Africa in 2025: What prospects for Africa's economies and elections in a turbulent 2025?

Africa Confidential brings together an expert panel of analysts and journalists covering the continent to assess Africa’s varied agenda; all-important elections for a new Chair of the African Union and CEO to represent the African Development Bank, national elections in Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi and Tanzania, and the spotlight on South Africa chairing the G20.

In the global context, how will African governments manage rival powers from China, the European Union, the Gulf States, Russia and the United States under Donald Trump 2.0? 

Areas of discussion the session will explore:

• How can Africa’s governments boost trade and investment as geopolitical fissures deepen?  
• Can South Africa use its chair of the G20 to push new accords on debt, cost of capital and climate finance?
• What reforms should the new leaders of the African Union and the African Development Bank prioritise?
• Will elections in Tanzania, Malawi, Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon strengthen democracy? 
• What is driving the upsurge of conflict in 16 of the African Union’s 55 member states?

Joining us for a vibrant discussion:

Crystal Orderson
Acclaimed South African journalist with two decades experience on socio-economic issues across southern Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Crystal is a Correspondent for the Financial Mail.

Eromo Egbejule
A well-travelled and acclaimed pan-African journalist, Eromo is the West Africa correspondent for The Guardian and the former Africa Editor at Al Jazeera, based in Côte d'Ivoire.

Beverly Ochieng
An experienced commentator and self-confessed 'Wagner Group stalker' and 'Sahel coup watcher', Beverly is a Senior Analyst on Francophone Africa at Control Risks – based in Dakar.

Bright Simons  
A social innovator, writer and thinker. Bright is Vice-President of the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education and President of mPedigree – a social tech enterprise on health and food security.

There will be opportunities for listener’s to raise questions during the session and we hope to address these in context or at the end of the session. 

Duration: 60 Minutes plus Q&A opportunities        Time: 14:00 GMT/ 16:00 SAST/ 09:00 EST

Register here: https://africa-conf.com/2025-briefing

If you are unable to access via Zoom, please contact us in advance to arrange alternative options.