African markets and business updates

Thirty-three recruits officially joined the ranks of the Seychelles Defence Forces today after successfully completing a demanding four-month training programme. The recruits graduated during the Passing Out Ceremony for Intake 02/2026, held at the Seychelles Defence Forces . The ceremony was attended by Commander-in-Chief Dr Patrick Herminie, Commissioner of Police Compol Godfra Hermitte, Major General Michael Rosette, Colonel Michael Hollanda, senior military officers, family members and invited guests, who gathered to celebrate the graduates’ important milestones.…

Vice President of the Republic of Seychelles, Mr. Sebastien Pillay, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.H. Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh. The meeting focused on bilateral relations between Seychelles and Saudi Arabia, with discussions on opportunities to further strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest, particularly economic cooperation, investment and tourism. Vice President Pillay reaffirmed Seychelles’ commitment to further strengthening its relations with the Kingdom and advancing practical areas of cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries.…

Nine Roads Directorate employees graduated from Lerotholi Polytechnic’s Roads Technician Capacity Building Course, with a call for them to apply their newly acquired technical skills to improve service delivery. The graduates received their certificates during a ceremony held at the Roads Directorate Training Centre in Teya-Teyaneng and the event also featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Lerotholi Polytechnic and the Roads Directorate. Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Public Works and Transport Mr.…

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, conducted a brief working visit to Eritrea. Upon his arrival at Asmara International Airport, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his entourage were accorded a warm welcome by President Isaias Afwerki. The visit was part and parcel of the periodic consultative framework between the two sisterly countries. Speaking to Erina, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said that the customary and friendly visit attested to the strong historical and people-to-people ties between Eritrea and Sudan and formed part of the consultations between the leaderships of the two countries.…

Emirates ( www.Emirates.com ) is elevating the award-winning Premium Economy experience ( ) even further with the launch of the world's first electrically powered Premium Economy seat, featuring a full-height adjustable privacy screen between every seat. Debuting on newly received Airbus A350 aircraft, the new seat combines industry-leading innovation with elevated comfort, giving customers greater control over their personal space. Installed in the Emirates A350 Premium Economy cabin in a spacious 2-3-2 configuration with just 28 seats, the new seat represents the airline's latest investment in continuously raising the bar for customer experience.…

The global energy sector is shifting its gaze to Windhoek, Namibia, as final preparations conclude for the International African Energy, Oil and Gas Summit (IAEOGS 2026) , scheduled for November 03–06, 2026 , at the Hilton Hotel. If you work in oil, gas, or energy, the 3 rd , -6 th of November 2026, on the calendar, you cannot afford to sit out. IAEOGS 2026 is the continent's premier gathering for policy dialogue, dealmaking, and investment. It is where the crucial relationships, contracts, and multi-million dollar partnerships shaping Africa's energy roadmap are built in real-time.…

Senior Angolan oil and gas leaders gathered in Luanda on Wednesday to support the launch of African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( ) Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk’s latest book, “Crude Oil: Power, Turnaround and Transformation in Angola,” a timely examination of the reforms, leadership and industry transformation reshaping one of Africa’s most important energy markets. Among those lending their support to the launch was Sebastião Gaspar Martins, Chairman and CEO of Sonangol Group, alongside senior industry figures including Sergio Pugliese, AEC Executive President, and Dr. Adilson Mangueira Nelumba, CEO of COPIA Group Companies.…

The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, this morning received H.E. Gamal Mohamed Hassan, Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Federal Republic of #Somalia, at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, during a courtesy visit. The Chairperson congratulated Somalia on the ratification of the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as an important step towards deepening Somalia’s integration into the continental market & advancing the objectives of Africa’s economic integration agenda.…

In Kebbi State, Surajuddeen Lukman has seen how delayed or incomplete information can slow a public health response. “In Kebbi State, I have seen how delayed or incomplete data can affect response efforts. This training is helping me better analyse information so health teams can reach communities faster and protect more children,” she said. Lukman is one of 62 data and information management officers taking part in a two-week training in Akwanga, Nasarawa State. Participants come from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, across all six geopolitical zones. Behind every data point is a child who could be missed during a vaccination campaign.…

A flurry of business deals was announced to coincide with the visit of Xi Jinping as China seeks to deepen Cairo ties. China's President Xi Jinping visited Egypt this week in a rare overseas trip, as Beijing looks to deepen its relationships in Africa and the Global South at a time when the influence of the United States in the region is perceived by many to be waning. Xi's visit to Cairo saw a flurry of investments announced. Chinese tyre maker ZC Rubber announced plans to invest $500n to develop a manufacturing complex in Sokhna, a port town on the Gulf of Suez, while the two governments also agreed to expand the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA).…