on state television claiming to dissolve the government CBC.
ECOWAS has since deployed its standby force, with troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone mobilised to protect constitutional order GhanaWeb Outlook India.
President Patrice Talon says the situation is “totally under control,” though several coup plotters remain at large DW.
Burkina Faso Moves to Reinstate the Death Penalty
Burkina Faso’s military government has adopted a draft bill restoring capital punishment for crimes including treason, terrorism and espionage, reversing its 2018 abolition The Guardian Nigeria.
Human‑rights groups, including Amnesty International, warn the move is a “serious setback” and risks being used to suppress dissent amid an already shrinking civic space The Guardian Nigeria.
SECURITY & HUMAN RIGHTS
Benin Coup Fallout Raises Regional Concerns
Despite the rapid suppression of the coup attempt, uncertainty persists over the whereabouts of the coup leader and several missing personnel. The incident adds to a growing pattern of political instability across West Africa, where multiple coups since 2020 have strained regional security frameworks CBC.
Human Rights Deterioration in Burkina Faso
Amnesty International has condemned Burkina Faso’s plan to restore the death penalty, arguing it violates international norms and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations Amnesty International.
The move comes amid broader concerns over media restrictions, arrests of critics, and the junta’s consolidation of power since 2022.
Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The UN warns Sudan is facing one of the gravest human‑rights crises globally, with more than 12 million people displaced amid ongoing conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia UN News.
Humanitarian access remains severely restricted, and rights monitors report widespread abuses, including targeted violence against civilians.
OUTLOOK: KEY TRENDS TO WATCH
- Energy & Investment: Nigeria’s offshore restructuring could signal renewed upstream momentum — contingent on global oil prices and regulatory stability.
- Digital Governance: Africa’s new tech laws will shape innovation, competition and data governance for the next decade.
- Regional Stability: ECOWAS’ rapid deployment in Benin highlights a firmer stance against coups, but persistent instability in the Sahel remains a major risk.
- Human Rights: Moves like Burkina Faso’s death‑penalty reinstatement and Sudan’s escalating crisis point to a challenging rights environment heading into 2026.
