African markets and business updates

Kenya's Gina Din made her name as the founder of Gina Din Group, a public relations (PR) and communications firm with clients across Africa. She has worked with major African brands including Old Mutual; the Association of Kenyan Insurers; CIC Insurance; Kenya Commercial Bank; Safaricom; Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Airways and Barclays Bank.…

When the Africa Forward Summit (AFS) 2026 convenes in Nairobi Kenya, on May 11th & 12th, the spotlight may be on the heads of state and government present, the investment deals consummated, protocols signed, and new continental initiatives started. But the key highlight for me is the discernible shift in the relationship between Africa and the rest of the world, from sterile debate in capitals in the global north, to tangible action on the continent, on the centrality of African agricultural producers…

As the world struggles to make sense of the conflict unfolding in the Middle East, Edward Fishman's timely book - out now in paperback - looks at how sanctions and economic warfare, rather than arms alone, became one of the US's most potent geopolitical weapons. He argues that control over modern-day chokepoints - such as the US dollar, advanced microchip technology and critical energy supply chains - has become the primary weapon of twenty-first century geopolitics.…

The Africa Forward Summ it, co-hosted by Kenya and France this May, takes place at a critical juncture for global governance and also at a moment when Africa's position in the international system is becoming more elevated. Economic shifts, demographic trends and climate pressures are drawing the continent closer to the core of global policy discussions. Engagement has increased. Delivery has been less consistent. That gap is not new.…

Trade and investment will top the Africa Forward Summit agenda, reflecting France's attempts to anchor its African diplomacy in commerce. The first day of the Africa Forward summit will feature a business forum that will highlight the breadth of France-Africa economic partnership and promote projects and initiatives conducted in African and French private sectors. "Our priority is clear: to step up investments and strengthen our cooperation programmes in healthcare, education, food, digital technology…

Why does the Africa Forward Summit matter for peace and security? Because peace cannot be managed in fragments. Africa's risks are interconnected, from conflict and extremism to economic pressure and climate stress. The Summit creates a platform to align political leadership, security actors and partners around shared priorities. Without that alignment, responses remain reactive and uneven. What gap does the Summit address? A lack of coherence. We must rebuild trust.…

The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) and the Banque Nationale pour le Développement Economique (BNDE) held a signing ceremony on April 30, 2026, to formalise a loan agreement establishing a new credit line of twenty (20) billion CFA francs dedicated to the financing of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Republic of Senegal. The ceremony marks a significant milestone in the longstanding partnership between the two institutions and follows a successful first operation undertaken in 2021…

As global power dynamics shift and Africa's strategic importance deepens, France is refocusing its engagement with the continent, moving away from its legacy strongholds in francophone Africa toward a broader, more diversified partnership model. Africa, a continent rich in resources and burgeoning with potential, has also continued to gain recognition as a vital player in the global economic landscape. It is a land of immense opportunity that is gradually breaking free from the shackles of its historical narrative…

Amid rising anti French sentiment in French-speaking countries in West and Central Africa, Paris is recalibrating to English speaking Africa, where it is seeking to build trust and relevance through soft power rather than military or political pressure. Leveraging its cultural network abroad - mainly the Instituts français, Alliances françaises and embassies - Paris has in recent years intensified soft power efforts to promote French culture and language in non-French speaking countries across Africa. "In France…

Kenya will make history as the first non-Francophone African nation to host the Africa-France Summit in 2026. The Africa Forward Summit, with the theme "Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth", is a gathering of heads of state and government to be held between 11 and 12 May in Nairobi. The Summit is co-hosted by President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya and Emmanuel Macron, President of France.…