The Africa Week

The Africa Week - 22/05/2026

This week: Alarm over the spread of Ebola in the eastern DRC as cases emerge in neighbouring Uganda. Shockwaves on Kenya's streets and petrol pumps from the war in the Middle East. South Africa invites private companies to revive its rail network. And are cluster bombs being used in northern Mali?  References/further reading: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8p2g8yp8do [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8p2g8yp8do] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/18/four-reported-killed-30-injured-in-kenyan-fuel-price-protests [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/18/four-reported-killed-30-injured-in-kenyan-fuel-price-protests] https://www.semafor.com/article/05/15/2026/south-africas-rail-network-opens-to-11-private-firms [https://www.semafor.com/article/05/15/2026/south-africas-rail-network-opens-to-11-private-firms] https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260520-mali-conflict-enters-dangerous-new-phase-with-banned-cluster-bombs-russia [https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260520-mali-conflict-enters-dangerous-new-phase-with-banned-cluster-bombs-russia] topcastmedia.co.uk

The Africa Week - 15/05/2026

This week: Ebola is back in the DRC. Macron tries to win new friends in Africa, but it's a tough ask. Ramaphosa digs his heels in in South Africa. And the UN warnings about deadly drones in Sudan.  References/further reading: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cze2wpk7y76o [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cze2wpk7y76o] https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/5/13/can-macrons-kenya-visit-revive-french-influence-in-africa [https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/5/13/can-macrons-kenya-visit-revive-french-influence-in-africa] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9369q3g7w7o [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9369q3g7w7o] https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/05/turk-issues-high-alert-widening-sudan-conflict-amid-increased-use-drones [https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/05/turk-issues-high-alert-widening-sudan-conflict-amid-increased-use-drones] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqxp23272j3o [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqxp23272j3o] https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/ugandan-lawmakers-pass-scaled-back-sovereignty-law-after-central-bank-warning-2026-05-06/ [https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/ugandan-lawmakers-pass-scaled-back-sovereignty-law-after-central-bank-warning-2026-05-06/] topcastmedia.co.uk

The Africa Week - 08/05/2026

This week: South Africa's president faces impeachment hearing over couch stash. No room for two big guns in Nigeria's opposition tent. China drops tariffs for Africa - except for Eswatini. And Tanzanian's leader didn't get the memo over a new oil refinery.  References/further reading:   https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-08-live-concourt-set-to-rule-on-phala-phala-scandal/?dm_source=blocks-grid-wide&dm_medium=card-link&dm_campaign=inform [https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-08-live-concourt-set-to-rule-on-phala-phala-scandal/?dm_source=blocks-grid-wide&dm_medium=card-link&dm_campaign=inform] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q20xzwppdo [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q20xzwppdo] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy2v509217o [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy2v509217o] https://www.semafor.com/article/05/05/2026/zambia-pushes-back-against-us-healthcare-deal-tied-to-minerals-access [https://www.semafor.com/article/05/05/2026/zambia-pushes-back-against-us-healthcare-deal-tied-to-minerals-access] https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/15994/abu-dhabi-ups-the-stakes-with-weapons-case-against-sudan-army-insiders%c2%a0 [https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/15994/abu-dhabi-ups-the-stakes-with-weapons-case-against-sudan-army-insiders%c2%a0] https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001547006/why-didnt-you-tell-me-about-my-own-refinery-samia-confronts-ruto [https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001547006/why-didnt-you-tell-me-about-my-own-refinery-samia-confronts-ruto] topcastmedia.co.uk

The Africa Week - 01/05/2026

This week: Mayhem in Mali as Russia loses ground. Kenya's Kenya's Sebastian Sawe breaks the barrier of human endurance at the London Marathon. Pooling for power in East Africa? And a new South African policy puts the artificial in AI.  References/further reading: https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260427-mali-plunged-into-uncertainty-following-coordinated-attacks-on-junta [https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260427-mali-plunged-into-uncertainty-following-coordinated-attacks-on-junta] https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/articles/cp383n09030o [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/articles/cp383n09030o] https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/east-african-nations-discussing-regional-refinery-project-kenya-president-says-2026-04-23/ [https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/east-african-nations-discussing-regional-refinery-project-kenya-president-says-2026-04-23/] https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-illegal-immigration-march-protests-cbc323b775625516597792db82d87ae0 [https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-illegal-immigration-march-protests-cbc323b775625516597792db82d87ae0] https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-withdraws-ai-policy-due-fake-ai-generated-sources-2026-04-27/ [https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-withdraws-ai-policy-due-fake-ai-generated-sources-2026-04-27/] topcastmedia.co.uk

The Africa Week - 24/04/2026

This week: Pope Leo finishes his Africa tour - putting further distance between himself and the Trump White House. Taiwan's president told Eswatini is a no-go, who is calling the shots? Nigeria gets a new finance minister. And Türkiye told to stay in its lane. References/further reading: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80m4822m1no [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80m4822m1no] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-president-cancels-eswatini-trip-blames-chinese-pressure-african-countries-2026-04-21/ [https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-president-cancels-eswatini-trip-blames-chinese-pressure-african-countries-2026-04-21/] https://businessday.ng/news/article/tinubu-removes-wale-edun-in-cabinet-reshuffle-elevates-oyedele-as-finance-minister/ [https://businessday.ng/news/article/tinubu-removes-wale-edun-in-cabinet-reshuffle-elevates-oyedele-as-finance-minister/] https://dailytrust.com/kenyan-president-hits-back-at-tinubu-mocks-nigerians/ [https://dailytrust.com/kenyan-president-hits-back-at-tinubu-mocks-nigerians/] https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/world-athletics-turkey-allegiance-transfers-favour-ofili-b2959184.html [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/world-athletics-turkey-allegiance-transfers-favour-ofili-b2959184.html] topcastmedia.co.uk