African markets and business updates

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to the United Nations, headed by Ambassador and Permanent Representative Anatolio Ndong Mba, actively participated in the official closing ceremonies of the 80th session and the opening of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. The Equatorial Guinean delegation also included Deputy Permanent Representative Juan Mbomio Ndong Mangue, along with a large contingent of diplomatic staff in New York. The day began at 11:00 am with the closing session of the eightieth session.…

The government on Tuesday demanded that large digital platforms, such as Meta, pay taxes in Equatorial Guinea on the profits they obtain from their activity in the country, following the model already applied in other countries around the world. The Vice President of the Republic, SE Nguema Obiang Mangue, led this working session at the People's Palace in Malabo, the objective of which was to define the Executive's position on similar situations and to open negotiations with digital service distributors so that they contribute to the coffers of the Equatorial Guinean State.…

The Chairperson of the Portfolio on Police, Mr Ian Cameron, will open a case about serious injuries sustained by South African Police Service (SAPS) dog Sky and he has referred the circumstances surrounding the injuries to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) and the South African Veterinary Council. Sky is a Belgian Shepherd previously used by SAPS as an arson-detection dog. According to information provided to Mr Cameron, the dog suffered from severe anxiety and had previously injured herself after escaping from a kennel. Relevant SAPS management officials were allegedly warned repeatedly that continued confinement placed Sky at risk.…

On the margins of the 2026 KOAFEC Ministerial Conference, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Development Planning of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Honorable Dr. Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane, held a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Korea, Dr. Jisung Moon. The discussions focused on strengthening economic cooperation between Lesotho and the Republic of Korea, particularly in artificial intelligence, digitalization, healthcare, education, agriculture, climate change, critical minerals and infrastructure development.…

The Western Cape Government is driving a pioneering model to protect vulnerable homeowners, expanding its strategic housing interventions through a new partnership with Nedbank. The initiative has already identified 278 Nedbank households facing financial strain, with 48 applications approved to a total value of R6,459,895.64. Overall, the expanded programme is expected to affect 158 bonds and release original title deeds, valued at R17,322,189.71. This builds directly on the Department's successful collaboration with First National Bank (FNB), which has already resulted in 212 bonds cancelled and original title deeds issued to clients.…

For many women farmers in Liberia, agriculture is more than a livelihood—it is the foundation of their families' well-being. Yet opportunities to grow their businesses are often limited by barriers such as insecure access to land, limited financial services, inadequate farming tools, and a lack of digital and market information. Jacqueline Mulbah, a 45-year-old mother of three and a member of the Meni Nana Farming Cooperative in Bong County, knows these challenges all too well. Like many women in her community, Jacqueline struggled to access the resources needed to expand her farming activities.…

Canon Central & North Africa (CCNA) ( www.Canon-CNA.com ) has received a Gold Award at the 2026 Brandon Hall Group HCM Excellence Awards for its Management Team Development Programme (MTDP), recognised under the category “Best Unique or Innovative Leadership Development Program”. This achievement marks CCNA's second consecutive year of winning top honours at these global awards. The Brandon Hall Group HCM Excellence Awards recognise achievements in human capital management, with entries evaluated by an independent panel of analysts, industry experts and experienced practitioners against criteria including business need, programme design, innovation, adoption and organisational impact.…

For over two decades, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abdul Bashiru Kamara has dedicated his life to policing and public service. As an Operations Officer serving with the Sierra Leone Formed Police Unit (SLFPU) under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) at Sector 2, he continues that commitment on the frontlines of peace support operations. Since joining the Sierra Leone Police in 2005, ASP Kamara has built extensive experience in security operations, leadership, and public safety. Within AUSSOM in Kismayo, his responsibilities are central to ensuring the safety and smooth functioning of mission activities.…

"We knew Ebola was in Congo and Uganda not much more than that," said Dekens Okoth Ojera, member of the Busia Cross Border Women Traders Sacco, which has 257 registered members. "We were not equipped or aware of how to handle it if it reached us, or sure that anything was being done." Kenya has recorded no case of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus. But transmission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has not stopped, while thousands of people cross Kenya’s western border every day. Uganda’s outbreak was declared over on 26 August 2026, but movement of people and goods across the region continues.…

In Mobaye, Central African Republic, women are gradually turning their savings into projects for themselves and their families. Business, agriculture, livestock farming or their children's education, the choices are theirs. When Henriette Yambata received 38,000 CFA francs (approximately USD 67) after several months of saving, she knew exactly what she wanted to do with it. Part of the money would go towards paying school fees for her two children. Another part would help strengthen her business and support her household's economic activities. In Mobaye, in the south of the Central African Republic, this amount is the result of savings organized collectively by women.…