African markets and business updates

GE Vernova ( www.GEVernova.com ) and PROTEC today celebrated the graduation of 27 students from Next Engineers Engineering Academy, a global college- and career-readiness programme designed to help increase opportunities for young people in engineering. The graduation ceremony, held at The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, marks the programme’s third graduating class and highlights its contribution towards bridging the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills gap in South Africa, exposing learners to hands-on engineering experiences and career pathways.…

Strengthening defence cooperation, professional engagement and military-to-military relations formed the focus of a courtesy call by the Commander of the French Forces in Djibouti (FFDJ), Brigadier General Olivier Poncet, on the Commander Kenya Air Force (KAF), Major General Bernard Waliaula, at KAF Headquarters, Moi Air Base, on 30 September 2026. The engagement provided an opportunity for the two commanders to discuss matters of mutual interest and review areas of existing cooperation between the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the French Forces in Djibouti.…

Senior Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) leaders have received prestigious French national decorations in recognition of their distinguished service and contribution to strengthening defence and security cooperation between Kenya and France. During a ceremony held on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, at the Residence of France in Nairobi, the French Ambassador to Kenya, His Excellency Wadid Benaabou, conferred the Legion of Honour (Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur) on Lieutenant General John Omenda and Lieutenant Colonel Michael Gense. Lieutenant General David K. C.…

Africa is spearheading two derisking initiatives: one proving creditworthiness to the global financial system and one reducing exposure to it.

With elections looming early next year, African Business heads to Lagos to ask voters to rate the first term of President Bola Tinubu.

Can Africa build a mutually beneficial relationship with the US that reshapes decades of transactional security relationships? Sobukwe Odinga's Treachery and diplomacy: the shadow politics of US-Africa relations is a fascinating and perhaps overdue book that takes a long, hard look at how Washington has dealt with African allies since the end of World War II, including the years of the Cold War, and the period since. It is a narrative that questions whether the US has truly held the upper hand in the relationship, or whether African leaders have been adept at pursuing their own interests. It is left open to debate whether those interests aligned with those of their peoples.…

The renovation of Abidjan's Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium for the 2023 AFCON has created more than a world-class sporting venue. Backed by Afreximbank, the project shows how creative infrastructure can become a year-round commercial asset, generating jobs, supporting tourism and giving Côte d'Ivoire's sports and entertainment industries a platform to grow.

Twenty years after launching its economic cooperation framework with Africa, South Korea is looking to deepen its footprint on the continent. This time, the conversation is increasingly about investment, technology and business.

Lesotho is this week participating in the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO)’s 125th Anniversary Week in London from September 28 to 30. The delegation comprises representatives of the Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation (MICSTI), the Embassy of the Kingdom of Lesotho in the United Kingdom and the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA). The delegation is led by Minister of MICSTI, Ms. Nthati Moorosi, and includes Principal Secretary Mr. Kanono Ramashamole, Director General ICT Mr.…

The number of confirmed Ebola cases has passed 8,000 for the first time since the current outbreak began, according to the Congolese authorities. “While we are beginning to see a reduction in transmission in some areas, the number of cases remains high for this outbreak,” Dr Janet Diaz of WHO ’s Health Emergencies Programme told reporters in Geneva. With 8,067 confirmed cases and 3,901 deaths, the case fatality rate is more than 48 per cent in 63 affected health zones in seven out of DRC's 26 provinces. “We know that for Ebola disease, early access to care can significantly improve chances of survival,” Dr Diaz said.…