Africa: Portfolio Diplomacy – Rethinking African Economic Statecraft in a Multipolar World

Africa: Portfolio Diplomacy – Rethinking African Economic Statecraft in a Multipolar World

Walk through Nairobi and the twenty-first century global economy comes into view. Chinese-built expressways carry commuters to office towers occupied by American technology firms. French retailer Carrefour has become one of the country’s largest supermarket chains. Japanese vehicles dominate the roads while Indian pharmaceutical companies supply hospitals and pharmacies. Increasingly, Gulf investors are financing the…

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South African tech’s compounding debt problem

South African tech’s compounding debt problem

Every shortcut a tech company takes is a loan. That’s the whole idea behind “technical debt”, a phrase programmer Ward Cunningham coined more than 30 years ago and the smartest bit of financial language software ever borrowed. In my last column, I argued that we sell products before we build them. This is what happens…

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Africa: Portfolio Diplomacy – Rethinking African Economic Statecraft in a Multipolar World

Africa: Better Parenting Starts With Knowing What Works. We Tested a Project in 8 African Countries

Raising adolescents can be difficult under the best of circumstances. On top of that, some families are also dealing with poverty, unemployment, conflict, displacement, illness and climate shocks. In these conditions, caregivers may receive very little support themselves. Governments and NGOs are increasingly using parenting support programmes as part of efforts to reduce violence against…

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Africa: Portfolio Diplomacy – Rethinking African Economic Statecraft in a Multipolar World

Africa: Can a Newly Discovered Soil Fungus Stop the Devastating African Armyworm When Chemicals Have Failed?

The African armyworm is a highly destructive migratory pest that damages maize, sorghum, millet and sugarcane. These caterpillars also cause indirect damage to livestock as they destroy grazing lands and pastures. The last major outbreak of armyworm in southern Africa was from February to April 2025. It affected South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo, Gauteng and…

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South African inflation surges to 5%

South African inflation surges to 5%

South Africa’s headline consumer inflation accelerated faster than expected to 5% year on year in June, from 4.5% in May, data from Stats SA showed on Wednesday. The June print marks the fourth consecutive month of accelerating inflation — the rate has climbed steadily from 3% in February, when it briefly touched the Reserve Bank’s…

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