The Africa Week

This week: Kabila rallies the troops in the eastern DRC. Rwanda gets all revved up. South Africa's list of Nobel Peace laureates grows. Rare protests in Mauritius. And AI under the Caine Prize spotlight. 

References/further reading:

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20261013-ex-drc-president-kabila-to-lead-new-politico-military-alliance-with-m23-rebels

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/c5rmy3v3mn9jo

https://www.reuters.com/world/navanethem-navi-pillay-wins-2026-nobel-peace-prize-2026-10-09/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm4g1rnj5qweo

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/14/zimbabwean-author-simbarashe-kundizeza-denies-ai-story

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Africa keeps its rating agency in-house. Reports that Eritrean troops spotted in northern Ethiopia. Kenya's first Ebola casualty. And can a cake land you in jail in Ghana? 

References/further reading:

https://www.semafor.com/article/10/07/2026/africas-first-credit-rating-agency-set-to-launch

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20261007-african-union-to-launch-continent-s-first-credit-rating-agency-in-mauritius

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6eq3x3v11d5o

https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/10/7/kenya-on-high-alert-amid-concern-over-screening-after-first-ebola-death

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/7/witnesses-spot-eritrean-troops-inside-northern-ethiopia-as-tensions-flare

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evfYFMUgFHQ

https://apnews.com/article/zambia-us-health-deal-specimen-data-926edb9ab38b144bb1b83f73e5645f1b

https://www.dw.com/en/south-africa-pulls-asylum-directive-after-violent-protests/a-79605037

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c65yn3g53dkqo

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Despite breaking ground, the obstacles appear for the Dangote oil refinery. Burkina Faso goes all out for gold. A senior polician killed just after publicising anti-Ebola measures in the DRC. And Morocco welcomes its first ever female PM.

References/further reading:

https://www.ft.com/content/5bb621fa-2c18-4384-80ab-4a72e51b139a?syn-25a6b1a6=1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmkg8dpwy25po

https://www.semafor.com/article/09/30/2026/burkina-faso-opens-first-gold-refinery

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c674kkjllw17o

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/28/drc-politician-beaten-death-radio-appearance-ebola

https://www.france24.com/en/video/20260930-fatima-ezzahra-el-mansouri-named-morocco-s-first-woman-pm

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c674kkjllw17o

https://africapractice.com

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Tensions on the rise in Tigray as groups join forces to push out PM. Africa expected to bear the brunt of El Niño. First prosecution of a CAR Seleka commander at the ICC - but could this be the last? Washington heads back to Niger. And a new Afcon kicks off, but what about the last one?

References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cry8zwwq21pxo

https://www.semafor.com/article/09/21/2026/us-lifts-sanctions-on-eritrean-officials

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/23/powerful-el-nino-could-cause-450000-deaths-scientists-say

https://www.miningmx.com/news/energy/67395-us-steps-back-into-niger-with-414m-uranium-deal/

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260924-icc-convicts-former-car-commander-of-crimes-against-humanity-ahamat-said-abdel-kani-seleka

https://citizen.digital/article/afcon-qualifiers-to-kick-off-as-decision-on-last-winners-awaited-n390669

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Dangote's deal for the people. Photo finish as Nairobi beats London to host premier athletics tournament. Saudi courts Egypt. And Benin helps Messi say goodbye. 

References/further reading:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/14/aliko-dangote-nigeria-africa-richest-man-ipo

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/world/2026-09-15-how-kenya-won-its-bid-for-2029-world-athletics-championships

https://www.thetimes.com/sport/athletics/article/london-2029-world-athletics-championships-bid-kenya-wkf2l8283

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqx2zgk8k8xvo

https://www.aljazeera.com/news-analysis/2026/9/17/how-far-will-egypt-go-to-help-saudi-arabia-secure-the-red-sea

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c8ly49lv3vx1o

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Mapping the changes for Africa as the continent is resized. Xenophobia or greater regional integration in Kenya? The lights flicker for the Barrow administration in The Gambia. And an air of scandal in South Africa.

References/further reading:

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly5r60v4mro

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/burundians-seek-papers-leave-kenya-despite-amnesty-2026-09-08/

https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/9/10/protests-turn-violent-in-the-gambia-over-rolling-blackouts

https://www.semafor.com/article/09/02/2026/researchers-link-pollution-from-sasol-to-premature-deaths

https://www.africapractrice.com

topcastmedia.co.uk

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