African markets and business updates

Sanlam has offered 505 rand per share to buy the 37.3% of Santam it does not already own, valuing the offer at a 26.6% premium to the insurer’s October 2 closing price. If approved, the deal would give Sanlam full control of Santam and ...

Abiy Ahmed has begun a new five-year term after his Prosperity Party secured an overwhelming parliamentary majority in the June elections. Ethiopia’s economy is growing rapidly, but high inflation and the challenge of turning growth into better jobs, incomes and public services remain major ...

Childcare support can help mothers enter paid work while creating jobs within care services themselves. Programs and studies in Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda show gains in employment, earnings or the use of working hours. Affordability remains a major obstacle, with evidence that lasting ...

Ecobank's three-year Transforming Africa Through Education campaign has reached more than 46,000 young people, creating a network of IT labs and expanding access to coding, AI and robotics across the continent.

Turkey has built mining partnerships across Africa, from Niger and Senegal to Nigeria, Sudan and Angola. State-owned MTAIC already holds six gold exploration permits through two subsidiaries in Niger. Ankara now faces the challenge of converting cooperation agreements and exploration work into advanced ...

FAO’s rice price index rose for a second straight month in September amid tighter seasonal supplies and concerns over Asian harvests. India faces its first production decline in a decade, although record government stocks provide a substantial buffer. African importers have stepped up ...

Global cobalt consumption is forecast to rise 8% in 2026 and 2.5% in 2027, led mainly by electric vehicles. Cobalt-free LFP batteries continue to gain market share, yet growth in EV sales still supports demand for cobalt-based batteries. The outlook supports DR Congo’s ...

Tunisia’s summer power demand reached nearly 6,000 MW, while domestic generation capacity stood at about 4,500 MW. Sonelgaz and STEG will study a 1,400 MW plant, with the total investment cost still to be determined. The project would add to Tunisia’s reliance on Algeria for gas and ...

Nigeria's banks look well set for the future after completing recapitalisation, while banks from Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire are well represented.

IRH has submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire all of Kenmare Resources, operator of Mozambique’s Moma mine. A deal would add titanium-bearing minerals, zircon and some rare-earth exposure to IRH’s African mining portfolio. The potential acquisition follows IRH’s investments in Zambia’s Mopani copper mine and DR Congo’s ...