Why Kenya Is Buying More Electricity From Ethiopia
Kenya imported a record 1,274.42 GWh of electricity from Ethiopia in FY 2024/25, dwarfing imports from Uganda and Tanzania. The surge is driven by a 25‑year power purchase agreement and a $1.26 bn, 1,045‑km high‑voltage line capable of 2,000 MW. Ethiopian hydro power costs about $0.066/kWh versus $0.23/kWh for Kenya’s thermal IPPs, saving Kenya roughly $10 m annually. The trade supports Ethiopia’s $86.3 m export revenue while helping Kenya bridge a thin reserve margin of about 434 MW.
AI-Powered AgTech in Africa: Growth Accelerates but Foreign Capital Still Dominates
Africa’s AI‑driven AgTech sector is gaining momentum, with over 100 investors backing startups across eight key markets. Yet roughly 70% of that capital originates abroad, especially in Kenya (85% foreign) and South Africa (60% foreign). Funding follows a clear maturity...
At the Africa Soft Power Summit 2026, Africa's Creative Economy Moves From Promise to Power
At the Africa Soft Power Summit 2026, leaders shifted the narrative of the continent’s creative and digital sectors from promise to actionable capital. Panels highlighted the need for African‑built AI infrastructure, diaspora‑driven investment models, and new financing structures that capture...
Not Lost in Translation: Training AI to Speak African Languages
A 2025 study found that only 41 of Africa’s 2,000 languages are supported by major large language models, leaving over 98% of tongues underserved. Researchers at the University of Cape Town responded with MzansiLM, a small decoder‑only model trained on...
Global Airlines Scheme to Boost Demand for African Carbon Credits
International aviation’s CORSIA program is creating a regulated demand for African carbon credits, with airlines like Japan Airlines already retiring 180,000 credits tied to clean‑cooking projects in Tanzania. The scheme projects demand for 177 million credits in its first phase, offering...
AfDB Economic Outlook '26: Middle East War to Take Toll on Growth
The African Development Bank’s 2026 Economic Outlook warns that the war in the Middle East will drag real GDP per‑capita growth down to 1.9% this year, well short of the 3.5% needed for inclusive growth. While Central Africa may benefit...
Why Kenya's Fuel Strategy Is Emerging as a Promising African Case Study
Kenya’s government‑to‑government (G2G) fuel procurement framework, launched in April 2023, replaces a tender‑based system with 180‑day credit agreements with three Gulf oil majors. The model couples sovereign guarantees with private‑sector execution by local traders, easing foreign‑exchange pressure and stabilising pump...
To Grow, You Have to Track, Monitor and Move Quickly
Ecobank’s CEO Jeremy Awori likens the bank’s expansion to building a hundred‑storey skyscraper, reporting a balance‑sheet jump from $20 bn to $25 bn and a 17% revenue rise, with Q1 2025 up 23%. The group boosted deposit mobilisation by 20% after simplifying...
LPG Prices Spike as Strait of Hormuz Remains Closed
LPG imports for cooking have surged 90% in East Africa and 70% in West Africa as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for a third month, according to the IEA. The spike stems mainly from a global supply‑demand imbalance rather...
Africa's Place in a Shifting World Order
Africa is shedding its risk‑only label as great‑power rivalry turns the continent into a seller’s market. China has poured roughly $500 bn into African infrastructure and mining, while the United States backs the Lobito and Liberty corridors and the EU earmarks...
Africa's Financial Sovereignty Begins with Lowering the Cost of Capital
African governments and firms face borrowing costs 4%‑15% above U.S. Treasury rates, a premium that acts as a hidden tax on development. At the Africa Forward Summit 2026 in Nairobi, leaders—including 18 heads of state, President Macron and global investors—called...
Killing of Islamic State Militant Helps to Repair Frayed US-Nigeria Ties
On May 16, President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces and the Nigerian military killed Abu‑Bilal al‑Minuki, the global second‑in‑command of the Islamic State and a senior leader of ISIS‑West Africa. The joint operation, praised by both leaders, marks a...
Nigerian Fintechs March Into Banks' Territory
Flutterwave’s April 2 banking licence marks a watershed as Nigerian fintechs move into full‑service banking. The unicorn, now valued at over $3 billion, aims to offer a unified platform for accounts, payments, payroll and credit powered by transaction data. Peer firms...
Ecobank Group and AGRA Partner to Unlock Agricultural Finance and Accelerate Inclusive Growth Across Africa
Ecobank Group and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Africa Forward Summit to create a pan‑African partnership that expands financing for agribusinesses, farmer groups and value‑chain actors. The collaboration will...
Standard Bank Backs Valterra Platinum's Landmark Debut Bond Issue
Standard Bank, Africa’s largest bank by assets, arranged a $135 million bridge facility and acted as joint arranger for Valterra Platinum’s $540 million Domestic Medium‑Term Note (DMTN) programme. The mining company’s inaugural bond auction attracted $313 million of bids from 23 institutional investors,...