Burkina Faso’s young captain-turned-president, Ibrahim Traoré, has ignited a wave of hope across the Sahel. At just 36, he is hailed as Africa’s youngest leader and has moved boldly on the issues plaguing his country: security, governance and the economy. His standing-room–only reception at a regional summit – where he received the loudest applause of […]
African countries have long relied on the “Big Three” global agencies (Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch) to signal their creditworthiness. These firms use familiar letter grades (AAA down to C) to gauge default risk, and investors treat them as a convenient shorthand for safety or peril. In Africa today 33 countries have sovereign ratings […]
In the global push for net-zero emissions, Africa’s renewable energy potential offers a tantalizing prospect. Home to 60% of the world’s best solar resources and abundant wind, hydro, and geothermal energy opportunities, the continent seems poised to lead the green revolution. Yet, over 600 million Africans—nearly half the population—still lack access to electricity. This glaring […]
The skyline of Lagos is a patchwork of contrasts: gleaming high-rises standing tall beside sprawling informal settlements. This duality reflects the complexity of Africa’s real estate market—a sector brimming with opportunities but hindered by stark inequalities. Rapid urbanization and a burgeoning middle class are fueling unprecedented demand for housing and commercial spaces. Yet, the challenges […]
In the vast savannahs of Mozambique, gas flares light up the night sky, symbols of an industrial dream powered by fossil fuels. Meanwhile, the same country’s coastline hosts renewable energy projects, quietly harnessing the power of wind and solar. These realities coexist uneasily across Africa, highlighting a continent at a crossroads—one torn between the promise […]
As Donald Trump returns to the White House in 2025, Africa braces for the ripple effects of his presidency. Trump’s previous tenure redefined U.S. foreign policy with an unapologetically transactional approach, and there’s every reason to believe this term will continue in a similar vein. For Africa—a continent often treated as a footnote in Washington’s […]
One would think that the brutality suffered by Africans during the colonial era will make its inhabitants more united, unfortunately, the reverse is the reality, we are more divided than we had been in the past. For so long, the color of one’s skin and the texture of one’s hair have been a subject […]
African Immigrants at the airport: (AI-Generated) When China’s one-child policy was first announced in 1979, it was with full knowledge of the future that the conditions that necessitated the policy would be ephemeral. It is ubiquitous knowledge that population growth increases density and, together with rural-urban migration, this creates higher urban agglomeration which is […]
Copyright: Photo © Dominic Chavez/World Bank In the James Bond series, specifically the 7th novel by Ian Fleming, Goldfinger imparts a piece of wisdom to Mr. Bond. He mentions a saying from Chicago: “One is happenstance, twice is coincidence, the third time it’s enemy action.” This intriguing perspective on patterns and repetition becomes relevant […]
Photo by Gpop Yef – A young girl hawking. Some of the biggest yet often overlooked contributors to the exclusion of women from opportunities in African societies can be attributed to the prevalent cultural and religious beliefs in the region. I have observed significant efforts dedicated to promoting women’s inclusion in the formal world. However, […]