Angola is spearheading a major infrastructure push, seeking $4.5 billion to extend the Lobito Corridor railway into Zambia’s mineral-rich Copperbelt region. This project aims to drastically streamline export logistics for the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, which together produce over 13% of the world’s copper. Currently, shipping this critical metal is a weeks-long ordeal through congested transit routes. The new rail link promises a faster, more efficient Atlantic route, enhancing global supply chain reliability. Backed by the United States, the initiative also carries significant geopolitical weight as a counterbalance to Chinese infrastructure influence in Africa. While a substantial US loan is…
Author: Montage Africa
“Françafrique” refers to the political, economic, and military networks France used to maintain influence over its former African colonies, a term popularized in 1998 by François-Xavier Verschave. The term was originally meant to convey a positive partnership but has evolved into a system of corruption, patronage, and informal networks. This system rested on three pillars: military intervention pacts, economic control through mechanisms like the CFA franc and major corporations, and informal personal networks that bypassed official diplomacy. While recent French presidents have publicly denounced this model and promised a new “partnership of equals,” deep-seated mistrust persists. For many Africans, the enduring presence…
Mastercard held its inaugural Africa Edge summit, convening leaders from across Africa’s payments ecosystem to explore how collaboration and innovation can accelerate the continent’s digital growth. The forum focused on building the infrastructure, trust, and interoperability needed to support Africa’s fast-growing digital economy, projected to reach USD 1.5 trillion by 2030, and create new opportunities for consumers and small businesses. Hosted by Mark Elliott, division president, Africa, Mastercard, the event brought together senior representatives from banks, fintech companies, telcos, regulators, and technology partners. Speakers and panelists discussed how to expand low-cost acceptance, improve interoperability and enhance security at scale to create…
Hyprop-owned centre brings international retail giant to West Rand, creating 80+ jobs Clearwater Mall, owned and managed by Hyprop Investments, will become home to South Africa’s first Walmart store, marking the American retail giant’s debut entry into the local market. The announcement transforms Clearwater Mall’s retail offering and introduces Walmart’s distinctive “Every Day Low Prices” model to South African consumers. Unlike traditional sale-driven retail, shoppers will benefit from stable pricing across thousands of products year-round, eliminating the need to wait for promotional periods. “Being selected as the location for South Africa’s first Walmart store demonstrates the strength of our retail…
Regulatory transformation and its impact on IPPs, PPAs, and energy investment to be discussed at the IPP & PPA Conference – a side event to the Africa Energy Indaba 2026 The launch of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM) marks a historic turning point in the country’s energy sector, paving the way for competitive electricity trading, private sector participation, and a modernised energy economy. This landmark regulatory reform will be a central topic at the upcoming IPP & PPA Conference, hosted as a side event to theAfrica Energy Indaba taking place from 3 – 5 March 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. For the first…
Nigeria is exploring the sale of its state-owned refineries to boost competition in a market dominated by Aliko Dangote’s massive 650,000-barrel-a-day refinery. The country’s four state-owned refineries, with a combined capacity of 445,000 barrels per day, have been largely inoperable for years despite repair efforts totaling billions of dollars. A presidential energy adviser confirmed that privatization is a key option to reviving the refineries, particularly after subsidies were removed, creating a more open market. Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company is simultaneously seeking technical equity partners to operate the plants. This strategy aims to transform the nation’s oil industry, ensuring it becomes…
By Rédaction Africanews with AP Uganda-born Zohran Mamdani won a resounding victory on Tuesday to become New York City’s next mayor. It caps the Democrat’s stunning ascent from little-known state lawmaker just a year ago to one of the most talked-about politicians in the country. The democratic socialist, who spent some of his formative years in South Africa, will be the first Muslim leader in the city’s history. In a speech to a crowd of supporters on Tuesday night, he wasted no time in calling out United States President Donald Trump. “So Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I…
By Rédaction Africanews and Agencies Mauritania’s former president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, has lost his final appeal of a 15-year prison sentence for corruption while in office. Abdel Aziz was initially sentenced to five years in prison in 2023 after being found guilty of amassing assets and capital worth 70 million dollars through illicit means. His lawyers argued that the trial was politically motivated but a first appeal of his conviction was rejected in May 2025 and his sentence increased by 10 years. After seizing power in a 2008 coup, Abdel Aziz was twice elected president and served from 2009 to 2019…
By Rédaction Africanews and EBU A new hospital designed to deliver the latest medical services across Morocco has been inaugurated in Rabat by King Mohammed VI and Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan. The Mohammed VI International University Hospital Complex includes the Mohammed VI International University Hospital of Rabat and the Mohammed VI University of Science and Health. The facility will ensure that healthcare workers are trained according to the latest scientific and technical advancements to the highest international standards. The unveiling comes just weeks after massive demonstrations across Morocco, where protesters accused the government of corruption and prioritising international sporting…
By Rédaction Africanews with AP The first civil trial related to the crash of a Boeing airplane in Ethiopia was set to proceed in the United States on Wednesday, six years after the disaster killed all 157 people on board. Boeing has settled most of the dozens of wrongful death lawsuits that families of the victims filed against the company, but a federal court jury was selected on Tuesday in two of the remaining cases. Lawyers for the families and the US aircraft maker were scheduled to give their opening statements on Wednesday in a Chicago court. The trial will not examine the company’s liability,…