Business Insider Africa

You can only invest in ONE African market. 🇳🇬 Nigeria 🇰🇪Kenya 🇿🇦 South Africa 🇪🇬 Egypt Where are you putting $10 million?

Britain🇬🇧 will increase Air Passenger Duty again in April 2028 after rejecting calls for a freeze. Economy passengers travelling to many sub-Saharan African destinations will pay about $145 (£108.60). The economy charge for destinations including South Africa will rise to approximately $151 (£112.86). Premium and business-class passengers travelling to South Africa could pay about $361 (£269.36).

Which African country do you think will lead the continent in 2030?

Lagos and Johannesburg will lose positions among sub-Saharan Africa's 15 largest cities by 2050 as other cities outpace their growth. Luanda is projected to become the region's most populous city by 2050, surpassing Lagos with a 78% population increase. By 2050, new cities like Bamako and Mogadishu will join the top 15, while Cape Town and Kano will drop out despite population growth. Sub-Saharan Africa's urban population is expected to nearly double to 1.7 billion by 2050, adding 748 million urban residents.

A U.S. appeals court blocked an order that would have required reopening the 2027 Diversity Visa Lottery, causing new uncertainty for applicants, especially from Africa. The ruling temporarily suspends a lower court's directive for the State Department to announce and open registration for the lottery. African nationals have historically been major beneficiaries of the Diversity Visa programme, which allocates up to 55,000 U.S. immigrant visas annually. The court found that the plaintiffs did not show a strong enough connection between their interests and the programme's goal of encouraging immigration.

Putin courts 22 African leaders with grain and investment promises while attacking the West Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a fresh attempt to expand Moscow’s economic influence in Africa, promising grain, technology and infrastructure partnerships while accusing Western countries of exploiting the continent.

The UK will retain its two-year Graduate visa for students completing courses at selected universities. Other international graduates will receive 18 months from January 2027, down from two years. Nigeria accounted for 20,604 Graduate-route approvals in the year ending June 2026. The government has not identified the qualifying universities or explained how they will be assessed.

South Africa seeks direct diplomatic negotiations with the U.S. to ease growing tensions and protect vital trade agreements. Relations have been strained since a heated meeting in May 2025 where President Trump publicly confronted President Ramaphosa over claims about white farmers. South Africa fears exclusion from AGOA, a key trade program giving duty-free access to U.S. markets, as well as facing visa restrictions and lack of G20 accreditation. New South African ambassador Roelf Meyer advocates high-level talks to clarify misunderstandings and resolve the impasse.

Coca-Cola has gained ground in the U.S. by securing major restaurant contracts, including KFC, from PepsiCo. African beverage manufacturers, such as MeTL Group and Bakhresa Group, are increasing investments and expanding to challenge international brands. KFC, along with Marriott and other major American companies, have switched from Pepsi to Coca-Cola, impacting Pepsi's market share. African drink brands are leveraging lower prices and stronger distribution to increase their market share, creating new competition for both American giants on the continent.

King Charles lands in Guyana as 15 Caribbean nations demand reparations for Britain's role in enslaving 3.2 million Africans, but the kingdom still won't apologise Britain's King Charles III has arrived in Guyana for a state visit amid growing demands for slavery reparations, but Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the monarch will not formally apologise for Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade.

Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX WKND 2026) is set to convene Global Africa’s creative industries in Lagos this November, shifting the continent's focus from cultural visibility to scalable commercial power. Running from November 5 to 8 under the theme “From FESTAC ’77 to CANEX ’27,” the four-day gathering targets critical structural bottlenecks—including persistent funding gaps, weak distribution networks, and business-readiness hurdles that prevent African talent from building sustainable enterprises. Central to the programme is the CANEX Deal Room and Creative Pitch Competition, structured to connect bankable creative businesses across eight sectors—such as film, music, fashion, and gastronomy—directly with venture capital, institutional financiers, and strategic partners. By integrating high-level investment matchmaking with an expansive global marketplace, the platform aims to establish lasting commercial infrastructure, enabling African creative enterprises to convert international influence into measurable economic value. Register today: wknd.canex.africa --- #FeaturedPost

7 days after Trump-backed peace talks in Germany, US imposes third round of sanctions targeting Rwanda-linked entities in 2026 Seven days after US-led talks brought military planners from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda together in Germany, the United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence and a financial institution serving its security services over alleged support for the M23 armed group in eastern Congo.

US military planners facilitated talks between the DRC and Rwanda in Germany to advance President Trump’s peace initiative for eastern Congo. The meeting aimed to finalize a draft operations order guiding joint security efforts, particularly targeting the FDLR and Rwanda’s military disengagement. The peace initiative links security cooperation with regional economic integration, focusing on minerals, infrastructure, and public health. While Washington supports more transparent mineral supply chains, critics warn economic interests could outpace civilian protections and accountability.

Ethiopia has received 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets and signed a deal for four S-400 air defence batteries amid renewed internal conflict and rising security threats. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the fast-tracked delivery of the warplanes during a visit to Moscow, thanking President Putin for his support. The specifics of the arms agreement, including the value, delivery timeline of the S-400s, and deployment locations, remain undisclosed by Ethiopian officials. These military acquisitions come as Ethiopia faces increased rebel activity in Tigray and heightened tensions with neighbouring Eritrea, accused of backing insurgents.

Over 5 million people in Sudan are at risk of severe hunger as a devastating conflict blocks vital humanitarian aid, warns a coalition of global powers. Sudan’s war between government forces and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023 has led to the mass displacement of over 14 million civilians and widespread destruction. UN investigations accuse the RSF of genocide and mass atrocities, with both warring parties denying allegations of war crimes and ethnic violence. The ongoing conflict has crippled Sudan’s education system, leaving at least 8 million children out of school and nearly half the nation’s school buildings unusable.

Spain has deported 16 migrants from Ceuta to Morocco after rejecting their asylum applications. The deportations were the first of their kind since the mass border crossing in July. Rights groups have criticized Spain, arguing migrants may face risks in Morocco and that their rights were not properly considered. There are concerns over the treatment of migrants and the transparency of the process, as some returns may not have been genuinely voluntary.

South Africa's agricultural exports to the U.S. dropped 28% in Q2 2026 amid diplomatic tensions and tariff shifts. Despite this drop, overall agricultural exports rose 9.1% year-on-year, reaching $4.12 billion, and the sector maintained a $2.14 billion trade surplus. Strong global performance was primarily driven by citrus and horticultural exports, even as U.S. trade became less reliable. Exports to Asian and Middle Eastern markets surged, with Vietnam up 153%, Saudi Arabia 90%, and China 30% after China granted zero-tariff access.

Demand for Aliko Dangote’s refinery IPO reportedly reaches three times its $1.6 billion target across 119 countries Aliko Dangote’s refinery has reportedly received $4.78 billion (₦6.4 trillion) in orders for its initial public offering as investors from 119 countries compete for shares in Africa’s biggest IPO.

10 African countries with the weakest currencies in October 2026