Business & Macro
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe — Chinese battery metals giant Huayou Cobalt will begin producing lithium sulphate in early 2026 from its new $400 million plant at the Arcadia mine near Harare. The facility, with an annual capacity exceeding 50,000 metric tons, marks a significant step in Zimbabwe’s push to move up the global battery supply chain by exporting processed rather than raw lithium MINING.COM.
🇳🇦 Namibia — The Bank of Namibia cut its benchmark repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.5%, its first policy change of 2025. The central bank cited slowing domestic growth and contained inflation, while pledging to safeguard the Namibian dollar’s peg to the South African rand ZAWYA.
Climate & Energy
🇿🇦 South Africa — Pretoria will lift its 13-year moratorium on shale gas exploration later this month, once new environmental and safety regulations are published. The move is aimed at diversifying the energy mix, reducing coal dependence, and unlocking reserves in the Karoo Basin, estimated at up to 209 trillion cubic feet of gas Ecofin Agency.
Geopolitics & Policy
🇲🇬 Madagascar — Colonel Michael Randrianirina, commander of the elite CAPSAT unit, was sworn in as interim president after the military seized power. The takeover followed weeks of youth-led protests and the flight of President Andry Rajoelina. Randrianirina has suspended key institutions and suggested elections may be delayed up to two years Business Day Aljazeera.
🇳🇬 Nigeria — The Senate confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Amupitan pledged sweeping reforms to restore public trust, vowing to make elections so transparent that “even losers will congratulate winners” Business Day Vanguard News.
Tech & Deals
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone — The African Development Bank (AfDB) approved a $500 million Country Strategy Paper (2025–2030) to support infrastructure, agricultural value chains, and private sector competitiveness. The program aims to boost resilience and inclusive growth in one of West Africa’s most fragile economies ZAWYA.
🇲🇺 Mauritius — The International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced plans to invest $25 million in the African Transition Acceleration Fund (ATAF), a Mauritius-based vehicle targeting early-stage clean energy and sustainable mobility ventures. The fund seeks to raise up to $250 million to accelerate Africa’s energy transition Ecofin Agency.
Security & Human Rights
Across the continent, rights groups continue to warn that political instability — from military interventions in Madagascar to crackdowns on civic freedoms in West Africa — risks undermining democratic governance. Meanwhile, economic reforms and energy investments highlight Africa’s growing role in global supply chains and the clean energy transition.
