People Now Trust AI With Their Emotions

Dear Readers,

Today's newsletter sparkles, literally. The majority of our stories are about precious metals, from Burkina Faso achieving unprecedented gold output and freeing $33 million in IMF funding to Ghana regaining the Damang mine and altering who makes the decisions in its gold industry. 

These developments indicate that African economies are expanding, attracting investment, and rethinking sovereignty over resources that were formerly dominated by foreigners.

Furthermore, Rwanda and Morocco are converting their mineral resources into global prospects, with 73 investors pursuing Rwanda's new mining blocks and Morocco giving up 13,000 square kilometers for exploration.

However, gold and other mineral resources are not the only things creating headlines; security and infrastructure constitute other important updates.

Case in point, the United States recently handed over a marine facility to Tanzania, which will improve coastal safety and make East African ports more attractive for global trade.

The International Monetary Fund has disbursed $33.2 million to Burkina Faso after completing the fourth review of its Extended Credit Facility programme, signalling continued backing for the Sahel economy despite persistent security and humanitarian pressures.

The fund follows a notable turnaround in the country’s external position, with rising gold prices and mining reforms pushing the current account into a projected surplus of 1.1 percent of GDP in 2025.

Burkina Faso recorded a historic 94 tonnes of gold output in 2025, reflecting increased state oversight and reforms under Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s administration. Authorities have pledged to maintain fiscal discipline, targeting a deficit ceiling of 3.5 percent of GDP while protecting health and social spending, as investors closely watch the country’s next steps.

🇷🇼 73 investors are chasing Rwanda’s 10 new mining blocks, and competition is about to double

Rwanda’s mining sector is drawing fresh global attention after the government received 73 applications for just 10 mining blocks unveiled in 2025, signaling strong investor appetite for the country’s critical minerals.

Authorities have already awarded several high-interest areas and have now opened another 10 blocks for field visits, with applications closing on March 3, 2026. Officials expect competition to intensify further in this new round.

The newly offered blocks include sites rich in tin, tantalum, and tungsten, as well as lithium, beryllium, and gemstones such as sapphire and ruby.

🇺🇸 Morocco targets gold and copper investors with 13,000 sq km of mining exploration

Morocco is opening up a massive slice of some of its mineral-rich areas to international investors, launching a sweeping mining tender that spans 13,000 square kilometres near the Algerian border.

In a notice issued by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, authorities invited bids for 361 exploration blocks located within the Tafilalet and Figuig Mining Region.

These areas are known for deposits of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, and barite, and represent roughly a quarter of the broader mining basin, underscoring the scale of what is on the table.

🇿🇦 South African gold miner becomes first major casualty of Ghana’s tighter resource control

Gold Fields, a global gold mining firm headquartered in Johannesburg, will formally hand over ownership and operatorship of the Damang mine in Ghana to the country’s government on April 18, 2026, marking a pivotal moment in Ghana’s push to tighten control over its mineral assets.

The move follows Accra’s decision not to renew the mine’s lease after it expired in April 2025, opting instead for the asset to revert to state ownership in line with national mining laws.

Operated by Gold Fields since the 1990s, the Damang mine has produced millions of ounces of gold and supported Ghana’s standing as Africa’s leading gold producer.

AI is crossing from productivity tool to emotional companion

AI is starting to feel more human, and that shift is happening fast. Data from 70 countries gathered by the Collective Intelligence Project shows many users now say they trust their chatbots more than elected officials, civil servants, faith leaders, and even the companies building the technology. What began as a tool for work and efficiency is now becoming something people lean on emotionally.

As the project’s research director, Zarinah Agnew, puts it, AI is becoming “emotional infrastructure at scale.” The concern is not just emotional dependence, but who controls that infrastructure and whether the incentives behind it truly align with human wellbeing.

The index reflects ongoing concerns around violent crime, urban insecurity, and the broader social pressures shaping life in these global hotspots.

Source: Numbeo Crime Index 2026

🇺🇸 U.S. deepens security footprint in East Africa through maritime deal with Tanzania

The United States has handed over a new U.S.-funded maritime facility to the Tanzania People’s Defence Force in Tanga, deepening defense and economic ties between the United States and Tanzania.

The facility is designed to improve vessel maintenance, operational readiness, and coastal surveillance, strengthening Tanzania’s ability to secure its shoreline along the Western Indian Ocean, one of the world’s busiest trade corridors.

The handover coincides with Cutlass Express 2026, reinforcing Tanzania’s growing role as a regional maritime security leader.

Mark Zuckerberg grilled about underage Instagram users, social media addiction during landmark trial

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared in court for the first time to defend Instagram against claims it was designed to be addictive and harmful to children. Facing a consolidated lawsuit with over 1,600 plaintiffs, including families and school districts, Zuckerberg denied that Meta seeks to make the platform addictive.

The trial, a milestone for social media accountability, questions whether Instagram contributed significantly to young users’ mental health struggles. Plaintiffs argue the platform’s design choices prioritized engagement over safety.

While Zuckerberg pushed back against these claims, legal experts and families stress the case could set a precedent for how tech companies address child safety, with broader implications for social media regulation and corporate responsibility.

The fight between the two boxing legends, Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather, is set to take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the same place that hosted the iconic “Rumble in the Jungle” between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in 1974.