This week: Signs that hunger levels are coming down globally - but what about Africa? A major West African gas pipeline gets a mega boost. Egypt on a charm offensive in Tanzania. And South African rooibos blasts off!

References/further reading:

https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/7eb22402-860f-4212-922f-55941aed4a27

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/21/hunger-is-falling-but-is-still-higher-than-pre-covid-levels-un-report

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyr5rpglngo

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9gFuG-fzHvw

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyvl3zgr3v4o

https://www.sansa.org.za/2026/07/rooibos-heads-to-space-in-groundbreaking-south-african-stem-initiative/

https://africapractice.com/

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: There's good news and bad news about the Ebola outbreak. South Africa in shock over the death of World Cup footballer Jayden Adams. Nigeria oil output on the up. And scientists hail the disovery of a new species of monkey.

References/further reading:

 https://www.semafor.com/article/07/15/2026/human-vaccine-trials-for-latest-ebola-outbreak-begin-in-the-uk

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jul/16/uganda-travel-restrictions-last-ebola-patient-discharged

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cr47y5nvrqlo

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260713-nigeria-oil-output-hits-six-year-high-above-opec-target

https://www.semafor.com/article/07/13/2026/nigerias-oil-output-hits-six-year-high

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c15y5wgj4x8o

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: The deep and damaging civilian cost of Sudan's long war. Lesotho is ultra cool as it plans for an AI data centre. Africa's drama at the World Cup. And Johannesburg in trouble over budget-busting. 

References/further reading:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/6/over-5500-children-displaced-by-fighting-in-sudans-el-obeid-charity-says

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20yyjdzw7po

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260705-hunger-in-northern-nigeria-reaches-worst-levels-in-nearly-decade-united-nations-world-food-programme-says

https://www.connectingafrica.com/data-centers/lesotho-s-first-ai-data-center-set-to-shape-the-country-s-digital-economy

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup

https://mg.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-07-07-treasury-cuts-johannesburg-s-july-transfer-over-compliance-failures/

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Burkina Faso slams the door shut - and locks it - against France. The military clamps down on independent media in Uganda. South Africans exhale as anti-immigration protests pass largely peacefully. And Nigeria braces for inflation shocks from the Gulf.

References/further reading:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/26/burkina-faso-cuts-diplomatic-ties-with-former-colonial-ruler-france

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9gyk1z7ngo

https://mg.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-06-30-30-june-demonstrations-conclude-relatively-peacefully/

https://www.semafor.com/article/06/29/2026/nigeria-faces-highest-inflation-risk-among-emerging-markets-sp-says

https://africapractice.com/

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Sexual violence in Sudan may be a war crime, says the UN. South Africa readies for a post-Pepfar world. Nigeria and Cameroon join forces. And Botswana makes hay while the sun shines. 

References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crel587qz8ro

https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/864189/united-states-plans-to-end-its-longest-running-deal-with-south-africa/

https://defence.gov.ng/2026/06/17/nigeria-cameroon-sign-memorandum-of-understanding-to-strengthen-security-along-the-southern-border/

https://www.semafor.com/article/06/22/2026/botswana-secures-100-million-funding-for-first-large-scale-solar-plant

https://africapractice.com/insights/

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Cape Verde's new icon - born at the World Cup, will finally have his mom cheering him on. Experts warn that the Ebola outbreak in the DRC could be the worst ever. Bozize faces the music - but not in the CAR. And South Africa mourns one of the greatest ever jazz pianists. 

References/further reading: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cgjxlpxxp6wo

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/16/ebola-outbreak-in-dr-congo-could-become-worst-in-history-africa-cdc-warns

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260616-former-car-leader-boziz%C3%A9-on-trial-over-crimes-against-humanity

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/18/niger-says-soldiers-civilians-killed-in-armed-attack-on-niamey-airport

https://theconversation.com/abdullah-ibrahim-south-africas-master-pianist-who-was-still-touring-the-world-at-90-225026?utm_medium=article_clipboard_share&utm_source=theconversation.com

https://www.semafor.com/newsletter/06/17/2026/dr-congos-ebola-outbreak-could-be-the-worst-ever-senegal-opens-the-door-to-imf-talks-and-a-legendary-south-african-jazz-pianist-dies

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: More foreign nationals flee South Africa as an unofficial deadline looms.  The vuvuzela is muted at the World Cup. Stark warning over the volcano that is Ebola. And the war in the Middle East puts the handbrake on handsets going to Africa.

References/further reading:

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq512vgyzl9o

https://www.semafor.com/article/06/08/2026/fifa-bans-use-of-vuvuzelas-at-world-cup

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/11/somali-referee-barred-from-world-cup-super-cup-final-uefa-omar-artan

https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/6/11/fifa-boss-tells-critics-to-relax-over-somali-referee-deportation

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260611-we-re-sitting-on-a-volcano-warns-eu-commissioner-after-visit-to-ebola-hit-drc

https://www.semafor.com/article/06/08/2026/iran-war-disrupts-phone-shipments-to-africa

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Kenyans protest over an Ebola treatment centre - where does this leave the Ruto/Trump relationship? Kinshasa looks to cash in quickly on its prized minerals. South Africa pipped at the post of industrialisation by Morocco. Senegal's economic crisis turns into a political one. And Bafana Bafana arrive late for the World Cup.

References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgz7zny3pzo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn8pw93929wo

https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/africas-cobalt-powerhouse-drc-moves-to-triple-lithium-mining-royalties-in-strategic/8jlb4jw

https://www.afdb.org/en/documents/africa-industrialisation-index-2025

https://www.semafor.com/newsletter/06/03/2026/iran-war-threatens-food-security

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-31-safa-scores-another-own-goal-in-bafana-bafana-visa-bungle/

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Alarm over the spread of Ebola in the eastern DRC as cases emerge in neighbouring Uganda. Shockwaves on Kenya's streets and petrol pumps from the war in the Middle East. South Africa invites private companies to revive its rail network. And are cluster bombs being used in northern Mali? 

References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8p2g8yp8do

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/18/four-reported-killed-30-injured-in-kenyan-fuel-price-protests

https://www.semafor.com/article/05/15/2026/south-africas-rail-network-opens-to-11-private-firms

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260520-mali-conflict-enters-dangerous-new-phase-with-banned-cluster-bombs-russia

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Ebola is back in the DRC. Macron tries to win new friends in Africa, but it's a tough ask. Ramaphosa digs his heels in in South Africa. And the UN warnings about deadly drones in Sudan. 

References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cze2wpk7y76o

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/5/13/can-macrons-kenya-visit-revive-french-influence-in-africa

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9369q3g7w7o

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/05/turk-issues-high-alert-widening-sudan-conflict-amid-increased-use-drones

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqxp23272j3o

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/ugandan-lawmakers-pass-scaled-back-sovereignty-law-after-central-bank-warning-2026-05-06/

topcastmedia.co.uk