African markets and business updates

The Ministry of Education conducted a meeting to assess the progress of civic education on 8 and 9 September in Asmara. The meeting was attended by representatives of regional administrations, heads of the PFDJ and national organizations, heads of departments and branches of the Ministry of Education, as well as representatives of other concerned institutions. Mr. Zemihret Yohannes, head of Research and Documentation at the PFDJ, speaking on behalf of the PFDJ, said that although civic education was introduced relatively recently, it has reached a promising stage. He called for preserving the achievements registered and building on them to advance the program further.…

For women displaced by conflict in Tambura, Western Equatoria State, developing new skills that enable them to set up new businesses are offering more than an income. They are helping families and entire communities rebuild, regain independence, and seize the opportunity of a safe and peaceful return home. Six years after conflict forced her to flee her home, Jackline Moses is still living in a tent in Tambura. Despite the persistent uncertainty about security and her prolonged displacement, she has found a way to keep moving forward. “Since the conflict started, the whereabouts of my husband and other relatives are unknown. A lot of bloodshed happened, and many people died here.…

The United Nations General Assembly has passed the Correct the Map resolution with overwhelming support, including a yes vote from Zambia. The Togo‑led initiative, backed by the African Union, sought to correct a cartographic injustice that visually minimised Africa’s true scale on world maps. Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr Chola Milambo welcomed the adoption, underscoring that it was historic moment for Africa and other marginalised countries to have a correct depiction of the African continent. He highlighted that for centuries, the map was not depicted correctly.…

The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, António Guterres, has congratulated President Hakainde Hichilema on his re-election and assumption of a second term as President of the Republic of Zambia. President Hichilema was re-elected in the presidential election held on 13th August 2026 and was sworn into office for his second term on 1st September 2026. In his congratulatory message, the Secretary-General expressed confidence that the close partnership between Zambia and the United Nations will continue.…

The Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference and Exhibition opened in Luanda on Wednesday with Angola looking toward its next phase of oil and gas development, underpinned by a Hydrocarbon Strategy through 2050, more than $70 billion in projected upstream investment, Sonangol’s expanding operational footprint and new downstream infrastructure. Financing that next phase could receive a major boost as early as November. African Energy Chamber Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk announced during the AOG opening that he had been informed that Afreximbank and the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) will launch the long-awaited Africa Energy Bank that month.…

“Digital technology is changing the very nature of police cooperation.” Deputy Commissioner Stéphane Mawana is closely observing the changes brought about by digital technologies in police work. An investigator with the Congolese National Police (PNC) for the past eight years, he attended the National School of Cybersecurity in Dakar.…

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Egypt, Sisira Senavirathne, together with officials of the Embassy, met with the Chairman of the Egyptian Chamber of Commerce in Ismailia, Akram Hussein Al-Shafei, and members of the Executive Board at the Chamber’s headquarters in Ismailia on 26 August 2026. The meeting discussed a broad range of trade and investment opportunities and explored avenues to further strengthen bilateral economic relations through enhanced engagement between the business communities of Sri Lanka and Egypt.…

The Kingdom of Lesotho participated in the Africa Ministerial Mid-term Review of the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from the 8th to the 9th September 2026. The Delegation of Lesotho was led by H.E. Mr Matete ‘Nena Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Lesotho to the United Nations in New York supported by officials from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (as National Focal Point for LDCs), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Affairs, the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Lesotho to the United Nations and the Lesotho Mission to the African Union and Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.…

The State Department for Basic Education has launched a review and sensitisation exercise on the Career Progression Guidelines for its technical officers, following the Public Service Commission's approval of the Department's new Organizational Structure and Staff Establishment. The review aligns career pathways with modern grading structures, broadens technical skill sets, and strengthens succession planning — covering entry qualifications, recruitment procedures, job descriptions, professional development, promotion criteria, and performance appraisal standards.…

The inaugural Mid-Term Review of the Second Session of the Lesotho–South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) concluded in Pretoria on 9 September 2026, following three days of intensive deliberations aimed at accelerating the implementation of commitments between the two sister countries. The Lesotho delegation was led by Mr. Thabang Lekhela, Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, who served as Co-Chair of the Mid-Term Review alongside Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of the Republic of South Africa.…