January 22, 2026
Business & Macro
Kenya’s Debt Servicing Surges Kenya’s fiscal landscape remains under intense pressure as the country spent $7.2 billion on debt servicing in the half-year leading to December 2025. This represents a 44% year-on-year increase, driven largely by a weakening shilling and higher interest rates. The surge has forced the National Treasury to prioritize debt obligations over development projects, raising concerns about long-term infrastructure stability.
Côte d’Ivoire Stabilizes Cocoa Market In a move to protect the nation’s primary export, the Ivorian government has announced it will buy the entire unsold stockpile of cocoa from local cooperatives. The intervention aims to maintain export volumes and support farmers who have been hit by a months-long slump in global prices. As the world’s largest producer, Ivory Coast’s move is seen as a necessary safeguard for its rural economy, which contributes nearly 14% of the national GDP.
Botswana’s Diamond Crisis Botswana is facing a severe economic threat due to a massive oversupply of diamonds. As of late January 2026, the country holds 12 million carats, nearly double the government’s 6.5 million ceiling. A global shift toward lab-grown stones and reduced demand in the U.S. and China has squeezed foreign reserves, forcing the finance ministry to tighten fiscal policy and reconsider its stake in global players like De Beers.
Climate & Energy
First Gas in Nigeria’s Seplat Project Nigerian independent energy company Seplat Energy has successfully produced the first gas from its ANOH facility, a joint venture with a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). This milestone is a critical step in Nigeria’s “Decade of Gas” initiative, aimed at reducing energy poverty and transitioning toward cleaner fuel sources for domestic industrial use.
Tanzania’s Helium Exploration Helium One Global has commenced an electrical testing phase at its Rukwa project site in Tanzania. The London-based firm is in the final stages of exploration for helium gas, a rare resource essential for medical and technology sectors. Successful extraction would position Tanzania as a significant global supplier outside of the traditional North American markets.
Tunisia Hits 70-Year Rainfall Record A series of devastating floods in Tunisia has left four people dead, with rainfall levels in some regions surpassing records set in 1950. The deluge has shuttered schools and crippled urban infrastructure in Moknine and Monastir. Experts point to aging drainage systems and rapid urbanization as primary factors that intensified the runoff, resulting in the heaviest rains the country has seen in over seven decades.
Geopolitics & Policy
Guinea-Bissau Sets December Election The military junta in Guinea-Bissau, led by General Horta Inta-a, has officially set December 6, 2026, as the date for legislative and presidential elections. This announcement follows a 2025 coup and pressure from the regional bloc ECOWAS to restore constitutional order. The junta has pledged that the one-year transition will ensure “free and fair” polls, despite the country’s history of drug-trafficking-fueled political instability.
Ghana Negotiates Nkrumah Heritage Site Ghanaian officials have opened high-level talks with Guinea to take over the final residence of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president. The property in Conakry, where Nkrumah lived in exile, is slated to become a pan-African heritage site. This move is part of a broader diplomatic effort to preserve the legacy of the independence era across West Africa.
Ivory Coast Leadership Continuity President Alassane Ouattara has reappointed Robert Beugré Mambé as Prime Minister following the ruling party’s landslide victory in December parliamentary elections. Mambé, a veteran technocrat, is expected to finalize his new cabinet this week, signaling a focus on economic continuity and the “Great Ivory Coast” development vision.
Security
Mass Kidnappings in Kaduna, Nigeria In a harrowing escalation of banditry, armed gangs abducted 177 worshippers from three churches in Kaduna State on Sunday, January 18. Initially denied by local authorities, the mass kidnapping in the Kurmin Wali community was later confirmed by church leaders and federal police. While some elderly women and children have been released, over 160 remain in captivity for ransom. This follows a separate military operation in Borno, where airstrikes killed over 40 militants massing near Lake Chad.
Jihadist Surge in Niger and Mali A suspected jihadist attack in western Niger’s Tillaberi region killed 31 civilians on Sunday. The area, located in the “tri-border” zone with Mali and Burkina Faso, remains the deadliest in the Sahel. Simultaneously, over 7,500 Malians have fled into Mauritania in the last quarter, citing fear of both insurgents and the “Africa Corps” (formerly Wagner Group) mercenaries hired by the military government.
Sudan’s Civil War Nears Al-Obeid Drone strikes have intensified around al-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attempt to sever the Sudanese Army’s eastern supply lines. UN rights chief Volker Turk recently labeled the situation “horror and hell,” noting that military spending on advanced drones is depriving millions of Sudanese citizens of urgent food aid.
Human Rights & Governance
Uganda’s Opposition in “Critical State” The post-election crackdown in Uganda has reached a fever pitch. While Bobi Wine remains in hiding following a security raid, veteran activist Kizza Besigye is reportedly in a “worrying” medical condition in detention. His wife, UNAIDS director Winnie Byanyima, stated on January 22 that Besigye is suffering from dehydration and a possible bacterial infection, accusing the regime of a “plot to kill” her husband through medical neglect.
Egypt Arrests Activist Ahmed Douma Leading 2011 uprising figure Ahmed Douma was re-arrested on Tuesday, just two years after receiving a presidential pardon. Authorities charged Douma with “spreading fake news” following his social media posts criticizing prison conditions. Despite being released on bail of 100,000 Egyptian pounds, rights groups warn this signals a renewed suppression of dissent.
South Sudan’s Cabinet Dismissal In a move that threatens the 2018 peace deal, President Salva Kiir dismissed Interior Minister Angelina Teny, the wife of opposition leader Riek Machar. No official reason was given, but the removal of a high-ranking opposition figure from a power-sharing portfolio has sparked fears of a total collapse of the unity government.
