The Africa Week

The Africa Week - 03/07/2026

This week: Burkina Faso slams the door shut - and locks it - against France. The military clamps down on independent media in Uganda. South Africans exhale as anti-immigration protests pass largely peacefully. And Nigeria braces for inflation shocks from the Gulf. References/further reading: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/26/burkina-faso-cuts-diplomatic-ties-with-former-colonial-ruler-france [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/26/burkina-faso-cuts-diplomatic-ties-with-former-colonial-ruler-france]  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9gyk1z7ngo [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9gyk1z7ngo] https://mg.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-06-30-30-june-demonstrations-conclude-relatively-peacefully/ [https://mg.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-06-30-30-june-demonstrations-conclude-relatively-peacefully/] https://www.semafor.com/article/06/29/2026/nigeria-faces-highest-inflation-risk-among-emerging-markets-sp-says [https://www.semafor.com/article/06/29/2026/nigeria-faces-highest-inflation-risk-among-emerging-markets-sp-says] https://africapractice.com/ [https://africapractice.com/] topcastmedia.co.uk

The Africa Week - 26/06/2026

This week: Sexual violence in Sudan may be a war crime, says the UN. South Africa readies for a post-Pepfar world. Nigeria and Cameroon join forces. And Botswana makes hay while the sun shines.  References/further reading: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crel587qz8ro [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crel587qz8ro] https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/864189/united-states-plans-to-end-its-longest-running-deal-with-south-africa/ [https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/864189/united-states-plans-to-end-its-longest-running-deal-with-south-africa/] https://defence.gov.ng/2026/06/17/nigeria-cameroon-sign-memorandum-of-understanding-to-strengthen-security-along-the-southern-border/ [https://defence.gov.ng/2026/06/17/nigeria-cameroon-sign-memorandum-of-understanding-to-strengthen-security-along-the-southern-border/] https://www.semafor.com/article/06/22/2026/botswana-secures-100-million-funding-for-first-large-scale-solar-plant [https://www.semafor.com/article/06/22/2026/botswana-secures-100-million-funding-for-first-large-scale-solar-plant] https://africapractice.com/insights/ [https://africapractice.com/insights/] topcastmedia.co.uk

The Africa Week - 19/06/2026

This week: Cape Verde's new icon - born at the World Cup, will finally have his mom cheering him on. Experts warn that the Ebola outbreak in the DRC could be the worst ever. Bozize faces the music - but not in the CAR. And South Africa mourns one of the greatest ever jazz pianists.  References/further reading:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cgjxlpxxp6wo [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cgjxlpxxp6wo] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/16/ebola-outbreak-in-dr-congo-could-become-worst-in-history-africa-cdc-warns [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/16/ebola-outbreak-in-dr-congo-could-become-worst-in-history-africa-cdc-warns] https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260616-former-car-leader-boziz%C3%A9-on-trial-over-crimes-against-humanity [https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260616-former-car-leader-boziz%C3%A9-on-trial-over-crimes-against-humanity] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/18/niger-says-soldiers-civilians-killed-in-armed-attack-on-niamey-airport [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/18/niger-says-soldiers-civilians-killed-in-armed-attack-on-niamey-airport] https://theconversation.com/abdullah-ibrahim-south-africas-master-pianist-who-was-still-touring-the-world-at-90-225026?utm_medium=article_clipboard_share&utm_source=theconversation.com [https://theconversation.com/abdullah-ibrahim-south-africas-master-pianist-who-was-still-touring-the-world-at-90-225026?utm_medium=article_clipboard_share&utm_source=theconversation.com] https://www.semafor.com/newsletter/06/17/2026/dr-congos-ebola-outbreak-could-be-the-worst-ever-senegal-opens-the-door-to-imf-talks-and-a-legendary-south-african-jazz-pianist-dies [https://www.semafor.com/newsletter/06/17/2026/dr-congos-ebola-outbreak-could-be-the-worst-ever-senegal-opens-the-door-to-imf-talks-and-a-legendary-south-african-jazz-pianist-dies] topcastmedia.co.uk

The Africa Week - 12/06/2026

This week: More foreign nationals flee South Africa as an unofficial deadline looms.  The vuvuzela is muted at the World Cup. Stark warning over the volcano that is Ebola. And the war in the Middle East puts the handbrake on handsets going to Africa. References/further reading:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq512vgyzl9o [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq512vgyzl9o] https://www.semafor.com/article/06/08/2026/fifa-bans-use-of-vuvuzelas-at-world-cup [https://www.semafor.com/article/06/08/2026/fifa-bans-use-of-vuvuzelas-at-world-cup] https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/11/somali-referee-barred-from-world-cup-super-cup-final-uefa-omar-artan [https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/11/somali-referee-barred-from-world-cup-super-cup-final-uefa-omar-artan] https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/6/11/fifa-boss-tells-critics-to-relax-over-somali-referee-deportation [https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/6/11/fifa-boss-tells-critics-to-relax-over-somali-referee-deportation] https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260611-we-re-sitting-on-a-volcano-warns-eu-commissioner-after-visit-to-ebola-hit-drc [https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260611-we-re-sitting-on-a-volcano-warns-eu-commissioner-after-visit-to-ebola-hit-drc] https://www.semafor.com/article/06/08/2026/iran-war-disrupts-phone-shipments-to-africa [https://www.semafor.com/article/06/08/2026/iran-war-disrupts-phone-shipments-to-africa] topcastmedia.co.uk

The Africa Week - 05/06/2026

This week: Kenyans protest over an Ebola treatment centre - where does this leave the Ruto/Trump relationship? Kinshasa looks to cash in quickly on its prized minerals. South Africa pipped at the post of industrialisation by Morocco. Senegal's economic crisis turns into a political one. And Bafana Bafana arrive late for the World Cup. References/further reading: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgz7zny3pzo [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgz7zny3pzo] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn8pw93929wo [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn8pw93929wo] https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/africas-cobalt-powerhouse-drc-moves-to-triple-lithium-mining-royalties-in-strategic/8jlb4jw [https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/africas-cobalt-powerhouse-drc-moves-to-triple-lithium-mining-royalties-in-strategic/8jlb4jw] https://www.afdb.org/en/documents/africa-industrialisation-index-2025 [https://www.afdb.org/en/documents/africa-industrialisation-index-2025] https://www.semafor.com/newsletter/06/03/2026/iran-war-threatens-food-security [https://www.semafor.com/newsletter/06/03/2026/iran-war-threatens-food-security] https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-31-safa-scores-another-own-goal-in-bafana-bafana-visa-bungle/ [https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-31-safa-scores-another-own-goal-in-bafana-bafana-visa-bungle/] topcastmedia.co.uk