- The Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, met with the President of the Republic of Benin, Patrice Talon, at the Amiri Diwan in Doha to discuss strengthening cooperation between both countries.
- Nigeria's Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), the nation's benchmark interest rate, has been kept at 27.5 percent by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
- Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of palm oil, implemented a policy on May 17 to increase the export tax on crude palm oil (CPO) , aiming to finance biofuel initiatives and replanting activities within the country.
- South Africa’s government is preparing to offer Elon Musk a special exemption from the country’s Black ownership requirements to allow his satellite internet service, Starlink, to operate within its borders.
- Africa has officially launched its first continental space agency in a major step toward improving climate resilience, satellite infrastructure, and data-sharing across the region.
- Algeria has secured a $3 billion loan package from the Islamic Development Bank to be disbursed over the next three years, aimed at accelerating key development initiatives.
- As African governments pursue ambitious development goals ranging from infrastructure renovations to expanded healthcare and education, several have turned to borrowing to meet their financial demands.
- Kenya has firmly rejected U.S. concerns over its deepening ties with China, stressing that expanding its diplomatic and economic partnerships with Beijing does not represent a shift in allegiance.
- The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday ruled that Equatorial Guinea holds legal sovereignty over a cluster of small islands in the potentially oil-rich waters in the Gulf of Guinea. This ruling marks the end of a decades-long territorial dispute with neighbouring Gabon.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa will use his visit to Washington this week to promote investment opportunities for Elon Musk’s companies, as part of a broader push to improve relations with Donald Trump.
- As per the recent monthly oil-report by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), in April, the OPEC Reference Basket (ORB) value fell by $5.02, or 6.8%, month on month, to average $68.98/barrel.
- Burkina Faso and Senegal have taken a significant step toward strengthening regional security with the launch of a joint initiative to combat terrorism and transnational crime.
- China recently disclosed intentions to establish an electric vehicle (EV) plant in Africa's most populous nation and one of its largest economies, Nigeria.
- The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Africa’s largest trade alliance, is considering a coordinated response to rising trade tensions with the United States.
- Africa’s hospitality sector is witnessing a significant upswing in hotel construction, with 577 projects comprising 104,444 rooms currently underway as of the first quarter of 2025.
- Southern Africa is expecting a new refinery as a result of a joint collaboration between the governments of Namibia and Botswana, as they move to deepen cooperation in the energy sector with the construction of a new refinery.
- South Africa's Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, has dismissed media reports claiming the country's HIV response is in crisis, despite the government's struggle to secure new funding, following US aid cuts.
- The United States is deepening its military partnership with Côte d'Ivoire, including plans for a drone base, as part of a broader strategy to recalibrate its presence in West Africa following its withdrawal from Niger.
- The Government of Nigeria has announced the strengthening of its bilateral relations with France, a move that bolsters support for its creative infrastructure, securing concessionary funding that could rise from an initial €35 million to €100 million.
- Despite global efforts to improve housing and reduce urban poverty, slums remain a defining feature of many fast-growing cities in the developing world.
- The financial landscape is plagued by concerns of counterfeit currency, which continues to pose a persistent threat to the stability of global financial systems. This issue is exacerbated by access to sophisticated technology, exploited by organized criminal networks.
- In a wave of strategic economic diplomacy, countries from the the Middle East under the banner of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have significantly ramped up investments across Africa in 2025.
- The U.S. government’s push to secure market access for Elon Musk’s Starlink in Gambia has come under scrutiny after revelations that American diplomats allegedly applied pressure on Gambian officials to fast-track the company’s license approval.
- The Trump administration has launched a new Commercial Diplomacy Strategy through its Africa Bureau, marking a formal pivot in traditional aid and deal-making diplomacy across Africa.
- The United States government's decision to launch a special resettlement program for white South African refugees has prompted a wave of moral and theological critique from church leaders both at home and abroad.
- A Nigerian court has ordered the deportation of four Chinese nationals over their involvement in illegal mining of precious minerals in Plateau State.
- Ali Bongo, the former president of Gabon who was ousted in a military coup in August 2023, has left the country for Angola along with his wife, Sylvia Bongo, and their son, Noureddin.
- In a rare and historic judgment, Mauritania’s former president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for corruption by a court in Nouakchott, the country's capital.
- The growth of hotel chains in Africa signifies economic potential, investor confidence, and tourism growth. A key indicator of this is the hotel chain development pipeline, which tracks new hotel projects. For African countries, a strong pipeline is commercially strategic and highly desirable.
- A low or negative GDP per capita growth rate year over year frequently indicates more than simply economic stagnation; it also reveals underlying issues that impact citizens' everyday lives, the resilience of institutions, and in African countries this can be prevalent.
- The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Benin as new member countries eligible for investment.
- Zimbabwean professionals seeking a way out of their country’s prolonged economic crisis are facing fresh hurdles as the UK government moves to permanently scrap care worker visas, a route many had used to migrate.
- Europe can offer Africa a stable and reliable partnership when global trade faces growing uncertainty due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalating tariff war, according to an European Investment Bank official.
- Europe can offer Africa a stable and reliable partnership when global trade faces growing uncertainty due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalating tariff war, according to an European Investment Bank official.
- Imports are a critical component of Kenya's economy, assisting with growth, industrialization, consumer requirements, and general national advancement.
- The Minister of Energy, John Jinapor, has issued a stark warning about an impending nationwide electricity crisis, disclosing that the country has less than three days’ supply of liquid fuel available to run its thermal power plants.
- Namibia has announced plans to adopt Ghana’s acclaimed Gold Purchase Programme in a strategic move to strengthen its monetary policy and revive its ailing economy.
- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to visit the United States next week for a working trip, where he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump on May 21.
- Ghana has been ranked the 20th cheapest country for petrol in Africa, according to the latest update from GlobalPetrolPrices.com. As of May 2025, the average pump price of petrol in Ghana stood at $1.211 per litre.
