The Africa Week

This week: Ceasefire or no ceasefire in the Middle East - sub-Saharan Africa gets a stark warning from the IMF. History in The Gambia as a prosecutor appointed for Jammeh-era crimes. Nigeria starts the largest anti-terror trial in its history. And same country - but different name: 50 years on, the DRC heads back to the World Cup. 

References/further reading:

https://apnews.com/article/imf-global-economy-downgrade-war-tariff-f70405a5ef0526371bd7b577b13c4796

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjr90wyw09wo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg9y95kxyko

 https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260406-dr-congo-will-receive-third-country-deportees-under-new-deal-with-us

https://www.africanews.com/2026/04/06/world-cup-2026-kinshasa-celebrates-the-leopards-historic-qualification/

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This week: Africa feels the impact of the Middle East war at the pumps, but can countries keep the lights on? An historic day at the UN as the legacy of slavery is highlighted. France thinks again about having South Africa over for the G7. Namibia says no to Musk. And Madagascar's new president dusts off the lie detector. 

References/further reading:

https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/15907/another-war--another-bill-for-africa

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq8wkq1n9epo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg06q36052o

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/03/1167199

https://www.ft.com/content/ca914de4-f602-4703-ae03-93c34449e5f2?syn-25a6b1a6=1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c070kg5rn0ko

https://www.connectingafrica.com/regulation/starlink-blocked-from-operating-in-namibia

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/20/madagascar-military-ruler-new-ministers-lie-detector-tests

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This week: The chaotic Afcon final that keeps on giving - are there any winners? An historic state visit for Tinubu to the UK, with an agreement to send more Nigerians home. Access for aid in Zambia? And the Sahel labelled the world's most murderous terror hotspot.

References/further reading: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cwygyq495j8o

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crm1w24p8p7o

https://www.semafor.com/article/03/19/2026/nigerias-president-eyes-trade-boost-on-uk-visit

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-zambia-hiv-aids-marco-rubio-b2940365.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/16/health/zambia-hiv-aid-minerals-trump.html

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/17/belgium-diplomat-ordered-to-stand-trial-over-killing-of-patrice-lumumba

https://www.economicsandpeace.org/reports/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/19/jihadist-violence-nigeria-drc-terrorism-index

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Trouble in the skies for Africa as the war in the Middle East rages on - but some see an opportunity. Why Washington's new man in South Africa has caused consternation in Pretoria. Has Ghana's government set the gold standard for the rest of the continent? And deadly floods in East Africa - what are the consequences?

References/further reading:

https://www.semafor.com/newsletter/03/11/2026/south-africas-gdp-figures

https://www.semafor.com/article/03/09/2026/us-iran-conflict-hands-south-africas-budget-new-stress-test

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c14m1vzmxz3o

https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/africas-largest-gold-producer-to-introduce-new-royalty-regime-despite-opposition-from/kc9x3mp

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/12/at-least-52-killed-dozens-reported-missing-after-landslides-in-ethiopia

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Africa hit by the war between Iran and the US/Israel, Washington runs out of patience with Rwanda, the Anglican Church shaken by a meeting of furious bishops in Abuja and Somalia welcomes a new constitution - but must navigate major obstacles first. 

References/further reading:

https://www.dw.com/en/how-the-us-israel-war-with-iran-is-reshaping-africa/a-76223689

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr5l7zdnjgpo

https://apnews.com/article/anglican-communion-churches-gafcon-nigeria-f66ddcc9e4e1970fccb42b22c4532bc3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGUo6fX3M1M

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/somali-parliament-approves-constitution-change-extend-presidents-term-delay-2026-03-05/

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Senegal's fiscal hole gets deeper - and Mozambique offers precious little comfort. Zimbabwe shuts the door on raw exports, much to China's horror. Kissing seems to be a crime in Uganda. And Pope Leo books his ticket to the continent. 

References/further reading:

https://www.semafor.com/article/02/25/2026/senegal-imf-fail-to-strike-lending-deal-as-debt-mounts

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/senegal-expected-make-march-eurobond-payments-time-sources-say-2026-02-17/

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/world-bank-aims-give-mozambique-6-billion-financing-over-next-five-years-2026-02-23/

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/25/zimbabwe-imposes-ban-on-exports-of-all-raw-minerals-and-lithium-concentrate

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy6nd3664no

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/feb/26/women-arrested-uganda-kissing-public-lgbtq-laws

https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/pope-leo-to-visit-monaco-africa-and-spain-vatican-confirms/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2x1n95z5vo

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This week: Nairobi gets tough with Moscow over frontline recruits. Will we soon see more American boots on the ground in Nigeria? Just a trickle out of the taps in South Africa's commercial capital. And the blouse backlash in Ghana. 

References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k1jzvrykro

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20260210-kenya-slams-russia-use-citizens-lured-to-ukraine-as-cannon-fodder

https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-us-military-extremism-218c291ea2c5a36f84ac177764de7e94

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/10/somalia-saudi-arabia-sign-agreement-on-military-cooperation

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-10-while-joburg-battles-for-water-tankers-t-tankers-theyve-been-failing-at-informal/

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Ghana-sets-new-producer-price-for-remainder-of-2025-2026-cocoa-season-2021446

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgqg8xegxqxo

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This week: Haunted by history - Saif al‑Islam Gaddafi killed in Libya. AGOA is back for a year, but so what? The Zulu king sparks criticism over xenophobia. And the Zambian currency shows the rest of the world how it's done. 

References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp37g4xgkxdo

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260204-sa%C3%AFf-al-islam-kadhafi-heir-apparent-without-a-crown

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-04-resuscitation-of-agoa-gets-few-cheers-in-sa/

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/3/moscow-confirms-russian-forces-helped-repel-isil-attack-on-niger-airport

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd6we3009dgo

https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/with-the-worlds-best-performing-currency-and-second-best-stock-market-zambia-is/wdnhyg2

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Cracks appear in Ethiopia's fragile peace deal. Mozambique is finally having a gas. Gold on the up - but there's a downside for the continent. And Khaby Lame cashes in. 

References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn40r3v770lo

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/29/total-restarts-20bn-lng-project-in-mozambique-after-five-year-freeze

https://businesstimesug.com/what-rising-gold-and-silver-prices-mean-for-africas-economy/#:~:text=Export%20earnings%20and%20foreign%20exchange,inflation%20and%20supply%20chain%20disruptions.

https://www.dabafinance.com/en/news/gold-geopolitics-africa-prices-central-banks

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp822g353y6o

https://www.aol.com/articles/creator-khaby-lame-just-sold-195225322.html

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Fiasco at the Africa's top football final - where does the continent go from here? Bobi Wine in hiding in Uganda as Museveni stays put. Washington instructs African governments to remember its 'generosity' and the wheels of Congolese justice slowly start to turn in Brussels.

References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c70ljednyl6o

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

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c394pk4p707o

https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/1/22/flooding-causes-widespread-damage-across-southern-africa

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/20/us-diplomats-urged-to-remind-african-leaders-of-us-generosity-despite-usaid-closing

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/1/22/belgiums-lumumba-case-raises-a-question-africa-still-avoids

https://www.africanews.com/2026/01/20/belgian-court-reopens-patrice-lumumba-murder-case//

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