African markets and business updates

Strengthening multinational air power cooperation and operational interoperability is critical to enhancing Africa’s capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to humanitarian emergencies and emerging security challenges. The Kenya Air Force (KAF), in partnership with the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) and the Association of African Air Forces (AAAF) Secretariat, convened a trilateral meeting at KAF Headquarters on 15 October 2026 to advance preparations for the inaugural AAAF Command Post and Field Training Exercise (AAAFEX 2027), scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kisumu and Busia.…

The Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF), General Charles Kahariri, has reaffirmed the Kenya Defence Forces’ (KDF) commitment to operational readiness, troop welfare and military modernisation as key pillars of national security. On the second day of his KDF Day commemorative tour, General Kahariri visited troops deployed under Operation Maliza Uhalifu (OMU) in the Doldol region and personnel and trainees at the School of Military Engineering (SOME) in Archers Post, Isiolo. He was accompanied by the Commander Kenya Army, Lieutenant General David Ketter; Commander Combat Engineers Brigade, Brigadier Maurice Wasomi; and other senior military officers.…

Africa is expanding its railway networks, but differences in track gauges, signaling systems and operating rules continue to complicate cross-border transport. Kenya and Uganda are working to connect their standard gauge railways, while Tanzania still faces costly cargo transfers between its new and older rail networks. Major ...

Norwegian company TGS will reprocess more than 11,000 square kilometers of offshore seismic data in Guinea-Bissau, with results expected in late 2027. The project aims to help oil companies assess Guinea-Bissau's exploration potential, as the country has yet to confirm a commercial oil or gas discovery. Three ...

BADEA plans to provide $20 million and €10 million to finance trade in Cape Verde, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises. The financing will prioritize agribusiness, renewable energy and imports of essential goods, but the agreement has yet to be finalized. Cape Verde’s trade deficit widened 4.4% ...

The message was clear at Nkroful in the Ellembelle District: Ghana can mine its gold without sacrificing its land, rivers and the livelihoods of future generations. The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah delivered this charge at the inauguration of five Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) societies; Salman, Atomic, Asanta, Bomoakpole and Akropong. The ceremony marked another step in the government’s effort to bring small-scale mining under effective regulation, with the Minister presenting certificates and permits to the cooperatives to support their operations within approved concessions.…

African and Caribbean energy leaders called for stronger cross-border investment, technology transfer and enforceable local-content requirements to ensure emerging oil and gas producers capture more value from their resources during the session South-South Energy Partnership: Advancing Africa’s Oil and Gas Future in 2026 at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town. Ndapwilapo Selma Shimutwikeni, CEO, RichAfrica Consultancy, said partnerships could accelerate skills development. “From a business perspective, we need to build partnerships that encourage joint ventures between experienced countries and emerging countries like Namibia,” she said.…

The African Energy Week (AEW) Future Leaders Student Challenge placed reliable and affordable electricity in Southern Africa at the center of a university competition, asking students to develop practical solutions as the region’s power systems change. The winning entry was Team Cobalt , who proposed putting the country’s electricity carbon tax to work. The project aims to move free electricity for the poorest homes and introduce new power supply for the country, with no new tax. Since power stations already pay a carbon tax, the project proposes that the government sets aside a fund of R6.2 billion a year, capped in a law, with first transfers from April 2028.…

The Chairperson of the Multi-Party Women’s Caucus (MPWC), Ms Lindelwa Dunjwa, on Friday underscored the critical need to prioritise women’s mental health as a fundamental public health and human rights priority. The Caucus’ Steering Committee received a briefing by the Department of Health on key mental health issues affecting women. The Chairperson noted that mental health conditions account for a significant portion of the disease burden globally and locally.…

The impacts of academic exchanges stretch far beyond a university campus. They shape careers, expand research partnerships, create lifelong friendships and, over time, strengthen the ties between countries. That legacy was celebrated on September 29, when the U.S. Consulate General Johannesburg and the University of the Witwatersrand gathered to mark the global 80th anniversary of the Fulbright Program. This year’s anniversary carries an added significance as the United States marks 250 years of independence. Together, the two milestones highlight a shared commitment to opportunity, academic excellence, innovation and the power of people-to-people connections.…