The COP31 presidency wants electricity to make up 35% of global energy use by 2035, but African countries question how it will be financed and whether it can support industrial growth. A proposal to accelerate global electrification has emerged as one of the major energy initiatives at COP31, placing Africa’s electricity needs and the cost…
Coordination among foreign navies and Somali security forces is key, as is the judicious use of external military operations. Piracy off Somalia’s coast has resurfaced, with nine hijackings so far this year attributed to local raiders. In the latest incident on 29 October, the Iranian fishing vessel Azini was attacked off the coast of Puntland….
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on Friday September 4, calling for world maps that more accurately represent the true size of continents, particularly Africa. The resolution, titled “Correct the Map: Rebalancing global cartographic representation and promoting equitable representation of the world’s regions, particularly Africa,” received 164 votes in favour. Rwanda was among…
For #WomensMonth, we speak to Standard Bank’s Linda Oniwe, senior vice president for technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) in corporate and investment banking, about her career in dealmaking, the role of technology in Africa’s development and the importance of creating opportunities for women in the sector. Linda Oniwe | image supplied With more than a…
Ibrahim Sagna, executive chairman of investment firm Silverbacks Holdings Our new book, How we made it in Africa II: Real stories of entrepreneurs turning opportunity into profit, is available here. The book was recently shortlisted for the Business Council for Africa (BCA) African Business Book of the Year Awards 2026. In a recent interview with…
CONIX.AI received backing from LAB7, Saudi Aramco’s venture-building arm, to add automated building-code checks to its architecture and permitting software. The partnership will integrate LAB7’s B2Code engine into E-Comply, CONIX.AI’s regulatory compliance platform. The combined system will review floor plans against national building codes and local municipal rules, helping architects, developers and government agencies identify…
Under pressure from the polls and Gulf allies, the White House is pushing for a deal but Iran wants concessions, writes BBC’s international editor.
The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, has secured commitments from private sector leaders to partner with government in advancing South Africa’s skills development agenda and strengthening the country’s education-to-employment pipeline. The commitments emerged from a high-level business breakfast convened by Manamela on Monday, ahead of the Higher Education and Training Budget Vote…
The GSMA has secured commitments from 18 smartphone manufacturers to support the rollout of a $40 4G smartphone aimed at reducing Africa’s mobile internet usage gap. The initiative was launched at MWC Kigali in October 2024 and sets minimum technical standards for an affordable 4G device designed for African users. At least 8 vendors have…
A partnership between four South African financial institutions has led to the launch of an “institutional-grade” stablecoin pegged to the rand. Dubbed ZAR Universal, or ZARU, the stablecoin will made available to both retail consumers and institutional investors through the alliance between cryptocurrency platform Luno, low-cost trading platform EasyEquities, fintech Lesaka Technologies and Sanlam Specialist…
