Semafor – Business

South Africa’s Economic Growth Undershoots Expectations

Africa is confronting a cascade of economic shocks and policy pivots. A three‑year study links CMOC’s cobalt expansion in the DR Congo to severe respiratory illness and stillbirths, while Ethiopian Airlines reported a $137 million loss in a single week due to Middle‑East conflict‑driven cancellations. Ghana’s regulator introduced a sliding‑scale gold royalty that climbs to 12% once prices exceed $4,500 per ounce, and President Ramaphosa’s Brazil visit aims to offset tariff pressures with new trade ties. Simultaneously, Djibouti’s sovereign carbon fund and the African Development Bank’s renewable‑energy financing push signal a climate‑focused growth agenda.