Guinea Breaks Bauxite Records as Chinese Demand Powers Export Surge
Guinea set a new record for bauxite exports in Q1 2025 with 48.6 million metric tons of the material shipped—a 39% jump from the previous year—despite regulatory hurdles and the country’s export ban on key players in the sector. Most of the shipments went to China, where aluminum production is on the rise once again. Chinese-backed firms […]
Burkina Faso Celebrates Country’s First Gold Pour
West African Resources, an Australia-listed mining company, has achieved a major milestone with the first gold pour at its Kiaka mine in Burkina Faso—delivered ahead of schedule and below budget projections. This marks the beginning of what’s expected to become one of the region’s top gold producers, with ambitions to exceed 500,000 ounces annually by 2030. The […]
How Drone Images Uncovered Zanzibar’s 1,000-Year Baobab Legacy
A team of archaeologists and scientists has uncovered compelling evidence that baobab trees on Zanzibar’s Unguja Island were planted and preserved by Swahili communities over 1,000 years ago. Using over 8,000 drone images, researchers linked today’s baobab groves to ancient port sites, suggesting the trees weren’t just naturally occurring—they were cultivated for food, water, cloth, rituals, and […]
Starlink Subscriptions Down in Kenya Amidst Safaricom 5G’s Rise
Starlink’s once-rapid growth in Kenya has hit a snag, with subscriptions dropping 11% in the first quarter of 2025. The decline, from over 19,000 to 17,066 users, follows a seven-month freeze on new sign-ups in high-demand areas like Nairobi. It also reflects growing competition from local telecommunications players such as Safaricom. For instance, many Kenyans […]
DR Congo-Rwanda Peace Deal Met with Skepticism in Rebel Stronghold
A new peace deal between DR Congo and Rwanda, signed in Washington, has stirred mixed feelings, especially in the rebel-held city of Goma. While some hail it as a hopeful step forward, critics, such as former President Joseph Kabila, dismiss it as a trade deal disguised as diplomacy. The agreement demands disarmament of armed groups but […]
Ghana’s Debt Reset: What the $2.8bn Deal Really Means
Ghana’s approval of a $2.8bn debt restructuring framework with 25 creditor nations signals an ambitious push to recover from its 2022 default. The goal? Cut its debt burden and rebuild investor trust. But this framework is just the start—the creditor countries must now ratify the deal domestically. Meanwhile, key private creditors remain unconvinced, complicating the country’s […]
