Vol 66 No 16 | UNITED STATESAFRICA Trump lessens the tariff pain, but they will still bite 6th August 2025 The worst was averted – yet oil states and surplus exporters still face steep duties, as Lesotho breathes easier and AGOA’s future hangs in the balance The final tariff sweep was softer than feared – but still sharp enough to sting. Algeria, Libya and South Africa will face 30% tariffs on goods exports, while...
Vol 66 No 16 | ECONOMYAFRICA As external support ebbs, states seek to plug the revenue gap 8th August 2025 Efforts to raise domestic funds are colliding with political constraints – and public trust remains elusive as global reforms falter As indebted African governments confront declining aid flows and western reluctance to reform the international financial system, they are again eyeing ways to boost domestic revenues and tap...
DISPATCHES Vol 66 No 16 | UNITED KINGDOMAFRICA Africa faces the brunt of Whitehall’s aid cuts 28th July 2025 Development budget reduced as military spending increases Africa will be the main victim of cuts to the UK’s foreign aid budget, according to a new report and impact assessment by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development... READ FOR FREE
Vol 66 No 15 | AFRICAUNITED NATIONSDEBT High hopes, little change 25th July 2025 After yet another UN summit, African governments see sparse progress on debt relief or global financial reform The familiar sound of empty promises rang around Seville at the close of the latest UN summit on international financial reforms. Few delegates from developing nations trusted commitments...
Vol 66 No 15 | UNITED STATESAFRICAMIGRATION Trump ‘cash for migrants’ playbook hits roadblocks in Africa 18th July 2025 As the EU spends over US$9 billion on migration deals with African states, Washington is pushing its own plan Opposition is mounting to efforts by US President Donald Trump’s administration to persuade African states to accept third-country deportees. Some governments such as Nigeria have openly rejected the...
DISPATCHES Vol 66 No 15 | UNITED STATESTRADEAFRICA Trump targets four countries with new tariff 14th July 2025 Despite US pledges, plans for AGOA revamp are unclear South Africa, Libya, Algeria and Tunisia were among a group of over 20 countries to be issued with tariff letters from United States President Donald Trump’s administration this... READ FOR FREE
Vol 66 No 14 | AFRICAUNITED NATIONSCLIMATE CHANGE Bonn summit exposes rifts and inertia on climate action 8th July 2025 Geopolitical rivalries are sinking the UN treaty to cut carbon emissions and protect developing economies ahead of the Brazil summit in November The UN’s preparatory climate summit in Bonn from 16-26 June offered a grim portent of what may happen in the main event – the UN COP30 climate summit...
DISPATCHES Vol 66 No 14 | EUROPEAN UNIONAFRICAENERGY Africa cuts carbon, Europe takes the credit 7th July 2025 The EU is pushing ahead with carbon credit schemes despite criticism from its own advisory board EU governments will be encouraged to use carbon credit schemes in Africa to count towards their own emissions reduction targets by 2040, under a new law tabled on... READ FOR FREE
DISPATCHES Vol 66 No 14 | AFRICAUNITED NATIONSHEALTH Summit delivers vaccine cash but US sits out 30th June 2025 US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jnr has criticised a key Gavi vaccine Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, secured most of the funding it needs for its next five years of operations at a pledging summit in Brussels on 25 June,... READ FOR FREE
Vol 66 No 13 | ECONOMYAFRICABANKS Rulebook under pressure as Afreximbank slips a notch 27th June 2025 Fitch’s downgrade raises questions about risk perception and preferred creditor status – and has reignited calls for an African-owned rating agency Fitch Ratings downgraded the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) one notch to BBB- on 4 June, leaving the Cairo-based lender just above non-investment grade. The principal reason was a...