Business & Economy
MTN’s Surge on the Continent
South African telecom giant MTN posted a 25.9% year‑on‑year rise in service revenue for the nine months to September 2025, driven by strong growth in Nigeria (57.1%) and Ghana (35.9%). Data revenue climbed 40%, fintech rose 35.7%, and the customer base expanded to 301 million. MTN Nigeria reported ₦1.12 trillion in pre‑tax profits and a ₦55.6 billion FX gain, reversing earlier losses. Fintech revenue hit ₦131.6 billion, largely from airtime lending. The group plans to scale AI‑powered digital inclusion with Microsoft by 2026.
Renewable Energy Investment
South Africa’s Mulilo secured a US$75 million equity injection from Norway’s Norfund, partnering with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners to expand wind, solar, and battery projects. With 765 MW under construction and a pipeline targeting 5.5 GW by 2027, the projects aim to avoid 11 million tonnes of CO₂ annually and supply power to 14 million households. Standard Chartered advised on the deal, reinforcing global capital flows into African clean energy.
Technology & Innovation
Africa Tech Festival Awards 2025 in Cape Town honored innovators driving digital transformation, spotlighting leaders in AI, fintech, and connectivity. Global firm HONOR showcased human‑centric AI devices, merging robotics with smartphone functionality. Meanwhile, Africa Startup Festival Lagos 2025 (Nov 28) promises a bold mix of innovation, culture, and networking, with Google and Partech among headline speakers. In Addis Ababa, the China‑Africa Agricultural Science & Tech Innovation Alliance convened to chart cooperation in modern agriculture.
Geopolitics & Peace
DR Congo – M23 Peace Framework
In Doha, DR Congo and the M23 rebel group signed a Doha Framework Agreement, mediated by Qatar, outlining eight protocols for peace, including humanitarian access, governance reform, and disarmament. Two protocols — prisoner exchange and ceasefire monitoring — are already agreed. Analysts caution that success hinges on sequential implementation.
Continental Diplomacy
Egypt’s President El‑Sisi launched the AU Post‑Conflict Reconstruction Week in Cairo, stressing restorative justice and resilience amid climate and security pressures. The UN and AU vowed closer cooperation on peace, security, and development at their ninth annual conference.
Security
Sahel & West Africa
The UN Security Council forecast for November highlights deteriorating conditions in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with jihadist groups expanding operations. Sierra Leone, holding the UNSC presidency, is leading debates on small arms control and conflict‑related food insecurity.
Conflict Updates
ACLED reported intensified violence: RSF attacks in Sudan, unrest in Cameroon after Biya’s re‑election, and al‑Shabaab’s prison strike in Mogadishu. Rwanda hosted the 19th African Conference of Commandants, focusing on bridging the digital divide in military training.
Governance & Human Rights
Tanzania Election Fallout
President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced a commission of inquiry into unrest after the October 29 elections, pledging constitutional reforms within 100 days. Opposition groups allege up to 3,000 deaths, though unverified. Internet blackouts during protests raised concerns over freedom of expression.
Regional Rights Concerns
Human rights bodies under IGAD warned against governments misinterpreting oversight as opposition, urging stronger democratic institutions. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights flagged Sudan’s displacement crisis, with nearly 9 million internally displaced. Meanwhile, gendered disinformation targeting women activists is rising, prompting calls for digital rights protections.
Outlook
Africa’s trajectory is marked by economic dynamism, tech innovation, and fragile peace processes. Telecom and renewable energy sectors are attracting record investment, while governance challenges in Tanzania and Sudan highlight persistent rights concerns. Diplomatic frameworks in DR Congo and AU initiatives in Cairo signal momentum toward peace, but implementation remains the decisive test.
Sources
Perfect — here’s your African Continental Brief sources list presented in a horizontal format with embedded links, clean and professional:
Sources:
Reuters ·ETTelecom ·Nairametrics ·TheCable ·TechCabal ·Mulilo ·GlobeNewswire ·Standard Chartered · The Peninsula ·Al Jazeera ·Euronews ·AP News ·Reddit – Rights Groups ·Reddit – Internet Blackout ·BusinessGhana ·iAfrica ·Vanguard ·PRNewswire ·Ahram Online ·UN News ·African Security Analysis ·
Security Council Report ·ACLED ·Top Africa News ·EnviroNews Nigeria ·Reporter Ethiopia ·APC ·MyJoyOnline ·African Parliamentary News ·ACHPR ·Human Rights Watch (HRW)
