African markets and business updates

Secretary to the Treasury Felix Nkulukusu has called for prudent use of public resources as Government prepares the 2027 National Budget, with increased expenditure pressures expected from the expansion in the number of constituencies, salaries, maize arrears and the possible impact of El Niño. Mr Nkulukusu said Government will remain focused on economic stability, inclusive growth and the Grow Zambia Agenda, while ensuring available resources are used efficiently to improve service delivery and living standards. He said the budget hearings will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to identify challenges and propose solutions as Government balances competing demands on public finances.…

President Hakainde Hichilema has challenged Zambia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to move from commitments to action and turn the Lobito Corridor into a catalyst for trade, investment, industrialisation and job creation. Speaking at the 2nd Lobito Corridor Coordinating Meeting in Lusaka today, President Hichilema said the corridor was of vital importance and should strengthen connectivity among the three countries by facilitating the efficient movement of goods, services and people, while opening markets and attracting investment.…

Ethiopia’s central bank is raising the amount of foreign currency offered through regular auctions by 68% this quarter, despite both September sales being undersubscribed. Auction demand has been highly volatile, swinging from heavy oversubscription in August to bids below the amount offered in September.

Ethiopia is hosting the 2026 Joint Conference of the Ethiopian Society of Agricultural Engineers (ESAE) and the Pan-African Society of Agricultural Engineers (PASAE), bringing together agricultural engineers, researchers, policymakers, academics, private-sector representatives, technology developers, and development partners from across Africa and beyond.…

In North Kivu, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), fighting between Congolese forces, the AFC/M23, and their allies continues to drive displacement and disrupt daily life. As families flee, many lose access to farmland, income, food, clean water, and health care. At the same time, insecurity along key routes is disrupting supplies and driving up prices, while cuts to international aid, particularly for food security and health programs, are deepening an already severe malnutrition crisis. Providing care to children with malnutrition remains a core part of MSF’s response in North Kivu.…

The Republic of Liberia was represented at the 2nd ECOWAS Startup Awards, held from 21–30 September 2026 at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. Representing the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Hon. Benedict A. Dolo, Deputy Minister for Small Business Administration, attended the event on behalf of the Ministry. The regional initiative brought together governments, entrepreneurs, investors, development partners, business support organizations, and innovative startups from across the ECOWAS region.…

Food inflation accelerated to 8.4% in September, with poultry, fruit, meat, vegetables and fish recording some of the sharpest price increases. Rising food costs helped push overall inflation to 5.6%, adding pressure on households as agriculture continues to face water and climate-related constraints.

Guinea’s new 2027-2033 partnership with the World Bank Group will focus on fiscal management, human capital, infrastructure and private sector-led job creation. Guinea is expected to receive about $471 million in IDA financing over the framework’s first three years, alongside support from IFC and MIGA ...

The update comes as neighbouring Kenya confirmed its first case and death from the disease, believed to have come from DRC. “Ebola takes the people children depend on and unravels their lives,” said Halimatou Amadou, UNICEF Chief of Communication in the DRC, speaking to journalists in Geneva. “The parents fall ill, a child may be exposed, the parent is taken for treatment or dies. At the very moment a child most needs someone, fear and stigma can keep relatives and neighbours away.” Nearly 2,000 children affected More than 1,900 boys and girls have either lost one or both parents, or their caregivers, since the outbreak was declared in May, or have been separated from them.…

Senegal’s criminal asset recovery office has recovered more than CFAF 50 billion since 2022, up at least 42.9% from the amount reported in May 2025. Public auctions are a key disposal tool, with more than 6,000 seized or confiscated assets sold since 2023 for ...