The Africa-America Institute’s “Following the Gold Road” online conference and Afropop’s “Mali Gold” Playlist
We’re pleased to announce the launch of the Africa-America Institute’s State of Education 2026 Conference – “Following The Gold Road–Global Medieval Africa in the Time of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.” This exciting, free online conference, launching this month, spans 1,400 years of fascinating, under-recognized history created by our colleagues at AAI in partnership with Howard […]
Gulf nations bet on African minerals
Despite holding over half of the world’s critical minerals, Africa has seen mining deal values plummet by 79% in five years due to persistent risk perceptions. This starkly contrasts with Latin America’s boom, leaving vast reserves of copper, lithium, and nickel underexplored. Now, Gulf nations are stepping in to reverse this trend. Through major state-backed […]
Nigeria’s economic zones deliver export boost
Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones delivered a major boost in 2025, generating more than $500 million in export earnings and creating over 20,000 direct jobs, according to the nation’s trade ministry. The gains reflect sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening industrial capacity, expanding non-oil exports, and restoring investor confidence. These zones helped power a wider export surge, […]
France seeks to revive African investments
French President Emmanuel Macron is urging companies and investors from France to re-engage with Africa, warning that excessive caution has ceded ground to global competitors. Speaking to diplomats in Paris, Macron argued that stronger partnerships with African economies should sit at the heart of France’s growth strategy, which spans finance, entrepreneurship, and diaspora ties. This […]
ANC unveils reform push ahead of elections
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) is betting on a sweeping reform agenda to rebuild public trust ahead of crucial local government elections later this year. After losing its parliamentary majority in 2024 for the first time since the end of apartheid, the party is under pressure to reverse declining support, especially at the […]
Uganda’s coffee exports skyrocket by 60%
Uganda’s coffee sector is enjoying a strong run, with exports jumping more than 60% in November thanks to a bumper harvest. According to the agriculture ministry, shipments reached over 640,000 bags, up sharply from the same period in 2024, reinforcing Uganda’s position as Africa’s leading coffee exporter. The surge was driven by peak harvests in […]
Ethiopia breaks ground on Africa’s biggest airport
Ethiopian Airlines has begun construction of Bishoftu International Airport, an ambitious project set to become Africa’s largest aviation hub with a planned capacity of 110 million passengers a year. Announced by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister’s Office, the airport is designed to ease mounting pressure on Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and support the airline’s rapidly expanding […]
Sudan’s government returns to the national capital
In a significant symbolic move, Sudan’s government is officially returning to the national capital, Khartoum, after nearly three years of operating from Port Sudan. Prime Minister Kamil Idris announced the return, pledging to restore essential services to a city devastated by the ongoing civil war with the Rapid Support Forces. Khartoum endured intense fighting, leading […]
New US entry rules impact African travelers
More than half of Africa’s countries are now facing tougher barriers to entering the US, as Washington expands visa bonds and travel bans across the continent. Recently, the State Department added countries including Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, and Zimbabwe to a list requiring visa applicants to post bonds of up to $15,000. Officials say the measure […]
Two women’s radical mission to save Nairobi’s libraries
In the heart of Nairobi, two visionary women are turning dusty, forgotten archives into vibrant sanctuaries of imagination. The new documentary “How to Build a Library” follows Wanjiru Koinange and Angela Wachuka as they battle bureaucracy and crumbling infrastructure to revive Kenya’s public reading spaces. Focusing on the grand but decaying McMillan Memorial Library, the […]
