The United States sharply reduced its imports of Nigerian crude oil in January 2026, cutting volumes by almost half, underscoring evolving global energy dynamics and intensifying competition in Africa’s oil market. The United States cut Nigerian crude imports by nearly 50 per cent in January 2026, signalling a sharp shift in trade flows. Despite higher…
A US-backed iron ore developer backed by billionaire Robert Friedland has cleared a major regulatory hurdle in West Africa, positioning one of the region’s largest untapped iron ore projects closer to production even as it faces leadership changes and geopolitical scrutiny. Ivanhoe Atlantic’s Kon Kweni iron ore project in West Africa received formal approval of…
Niger has officially joined Burkina Faso as the second member of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to roll out a biometric identity card system, marking a significant step in the bloc’s push for digital sovereignty and administrative reform. Niger has become the second AES country, after Burkina Faso, to launch a biometric identity card…
Even as Washington works to ease tensions between Congo and Rwanda and stabilise the region for investment, Africa’s largest cobalt producer has signed a fresh mining cooperation deal with China, reinforcing Beijing’s stronghold in the country’s critical minerals sector. The Democratic Republic of Congo has signed a new mining cooperation deal with China, reinforcing its…
Nigeria is experiencing rising demand for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes as disruptions from the Middle East conflict create new commercial opportunities for the West African producer. Demand for Nigerian LNG cargoes is rising due to supply disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. Nigeria’s proximity to major markets and its vast gas reserves…
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni, has shocked regional and international observers by publicly aligning himself with Israel amid the escalating Middle East conflict, suggesting that Uganda could take military action against Iran if threats to Israel persist. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and son of the president,…
Zambia is on track to produce more than 1 million tonnes of copper in 2026, a record milestone driven by expanded output from its largest Canadian-owned operations, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe has said. Zambia is projected to produce over 1 million tonnes of copper in 2026, surpassing its previous record. The country’s copper output…
South Africa’s exclusion from the upcoming G7 summit in Evian, France, marks the latest escalation in a deepening diplomatic rift with the United States, revealing how geopolitical tensions are beginning to reshape Pretoria’s global engagement. South Africa has been excluded from the upcoming G7 summit in France after the U.S. pressured France to withdraw the…
From April 2026, Africans, and citizens of other nations seeking to live, work, or study in the UK will encounter higher visa charges, following government announcements that have sparked debate over the financial impact on migrants. The UK will raise visa fees for travellers, workers, and students from 8 April 2026. The government justifies the…
