African Continental Brief: Business, Technology, Security and Human Rights

World
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Date: September 10, 2025


Business & Macro

🇰🇪 Cyber Heist Exposes Kenya’s Banking Vulnerabilities

Hackers stole over $12 million from Kenyan banks in 2024, the Central Bank of Kenya has revealed. This marks the largest digital theft in the country’s history, raising fresh concerns about cybersecurity readiness in the financial sector.

🇹🇿 Tourism Surges in Zanzibar

International arrivals to Zanzibar jumped 46% year-on-year in August, with over 105,000 tourists—mostly from Kenya and South Africa—highlighting the island’s growing appeal as a regional tourism hotspot.


Climate & Energy

🇿🇦 Nissan Eyes South Africa for Hybrid Rollout

Nissan is evaluating the introduction of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles in South Africa, in a strategic move toward broader electric vehicle deployment on the continent.

🇳🇬 Nigeria Delays Fuel Tax Implementation

Nigeria has postponed a planned 5% fuel tax on petrol and diesel until 2026, citing ongoing economic challenges, according to Finance Minister Wale Edun.


Tech & Finance

🇿🇦 Altvest Bets Big on Bitcoin

South Africa’s Altvest Capital aims to raise $210 million to acquire Bitcoin reserves and rebrand as the Africa Bitcoin Corporation, signaling growing institutional interest in cryptocurrency on the continent.


Security & Geopolitics

🇸🇩 RSF-Aligned Coalition Claims Drone Strikes in Sudan

Sudan’s Tasis Coalition, aligned with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), claimed responsibility for drone strikes in Khartoum, marking a tactical shift in the country’s ongoing civil conflict.

🇺🇬 ICC Hears New Evidence in Joseph Kony Case

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has received new evidence in a war crimes trial in absentia against Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, whose atrocities in Uganda continue to reverberate.

🇳🇪 Islamic State Escalates Civilian Attacks in Niger

The Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP) has killed over 127 civilians in western Niger since March, Human Rights Watch reports, underscoring the deteriorating security situation under the country’s post-coup junta.

🇲🇱 Fuel Blockade Chokes Mali’s Economy

Militant group JNIM has launched a fuel blockade in Mali, torching supply trucks and threatening national economic paralysis. Analysts warn the country’s landlocked geography increases its vulnerability to such tactics.

🇨🇩 Congo Rebel Attacks Kill 89 Civilians

Rebel group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) killed 89 civilians in two separate attacks in eastern DRC, according to local officials. The ADF’s fragmented operations continue to destabilize the North Kivu region.


Human Rights & Governance

🌍 African Governments Linked to Russian Drone Recruitment

Investigations reveal that officials in six African nations are complicit in sending young women, aged 18–22, to work in Russia’s Alabuga drone factories under exploitative conditions, despite warnings and documented abuses.


Diplomacy & Defense

🇪🇬 Egypt Identifies Somali Bases for Peacekeeping

Egyptian military forces have designated forward bases in Somalia as part of their contribution to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission, joining regional peers in a coordinated peace effort.

🇪🇬🇺🇸 Bright Star 25 Wraps in Egypt

Over 8,500 troops from 40 countries participated in the Bright Star 25 military exercises, co-hosted by CENTCOM and Egypt. The drills aimed to enhance collective defense capabilities and regional security cooperation.


Politics & Elections

🇨🇮 Ouattara Faces Four Rivals in Côte d’Ivoire Election

President Alassane Ouattara will contest his fourth term in October’s election, facing four other candidates. Notably, opposition leaders Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam were barred from running, leaving their parties without nominees.


Space & Innovation

🌍 Space Collaboration Gains Momentum Across Africa

African governments are intensifying space investments for security, climate monitoring, and sustainable development, according to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, citing the sector’s overlooked impact on daily life and sovereignty.


Development & Economy

🇳🇬 AI and Energy Transition Seen as Strategic Levers

Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima urged African leaders to treat AI, green energy, and supply chain disruptions as opportunities for transformation, not threats. Economists echoed the call for structural reforms and investment in human capital.


Sport

🇨🇻 Cape Verde One Win Away from World Cup History

After defeating Cameroon 1-0, Cape Verde is just three points away from qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup—a historic first for the island nation.


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