Key Developments
1. Accion backs Nigerian HR-tech startup PaidHR
Global impact investor Accion has led a funding round into PaidHR, a fast-growing Nigerian startup offering payroll and HR management solutions tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises. The investment aims to expand access to digital financial tools and improve employment practices across Africa’s informal economy.
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2. Zambia secures funding for major solar energy project
Zambia’s energy sector receives a boost as development finance institutions FMO and Triodos join other investors to fund a large-scale solar project. The initiative will increase clean energy access in rural areas and support Zambia’s efforts to transition away from hydro-dependency amid recurring droughts.
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3. Egypt launches solar and battery storage project with international support
British International Investment (BII), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have partnered to fund a solar-plus-storage initiative in Egypt. The project is expected to stabilise the national grid, reduce outages, and set a precedent for future clean energy investments in North Africa.
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Political Updates
1. Middle East conflict sparks fears of African trade disruptions
With Iran-Israel tensions escalating, analysts warn that the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz could severely impact Africa’s oil imports and inflation rates. Many African nations, still heavily reliant on fossil fuels for transport and manufacturing, are unprepared for the shockwaves such a conflict might cause.
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2. ECOWAS leaders meet in Abuja amid leadership and legitimacy challenges
In a high-stakes summit, West African leaders gathered to address political instability, military coups, and ECOWAS’s dwindling influence. Leaders are under pressure to reform the bloc’s decision-making processes and rebuild trust across member states.
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3. Netherlands returns 119 looted Nigerian artefacts
In a major repatriation effort, the Netherlands has returned over 100 stolen cultural artefacts to Nigeria, marking a step forward in global restitution movements. The artefacts include Benin bronzes looted during colonial conquests.
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4. DRC extends cobalt export ban to stabilise local processing industry
The Democratic Republic of Congo has extended its ban on raw cobalt exports for three more months. The government hopes to incentivise domestic refining and control pricing in the critical minerals sector amid rising global demand for electric vehicle batteries.
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5. Ivory Coast sees political realignment as opposition leaders join forces
Former President Laurent Gbagbo and political heavyweight Tidjane Thiam have united their parties in a strategic alliance. The move signals a shift in the country’s political dynamics ahead of upcoming elections and could reshape voter mobilisation.
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My Take: A Critical Moment for African Energy Independence
The Israel-Iran conflict has once again exposed Africa’s vulnerability in global energy markets. If the Strait of Hormuz is blocked, oil and gas prices will spike, impacting already fragile sectors like transportation, manufacturing, and food distribution. Despite having one of the largest reserves of solar, hydro, and wind energy, many African nations remain overly reliant on imported fossil fuels.
This situation should serve as a wake-up call. Countries like Egypt and Zambia are moving toward solar energy, but broader political will and infrastructure investment are still lacking. Africa must ask itself: if a global war erupts, will religious alignment shape diplomatic ties? Will countries like Egypt side with allies like the US, or will divisions in the Sahel and West Africa worsen due to increased terrorist activity?
And while conflict is tragic, history shows that global wars reshape economies. Could this moment allow Africa to redefine itself—perhaps even develop its own defense industries like Burkina Faso's budding weapons manufacturing sector? If handled with vision, this crisis could mark the start of Africa’s energy and industrial self-sufficiency.
5 Things to Look Out for This Week
Gold Prices and Mining Security
Gold prices are rising sharply. In response, mines across West Africa are deploying drones and hiring private security forces to deter illegal miners. Clashes have already resulted in fatalities.
Read moreNigeria and Benin push for trade integration
A bilateral agreement signed at the West Africa Economic Summit aims to reduce trade bottlenecks, reform ECOWAS, and streamline major corridors like Lagos-Abidjan.
Read moreTerror threats expand to coastal states
Jihadist groups from the Sahel are now targeting countries along the Gulf of Guinea. Military forces are adapting, but the spread of extremism continues to threaten regional stability.
Read moreTech innovation takes centre stage at Africa Technology Expo
ATE 2025 wrapped up with showcases in electric vehicles, AI, and robotics. Governments are urged to invest in digital infrastructure to enable homegrown industrial revolutions.
Read moreYouth protests rise amid inflation and joblessness
West Africa faces a growing wave of unrest as young people demand reforms in education, housing, and employment. Without policy shifts, instability may deepen.
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Start-up of the Week
Hizo HQ – Simplifying Cross-Border Payments
Nigerian fintech startup Hizo HQ has secured $100,000 in seed funding to develop a platform that enables seamless cross-border transactions using local African currencies. By tackling high fees and inefficiencies in intra-African trade, Hizo hopes to support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) goals.
Podcast of the Week
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