African Continental Brief: Business, Tech, Geopolitics, Security and Human Rights — November 18, 2025 Edition

A multi-sector round-up of key developments across Africa

Business & Economy

Africa–Bangladesh Trade Summit: Addis Ababa hosted the Africa–Bangladesh Business Summit (Nov 12–14), strengthening bilateral trade in ICT, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and chemicals Daily Sun.
South Africa’s Fiscal Windfall: A commodities boom has delivered a rare $1.2 billion tax windfall, improving budget forecasts and easing deficit pressures Bloomberg.
Sub-Saharan Growth Outlook: The IMF projects 4.1% growth in 2025, rising to 4.4% in 2026, with resilience in Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda despite fiscal challenges IMF.
Africa Best Business Awards: Over 30 firms were honored in Accra for driving innovation and sustainability across the continent GhanaWeb.

AI Infrastructure Race: Countries from Nigeria to Kenya are investing in AI data centers and semiconductor design, reshaping Africa’s digital power map FurtherAfrica.
AfricaCom 2025: Cape Town’s flagship tech festival spotlighted responsible innovation, inclusive investment, and connectivity for development African Newspaper Today.
2Africa Subsea Cable: Meta announced completion of the world’s longest subsea cable system, boosting connectivity across Africa Engineering at Meta.
Digital Backbone Expansion: Airtel Africa and Nokia launched a mega fibre backbone to bridge the continent’s digital divide TechAfrica News.

Africa Hosts G20 for First Time: Johannesburg welcomed leaders under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”, spotlighting debt relief, climate finance, and trade reform Daily Graphic.
Kenya’s Defence Chief Call: Gen. Charles Kahariri urged African militaries to harness geopolitical shifts for peace and development Capital FM.
Cameroon Election Unrest: Protests erupted after President Paul Biya’s re-election amid opposition claims of vote manipulation eurafrica.info.
Russia Expands Media Presence: TASS announced new bureaus in Nigeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Madagascar, deepening Moscow’s influence TASS Russian News Agency.

Hunger Hotspots: Sudan, South Sudan, and eastern DRC face extreme food insecurity, driven by conflict and drought The Star.
UN Security Council Briefing: Sierra Leone chaired debates linking small arms proliferation and food insecurity to regional instability Security Council Report.
Conflict and Hunger Nexus: UN Deputy Chief Amina Mohammed warned that war and hunger are “two faces of the same crisis” UN News.
AU Post-Conflict Week: The African Union marked its fifth Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Awareness Week, focusing on reparative justice ZAWYA.

Tanzania’s COP30 Role Questioned: Critics argue Tanzania’s democratic record undermines its leadership of Africa’s climate negotiations environewsnigeria.com.
IGAD Governance Forum: Regional human rights bodies urged stronger democratic institutions to sustain peace in the Horn of Africa The Reporter.
Gendered Disinformation: Activists warned of rising gender-based online disinformation targeting women leaders and journalists Associa t ion for Progressive Communications.
Critical Minerals Dialogue: African leaders at the G20 in Johannesburg pushed for collective bargaining power in mineral governance MyJoyOnline.

Ethiopia’s Marburg Outbreak: Nine confirmed cases in Omo region mark Ethiopia’s first outbreak, raising cross-border containment concerns Blitz.
Kenya Drug Approval Push: Regulators joined a continental plan to accelerate medicine approvals under the African Medicines Agency Nation.
TB Progress Amid Crises: Africa reported gains against tuberculosis, though funding gaps and concurrent outbreaks (Marburg, Rift Valley Fever) threaten progress Ecofin Agency.

Africa’s trajectory remains shaped by conflict, climate stress, and digital transformation:

Resilient governance, inclusive growth, and sustained international support will be critical to stabilizing the continent.