Business Finance

Africa is winning cryptocurrency adoption despite 2022 bear market

With many Africans using cryptocurrencies for everyday transactions rather than speculation, cryptocurrency market across Africa grew by over 1200% between 2020 and 2021, and its usage remains high in 2022 despite the ongoing difficult bear market. 2022 has been a very difficult year for digital asset and cryptocurrency markets when the value of many major […]

Africa International

Nigeria: Death toll rises to 76, scores missing in boat capsize tragedy

The death toll from a boat accident, which occurred when the vessel carrying passengers capsized in Nigeria’s southeastern state of Anambra last Friday has risen to 76, with dozens reported missing. Officials said the locally made boat was carrying 85 people who were on their way to a local market when it developed an engine […]

Business Finance Headlines

Afreximbank approves $200 million for Uganda crude pipeline as NGOs denounce the project

Afreximbank has approved $200 million toward financing of a contested oil pipeline to export Uganda’s crude, while a report released by two environmental NGOs has warned of potentially “unacceptable” damage caused by a controversial project involving French oil giant TotalEnergies and China’s National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). The Nigeria-based bank was also willing to finance […]

Africa International

UNCTAD warns of social unrest amid slow economic growth in Africa

The weak growth trajectory of Africa’s three largest economies, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa, which together account for about 60% of Africa’s GDP, could exacerbate social unrest in the region, a report by UNCTAD, the United Nations trade body, has warned. Growth prospects in South Africa and across the continent have deteriorated, which threatens to […]

Energy

Shell acquires Nigeria’s Daystar to enter African renewable energy market

The acquisition of Nigeria-based Daystar Power by Shell is significant for the UK-headquartered oil giant, which has long been active in the continent’s hydrocarbons market, as it must look for new sources of growth as fossil fuels are phased out. Shell has acquired Daystar Power, a Nigeria-based provider of hybrid solar power solutions to commercial […]

Business Finance

“Very difficult” 18 months ahead for African banks — Fitch 2022-23 Outlook

The next 12-18 months will be “very difficult” for African banks as widespread inflation, currency devaluations and interest-rate hikes sweep the region, a senior director of credit ratings agency Fitch said on Wednesday (21 September). African economies have struggled over the last year in the face of external forces including lingering effects from the COVID-19 […]

Business Emerging Markets Headlines

Africa’s richest nations, including Morocco, control 66% of continent’s total wealth

Only three African nations control about 56% of the continent’s total wealth, according to the 2022 Africa Wealth Report published by UK investment consultancy firm Henley & Partners in partnership with South African wealth intelligence firm New World Wealth. South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, and Kenya are Africa’s wealthiest countries. The first three countries possess […]

Energy International

Nigeria drops to Africa’s 4th biggest oil producer, as 437,000 barrels are stolen daily

Nigeria is facing a record reduction in oil production, dropping from the first largest producer in Africa to the fourth, behind Angola, Algeria and Libya, according to the latest report of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The monthly oil market report for August, published by the oil cartel OPEC, showed that Nigeria’s production […]

Africa Americas Energy Headlines International

US warns against long-term oil, gas projects in Africa, pledging support to Nigeria’s clean energy

Investing in long-term gas projects in Africa as countries wrestle with powering their development with clean energy may not be a very good idea, United States’ special envoy on climate John Kerry has noted, as African countries denounce developed nations’ pledge to curb fossil fuel investment is unfair. “We are not saying no gas,” he […]

Africa Europe International

Mixed legacy: in Africa, not everyone mourns Queen Elizabeth II

As Africa reflects on the legacy of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, from Kenya to Nigeria to South Africa, the monarch’s passing has reignited a sensitive debate about Britain’s colonial past in parts of the continent, particularly the queen’s role as head of state during British rule. The death of the British monarch has prompted an […]