Yesterday’s ally can quickly become today’s strategic battleground.

A top U.S. general has warned that Russia, China and extremist groups are rapidly expanding their influence across Africa as Western military presence shrinks across key regions. Similar pullbacks in places like the Sahel have previously created openings for new security partnerships, coups and deeper foreign control over resources.

The bigger question now is whether Washington will truly re-engage with Africa after years of stepping back, especially given its uneven track record on the continent.

Dangote Industries has started preliminary work on a massive 10,000-hectare deep-sea port project in Nigeria’s Olokola Free Trade Zone.

Spanning parts of Ogun and Ondo states, this maritime infrastructure project is designed under the group's Vision 2030 strategy to support the export of fertilizer, petrochemicals, refined petroleum, and future LNG shipments.

The multi-billion-dollar hub aims to ease heavy traffic at congested Lagos seaports while boosting regional trade under the AfCFTA framework. Local traditional rulers and Nigerian Navy officials have pledged full support for the project, allowing preliminary surveys and compensation assessments to begin. Read more…

🇿🇦 Mining giant founded by South African billionaire Oppenheimer, to sell Australian coal mines to UK miner for $3.9bn

Anglo American has decided to sell its Australian steelmaking coal business to London-based Dhilmar for up to $3.88 billion. The transaction completes its exit from steelmaking coal as part of a restructuring strategy to focus on copper and iron ore.

The company recently reported a $3.17 billion net loss for 2025 and is considering divesting De Beers. Read more…

🇺🇸 US General says Africa has become ‘Putin’s purse’ as Russia, China and ISIS expand influence

The head of U.S. Africa Command warned Congress that Africa has become central to Russia’s war effort, China’s mineral ambitions, and global terrorism.

Gen. Dagvin Anderson stated that a 75% reduction in Western regional posture has created an intelligence black hole. He accused Moscow of exploiting African resources and manpower to sustain its war machine in Ukraine. Read more…

🇬🇭 Ghana’s gold boom pushes export earnings past $11 billion as reserves surge

Ghana recorded $11.1 billion in export earnings between January and April 2025, up from $9.2 billion a year earlier.

This surge was driven by soaring gold prices, with gold exports alone generating $6.8 billion.

Despite imports rising to $5.8 billion, the country achieved a $5.2 billion trade surplus, pushing international reserves up to $14.4 billion. Read more…

10 African countries with the highest debt to the IMF in May 2026

High IMF debt poses long-term risks to African nations, trapping them in cycles of borrowing to service old debts. While these loans help manage economic crises, they limit fiscal flexibility and leave even resource-rich economies highly vulnerable to global shocks.

Source: IMF

🇳🇪 AES states push resource control as Niger seals $1 billion energy agreements with China

Niger’s military government signed new oil agreements with Chinese energy firms valued at $1 billion. The deals will relaunch the Dinga Deep and Abolo-Yogou projects, raising crude production to 145,000 barrels per day by 2029.

Niger also secured a 45% stake in the West African Oil Pipeline Company, reducing transport costs to save over $106 million annually and creating 450 local jobs. Read more…

🇿🇦 South Africa’s $5.8bn hydrogen gamble could reshape global shipping and energy markets

South Africa’s $5.8 billion Hive Hydrogen project in Nelson Mandela Bay has moved closer to production after selecting a $1 billion green ammonia and electrolyser solution.

Powered by 1,500 MW of wind and 1,430 MW of solar energy, the plant aims to produce one million tonnes of green ammonia annually. The project targets rising global maritime fuel demand as shipping lines seek clean alternatives. Read more…

Algeria is the largest country in Africa by land area, stretching across more than 2.3 million square kilometers!

It took over the top spot in 2011 after Sudan split into two separate nations. Remarkably, it is also large enough to rank among the ten largest countries in the entire world, with the vast Sahara Desert covering more than 80% of its total territory.