News, economies and societies across Africa
Economy
Growth forecasts, trade partnerships, infrastructure and mining: this section tracks the forces reshaping economies across the continent, with an eye on how global markets respond.
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Explainers set out the economic outlook for 2026 and beyond, the continent’s role in world trade and the way new roads, ports and power lines are changing what countries can produce and export. A report on closer ties between South Africa and Brazil shows how US tariffs are pushing emerging economies to find new partners.
Mining is a recurring thread: Egypt’s latest gold find, Tharisa’s investment in underground operations to supply the clean energy transition, and major deposits in China and Australia’s Pilbara that could shift commodity prices worldwide.
Readers following investment or policy should begin with the outlook pieces, then turn to the mining and trade stories for sector detail.
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World Bank: 748 million more urban Africans by 2050, and jobs depend on planning
A World Bank Group report ties better jobs to planning, transport, housing and municipal finance, with separate advice for big cities, outskirts and towns.
Seven planning errors that undermine African development
Treating the continent as one market or counting projects by completion distorts development coverage, and each habit has a simple correction.
South Africa’s vaping tax: industry fears a shift to illegal sellers
Industry groups say a rising excise duty on vaping liquids could push buyers toward illegal sellers, pointing to what has happened in the cigarette trade.
China’s envoy in Nigeria ties Xi’s mining principles to local processing and illegal mining
Beijing’s ambassador in Abuja ties each of Xi Jinping’s four mining principles to Nigeria, from local processing to a vow of zero tolerance for illegal…
South Africa and Brazil seek closer economic ties under US tariff pressure
US tariff pressure has added urgency to South Africa and Brazil’s efforts to deepen trade, manufacturing and technology cooperation through their existing bilateral relationship.
How infrastructure projects are reshaping Africa
A new wave of infrastructure investment is quietly remaking Africa’s economic geography, turning long‑standing constraints into strategic opportunities. Governments, regional bodies and private partners are…
Africa’s role in global trade and commerce
Africa is no longer content to be a passive participant in global commerce; it is asserting itself as a co‑author of the rules that will…
Economic outlook for Africa in 2026 and beyond
As Africa enters 2026, the economic picture is one of cautious recovery and hard trade-offs. Growth is returning after a muted 2024 – 25, driven…
How Africa is transforming its economy in 2026
In 2026, Africa stands at a decisive inflection point: a surging young workforce collides with shrinking concessional finance, forcing a rethink of development strategies. The…
“Everything Is Starting to Collapse”: Scientists Warn Coral Reefs Have Hit a Climate Tipping Point (And We May Be Next)
A recent discovery has captured the attention of the global gold industry: a massive gold ore deposit unearthed in China’s Hunan province. This “supergiant” deposit,…
“They Struck $6 Trillion in Iron”: Scientists Uncover One of the Richest Ore Deposits Ever Found in Australia’s Pilbara
In a groundbreaking revelation, geologists have unearthed a colossal iron ore deposit in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia. This discovery not only promises…
“They Hit an $85 Billion Jackpot”: China’s Hidden Gold Mountain Shocks the World (and It’s Buried More Than a Mile Deep)
Deep beneath the rolling hills of Pingjiang County in Hunan Province, China, lies a geological wonder poised to reshape the landscape of the global gold…