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...
Parametric Climate Insurance in Global Agriculture The global agricultural sector is transitioning toward data-driven risk management models to address weather volatility. Traditional indemnity insurance requires physical damage assessments by loss adjusters. This process often delays payouts by several months. In contrast, parametric climate insurance utilizes objective data triggers to initiate payments. These triggers include specific...
Forbes Africa Billionaires 2026 The Forbes Africa Billionaires 2026 rankings track the 23 individuals on the continent with a net worth of at least $1 billion. Collective wealth for this group reached $126.7 billion on March 1, 2026. This total represents a 21% increase from the previous year. The Forbes Africa Billionaires data indicates that...
Dangote $400 Million Equipment Deal Drives Nigeria Refinery Expansion The Dangote $400 million equipment deal with China’s Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG) represents a major investment aimed at accelerating the expansion of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals complex in Lagos, Nigeria. The agreement will see Dangote Group acquire advanced construction and heavy machinery valued...
Patrice Motsepe Retires as ARM Founder In a major leadership transition, Patrice Motsepe retires from his long-held executive role at African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), the mining company he founded more than two decades ago. The decision follows updated governance requirements by the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, which now require a clear separation between executive management and...
Sanlam Medhold Acquisition The Sanlam Medhold acquisition marks an important development in Southern Africa’s healthcare and private equity landscape. South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe through Sanlam Private Equity has acquired a majority stake in Medhold, a long established medical devices and services company. The deal places one of the region’s most strategic healthcare suppliers under...
African Excellence Awards 2026: Malawi President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika Nominated Five prominent Malawians have been nominated for the African excellence awards 2026, scheduled for 13 February 2026 at the Rainbow Towers and Conference Centre in Harare. The awards recognize individuals and organizations across Africa making substantial contributions to development, leadership, innovation, and social impact....
AI in African E-commerce: Artificial intelligence is transforming global online retail. In developed markets, AI powers robotic warehouses, real-time fraud detection, and highly personalized shopping experiences. In Africa, however, the role of artificial intelligence looks different. Infrastructure gaps, unreliable logistics, and fragmented payment systems shape how digital commerce evolves. Yet AI in African e-commerce is...
South Africa’s Fuel Prices Are Dropping South Africa’s fuel prices are set to become more affordable in February, bringing welcome relief to motorists, businesses, and households. Recent data from the Central Energy Fund shows that cost reductions at the pump are expected to continue after a period of higher prices, giving South Africans a break...