African economic losses from Hormuz: Quantifying the Multi-Billion Dollar Maritime Shock JOHANNESBURG – As the naval blockade in the Persian Gulf enters its seventh week, the structural integrity of African fiscal budgets is reaching a breaking point. On April 15, 2026, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revised its growth forecast for Sub-Saharan Africa downward by...
Carbon Credits in Agriculture: Evaluating the Expansion of Voluntary Carbon Markets Africa African agribusiness is transitioning from a focus on crop yields to include carbon sequestration services. This shift is driven by the rapid growth of Voluntary Carbon Markets Africa, which allow land managers to monetize environmental stewardship. As of April 2026, the demand for...
The Lobito Corridor Investment on Regional Copper Logistics The operationalization of the rail link between the Port of Lobito in Angola and the mining heartlands of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia represents a significant Lobito Corridor Investment. As of March 2026, this infrastructure project has secured $2.3 billion in committed financing. The...
Trade Finance Credit Gap: NAIROBI – African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face a rejection rate of 60 percent for trade finance applications as of March 2026. This systemic issue, identified as the Trade Finance Credit Gap, is currently valued at approximately 120 billion USD per year. While large corporations in Africa secure nearly 90...
Econet InfraCo VFEX listing, valuation and market access The Business Pulse Africa reports that the Econet InfraCo VFEX listing is set for 31 March 2026. The move follows the completion of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe’s exit offer and its transition away from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. Econet said the exit offer closed on 9 March 2026....
Africa’s Q1 Economic Performance and Q2 Growth Projections JOHANNESBURG – The economic trajectory for the continent in the first quarter of 2026 reveals a stark divergence in monetary policy as major economies navigate a complex global environment marked by commodity price volatility and geopolitical shifts. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the baseline projection...
ACCRA – The formal implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol on Digital Trade has entered a critical phase this week, as regional economic communities move to align national data residency laws with continental standards. For small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Economic Community...
African energy self-sufficiency LAGOS – Four West African nations have opened formal negotiations with Dangote Industries to secure direct petroleum supply contracts. The governments of Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Liberia seek to reduce their dependence on European refined products. This shift occurs as maritime disruptions in the Middle East drive international fuel prices to...
Middle East-Africa trade corridors The closure of the Strait of Hormuz in late February 2026 has restructured the logistical framework of the Indian Ocean. This maritime chokepoint previously facilitated 30 percent of global liquefied natural gas and 20 percent of total oil shipments. The resulting blockages have immediate consequences for Middle East-Africa trade corridors that...
African petroleum price volatility: A Continental Breakdown of Fuel Costs HARARE – The African continent is currently grappling with a severe energy shock as of 20 March 2026, driven by an escalating conflict in the Middle East that has pushed Brent crude prices beyond the 100 USD per barrel threshold. This surge has triggered a...