The Africa Week

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

This week: South Africa's president faces impeachment hearing over couch stash. No room for two big guns in Nigeria's opposition tent. China drops tariffs for Africa - except for Eswatini. And Tanzanian's leader didn't get the memo over a new oil refinery. 

References/further reading:  

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-08-live-concourt-set-to-rule-on-phala-phala-scandal/?dm_source=blocks-grid-wide&dm_medium=card-link&dm_campaign=inform

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q20xzwppdo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy2v509217o

https://www.semafor.com/article/05/05/2026/zambia-pushes-back-against-us-healthcare-deal-tied-to-minerals-access

https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/15994/abu-dhabi-ups-the-stakes-with-weapons-case-against-sudan-army-insiders%c2%a0

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001547006/why-didnt-you-tell-me-about-my-own-refinery-samia-confronts-ruto

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Mayhem in Mali as Russia loses ground. Kenya's Kenya's Sebastian Sawe breaks the barrier of human endurance at the London Marathon. Pooling for power in East Africa? And a new South African policy puts the artificial in AI. 

References/further reading:

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260427-mali-plunged-into-uncertainty-following-coordinated-attacks-on-junta

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/articles/cp383n09030o

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/east-african-nations-discussing-regional-refinery-project-kenya-president-says-2026-04-23/

https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-illegal-immigration-march-protests-cbc323b775625516597792db82d87ae0

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-withdraws-ai-policy-due-fake-ai-generated-sources-2026-04-27/

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Pope Leo finishes his Africa tour - putting further distance between himself and the Trump White House. Taiwan's president told Eswatini is a no-go, who is calling the shots? Nigeria gets a new finance minister. And Türkiye told to stay in its lane.

References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80m4822m1no

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-president-cancels-eswatini-trip-blames-chinese-pressure-african-countries-2026-04-21/

https://businessday.ng/news/article/tinubu-removes-wale-edun-in-cabinet-reshuffle-elevates-oyedele-as-finance-minister/

https://dailytrust.com/kenyan-president-hits-back-at-tinubu-mocks-nigerians/

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/world-athletics-turkey-allegiance-transfers-favour-ofili-b2959184.html

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Pope Leo in Africa - is Trump watching? The world remembers to remember Sudan, three years on from the start of the war. It's back to the future for South Africa's new man in Washington. And the DRC is very popular on the international markets.

References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg0jyx4qq7o

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/apr/15/more-than-1bn-pledged-for-sudan-as-humanitarian-crisis-deepens

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/15/south-africa-appoints-former-apartheid-era-negotiator-as-us-ambassador

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz788z27j2jo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg4g44zv37qo

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/congo-launches-maiden-eurobond-sale-sources-say-2026-04-09/

https://www.wistv.com/2026/04/14/madina-okot-heading-atlanta-dream-no-13-pick-2026-wnba-draft/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx299rxk0ngo

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