The concept of “Africa rising” has long lacked significance, and the idea of an African renaissance often appears as a lofty slogan without practical manifestation. However, recent political events in West Africa–specifically Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali–have begun to lend substance to these mottos. Burkina Faso is at the forefront of a new wave of…
In a landmark convergence of global leaders and climate advocates, the United Nations Climate Week in Addis Ababa has solidified Ethiopia’s position at the vanguard of a new, more assertive African diplomacy. Far from being a mere forum for discussion, the event emerged as a pivotal where the continent, under Ethiopia’s leadership, articulated a unified,…
Natalie Kolbe, general partner at Norrsken22 Interview with Natalie KolbeGENERAL PARTNER, NORRSKEN22 Lives in: South Africa Natalie Kolbe, general partner at Africa-focused venture capital firm Norrsken22, believes social commerce could transform how Africans shop. In this interview, she explains why. For readers who might not be familiar, what exactly is social commerce? Social commerce, a…
The fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025) opened yesterday in Algiers, Algeria, with a strong focus on accelerating the continent’s economic transformation through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Held under the theme :”Building Bridges for a Successful AfCFTA,” the weeklong event brings together over 1,600 exhibitors, 35,000 participants, and 75 country delegations. Organizers…
India defies US President Donald Trump’s bullying; will African countries do the same? Are United States (US) President Donald Trump’s attempts to bludgeon the world into submission with massive tariffs starting to backfire? This question arose after the cosy meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping…
Maputo — The South African police on Wednesday shot dead a Mozambican, identified only by the nickname “Dollarman’, who was allegedly a key figure in kidnapping gangs, wanted in both South Africa and Mozambique. According to police sources cited by the South African media, the shooting was the culmination of an operation in which the…
The Free Market Foundation (FMF) has cautioned South Africa against blindly following EU regulations, saying the country needs its own strategic domestic policies on technology and digital innovation. It cautioned against what it termed the “Brussels effect”, where regulated entities end up complying with EU laws because of the size and attractiveness of that market….
DR Congo Announces New Ebola Outbreak The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) confirmed its 16th Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in Kasai province, where 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers, have been reported. The index case is a 34-year-old pregnant woman admitted to the hospital with symptoms including high fever…
As billions continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling halfway across the world. “Air quality respects no boundaries,” said Lorenzo Labrador, Scientific Officer at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). “The…
The African Union has warned the continent loses billions in illicit financial flows each year. Analysts say stopping tax evasion and corruption is just the first step to keeping African wealth in the continent. An estimated US$88 billion (€76 billion) leaves Africa annually through tax evasion, money laundering, and corruption, the African Union (AU) says. In 2015, that figure was…
