(Posted 27th March 2025)
CCA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
A New USD 7.8 Billion Global Hub for Africa: Ethiopian Airlines Signs Key Financing Agreement
Aviacionline
Ethiopian Airlines Group has signed a Letter of Intent with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to finance the construction of the new Abusera International Airport, a project valued at USD 7.8 billion designed to meet growing passenger and cargo demand… Read More>>
Zenith Bank Climbs by 5% to N1. 967 Trillion
MarketForcesAfrica
Zenith Bank Plc climbed by 5.04% in the equities market as investors rushed Ajose Adeogun-headquartered financial service shares on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).Its share price surge, in addition to renewed demand in other competing financial services stocks, lifted banking index performance in the local bourse. Market analysts said Zenith latest rally was spurred in anticipation of the group 2024 earnings release, with investors taking positions ahead of the final dividend announcement… Read More>>
U.S.-AFRICA RELATIONS
The End of USAID Is An Opportunity For Africa
Foreign Policy
Amid rising concern about China’s and Russia’s growing influence in Africa and corresponding apprehension about the United States’ capacity to hold its own in the region, President Donald Trump’ executive order pausing all U.S. foreign assistance funded by or through the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has certainly muddied the waters further… Read More>>
Unpacking Trump’s New Critical Minerals Executive Order
Center for Strategic & International Studies
On March 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to increase domestic minerals production for national security by invoking Section 301 of Title 3 of the United States Code. Notably, the EO designates clear and significant authorities to relevant agency heads; sets swift timelines for implementation within 10, 30, or 45 days; and positions the new National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC), chaired by Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum, to take a leading role in overseeing the progress of domestic minerals security… Read More>>
ENERGY
If the International Community Wants to Curb Fossil Fuel Emissions, It Must Make Africa a Serious Clean Energy Offer
Atlantic Council
As the climate crisis worsens, all countries must curb their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including by reducing their reliance on fossil fuels. But while all countries should contribute to the global effort, they shouldn’t cut their emissions by the same proportions. Each country’s burden should be determined by their per capita emissions—not on rates of change in emissions. And the world’s poorest countries, including many in Africa, have not contributed anywhere near as much to climate change as industrialized nations… Read More>>
U.S-Africa: Trump’s Minerals and Energy Plans, PEPFAR, AGOA on the Agenda for Congress
TheAfricaReport
The Donald Trump administration’s growing interest in a security-for-minerals deal with Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) lands on Capitol Hill this week as the new Republican Congress begins to look into the issue. The House Foreign Affairs Committee’s subpanel on Africa will hold a hearing on Tuesday 25 May titled ‘Metals, Minerals and Mining: How the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) Fuels Conflict and Exploitation in Africa’. Witnesses include Sasha Lezhnev, senior policy adviser at American investigative nonprofit The Sentry; Thierry Dongala, founder of US due diligence advisory firm Accountable Africa; and Obert Bore of the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association… Read More>>
Should Africa Burn its Waste to Generate Power?
African Business
In Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital, the build-up of waste at hundreds of illegal dumpsites across the city appears never-ending. Piles of plastics and other rubbish clog waterways and wash-up on beaches, creating numerous health hazards, increasing the risk of flooding and threatening the livelihoods of the country’s fishermen. The open air burning of waste also releases various noxious gases… Read More>>
Unitaid and Partners Expand Africa’s First Regional Oxygen Production Network into Tanzania
Clinton Health Access Initiative
Unitaid’s East African Program of Oxygen Access (EAPOA) is now expanding into Tanzania, as part of a US$22 million investment that seeks to build sustainable supplies of medical oxygen across sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative, which launched in Kenya in October 2024, is now entering the second phase in Tanzania. His Excellency Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa attended the official groundbreaking ceremony today in Dar es Salaam… Read More>>
Leadership Training Empowers Africa’s Health Regulators
NewsWise
Held at the Wits Business School, the continent’s top national health products regulators gathered in Johannesburg last week to advance their leadership skills and mutually map out how Africa can strengthen its regulatory capacity. This comes at a critical juncture in light of global funding cuts and the prevalence of substandard and falsified medicines… Read More>>
INFRASTRUCTURE
It’s Time To Think Differently About Infrastructure Development
CNBC Africa
When speaking about infrastructure development in Africa, it’s important to see it in context. Whereas developed nations may have enviable priorities, Africa is lagging in terms of economic growth, social wellbeing and global competitiveness. To attain our goals on these fronts, we need the necessary infrastructure – from transport networks and energy grids to digital connectivity and water systems – to carry our hopes and dreams… Read More>>
Infrastructure Demand Boosts Investment Opportunities
ECA
The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area is expected to bring tremendous opportunities for investment in the continent’s infrastructure. Panellists at a roundtable discussion on the nexus between the AfCFTA and infrastructure development during the Economic Commission for Africa’s Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development agreed that increased intra-continental trade will require improvements in digital and physical connectivity on the continent… Read More>>
AGRIBUSINESS
Smallholder Farmers and Small Agribusiness Enterprises Across Africa to Benefit $500 Million AfDB Facility
Farmers Review Africa
African Development Bank Group (AfDB) plans to launch a $500 million facility designed to unlock $10 billion in financing for smallholder farmers and small agribusiness enterprises across Africa. According to the bank’s President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, AfDB management is currently consulting with its Board of Directors on establishing the groundbreaking facility… Read More>>
Agribusiness Confidence Soars Amid Strong Exports and Growth
Food For Mzanzi
The agricultural sector has continued to show resilience, according to the Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) report. This indicated an increase of 11 points from the first quarter of 2024 to 70 in the first quarter of 2025. The report, released earlier today, stated that this is the third consecutive improvement, placing the ACI at its highest since the fourth quarter of 2021… Read More>>
ICT
Unpacking The ICT Tax Conundrum
ECA
The issue of how much, or how little to tax the ICT sector to optimise performance of the economy, improve digital access and create jobs came under the spotlight at the ECA’s 2025 Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic development. In a presentation, Mactar Seck, Chief Emerging and Frontier Technologies, Innovation and Digital Transformation Section Technology, Innovation, Connectivity and Infrastructure Division, ECA, said the picture was mixed… Read More>>
FINANCE
Afreximbank Seek Research on African Trade and Finance for 2025 Journal
MSN
The Afreximbank Research division is calling for submissions of scholarly articles for its policy journal, “Contemporary Issues in African Trade and Trade Finance” (CIAT).The journal is seeking research focused on the challenges and opportunities impacting trade finance, trade promotion, and economic development across the African continent… Read More>>
Ecobank Crowned Africa’s Best Trade Finance at Global Finance Awards 2025
TechAfrica News
Ecobank Group, the leading private pan-African financial services group with unrivalled African expertise, has been named as the Best Trade Finance Provider Bank in Africa, at the Global Finance Trade Finance & Supply Chain Finance Awards 2025. Additionally, the affiliates in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Rwanda have also been recognised as the Best Trade Finance Provider in their respective markets… Read More>>
