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Burkina Faso's $6 billion gold milestone shows how quickly the country is changing the way its mining sector operates. The government is bringing more mining activity into official channels, giving it greater oversight of production and a larger share of mining revenues.

Across Africa, countries rich in natural resources are paying closer attention not only to what they produce, but also to how those resources are managed.

In today's environment, control over strategic minerals is becoming just as important as the minerals themselves.

Burkina Faso recorded over $6 billion worth of gold through official channels in the first half of 2026, driven by military-led reforms to increase state oversight and curb smuggling.

Industrial mines produced 26 tonnes of gold, while the state procurement agency (SONASP) purchased 29 tonnes from artisanal and semi-mechanised miners. To formalise small-scale mining, authorities established nine new mining cooperatives and four artisanal corridors.

Beyond the mining sector, the government expanded electricity infrastructure, completing four power plants that added 126.4 megawatts of capacity along with a 17-megawatt solar power plant. Read more…

🇨🇴 South Africa, Ghana and Ethiopia hit as South American nation announces sweeping diplomatic pullback from Africa

Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo De La Espriella, announced plans to close 14 embassies, including missions in South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Senegal, to reduce diplomatic spending.

The overhaul includes restoring ties with Israel and relocating Colombia's embassy to Jerusalem.

While ties with Cuba and Nicaragua will be severed, other affected nations will be served through neighboring missions. Read more…

🇰🇪 Kenya refuses to renew UK defense pact following parliamentary probe into British troop abuses

Britain canceled a major military training exercise in Kenya after Nairobi refused to ratify a new bilateral defense agreement. The dispute stems from Kenya demanding greater authority to prosecute British soldiers for serious offenses committed locally and disagreements over facility payments.

Kenya's decision follows parliamentary investigations into human rights violations, environmental damage, and sexual abuse by troops. Read more…

🇿🇦 One of the world’s largest platinum mines shuts down after six worker deaths spark major safety reset

Impala Platinum suspended mining at its Rustenburg complex in South Africa from July 24 to 28 for a safety reset following six worker deaths over the past year. The flagship operation accounts for nearly half the firm's output.

The temporary shutdown involves safety audits, retrainings, and equipment checks to prevent further underground incidents. Read more…

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Top 10 African countries with the lowest debt to the IMF in July 2026

Maintaining lower IMF debt gives African nations financial flexibility to fund infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Countries with manageable debt attract foreign investment and absorb economic shocks better, as seen with Ethiopia and Zimbabwe using targeted reforms.

Source: IMF

🇹🇩 The US has another African ally in its campaign against the world's top war crimes court

Chad has withdrawn from the International Criminal Court by leaving the Rome Statute, joining other African nations rejecting the tribunal.

The US welcomed the decision as reclaiming national sovereignty, with the Trump administration urging more states to leave.

The move aligns with broader African concerns regarding ICC overreach, bias, and infringement on national sovereignty. Read more…

🇿🇲 Africa’s second-largest copper producer curbs raw copper exports and makes demands of Chinese firms

Zambia, Africa's second-largest copper producer, restricted raw copper exports to force foreign firms, particularly Chinese companies, to build local processing plants.

Authorities are negotiating with manufacturers like Wuxi Jiangnan Cable to produce finished goods like electrical cables locally.

The policy reflects a regional push, like Nigeria's cocoa export ban, to drive industrialization. Read more…

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Samsung was founded in 1938 as a small trading company with just 40 employees. Long before it manufactured smartphones or memory chips, the company focused on trading and exporting local groceries, including dried Korean fish, vegetables, and homemade noodles. It wasn't until 1969—more than three decades later—that Samsung Electronics was formed to produce its very first electronic product: a black-and-white television.