In this edition, we unpack this week’s headlines from Congo’s hydro challenges to Kenya’s GMO debate and highlight how founders, farmers and nations are navigating a rapidly changing world. Discover how Somaliland’s election outcome could alter regional dynamics, Africa’s role in global climate talks at COP29, Mozambique’s steps to recover from its tuna scandal and the EU’s expanded support for LNG security in Cabo Delgado. Across these stories, the resilience, innovation and complexities of Africa come to life. And don’t miss Granny Glamma!

Africa Trivia

Graphic of the Week 

Africa's Economic Boom: Growth Soars, Wealth Lags

• Many African nations have seen steady economic growth driven by sectors like oil, gas, mining and telecommunications, with sub-Saharan Africa home to half of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies. 

• Seychelles and Mauritius stand out for their luxury tourism and offshore financial sectors, as well as ranking highly on the UN’s Human Development Index. 

• According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the average GDP per capita in Africa remains far below the global average, at $17.06K as of October 2024 (IMF).

Spotted an interesting Africa graphic? Email us or drop a comment! Looking for one you saw before? Head to our archives page.

Too Long; Didn’t Read

• Congo, Democratic Republic of The: Plastic waste is clogging the Ruzizi hydroelectric dam in eastern Congo, causing regular power outages that disrupt the electricity supply to several cities (Reuters).

• Egypt: Gov’t has launched its first IPO in three years, selling a 30% stake in United Bank as part of a privatization push backed by the IMF (Bloomberg).

• Gabon: Voters overwhelmingly approved a new constitution, paving the way for elections and potential extended rule by coup leader Brice Oligui Nguema (BBC Africa).

• Ghana: Fails to qualify for Africa Cup of Nations 2025 after a 1-1 draw with Angola, ends their chances for the tournament (The New York Times).

• Mali: Resolute Mining is expected to pay the Mali government $160M to resolve a tax dispute (Financial Times); military leaders dismissed Prime Minister Choguel Maiga and his government after he criticized their failure to transition to civilian rule (Bloomberg).

• Namibia: The country is set to hold Presidential elections on November 27, 2024 (Reuters).

• Nigeria: Dangote refinery shipped 300,000 barrels to Togo, signaling a ramp-up with the potential to reshape regional fuel markets (Bloomberg); gov’t launched its mpox vaccination campaign, prioritizing healthcare workers and individuals with weakened immune systems in Abuja (Reuters).

• Senegal: Ruling party, Pastef, claimed a decisive victory in parliamentary elections, paving the way for President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's radical reform agenda (BBC Africa).

• Somaliland: Opposition leader Abdirahman Cirro defeated incumbent President Muse Bihi Abdi in Somaliland's election (Reuters). 

• South Africa: Since new laws took effect three months ago, South Africans have withdrawn $1.94B from retirement funds due to economic struggles (Bloomberg); inflation slowed to 2.8% in October, its lowest since June 2020, raising expectations of deeper interest rate cuts (Bloomberg).

• Zambia: Together with Zimbabwe, Zambia is facing power shortages from low Kariba Dam water levels, prompting a shift to solar energy (Bloomberg).

Agriculture in Africa 

GMO in Kenya: Seeds of Debate

The Kenya Peasants League is mobilizing a million signatures to challenge a High Court ruling that legalized genetically modified (GMO) crops, intensifying the ongoing debate over their use (Kenyan Peasants League). 

• Proponents' View = Boosting Yields: Scientists and the Kenyan government argue that GMOs are essential for increasing agricultural productivity, especially after the 2022 drought prompted the Cabinet to lift a 10-year ban on GMOs (Nation Africa). 

• Critics' Concerns = Farmer Dependency: Opponents warn that GMOs could harm small-scale farmers by creating reliance on expensive seeds from multinational corporations (Defending Peasants' Rights).

• Regulatory Actions = Field Trials Approved: Following the High Court's decision, the National Biosafety Authority approved several GMO crops for confined field trials across the country (Alliance for Science). 

• Broader Context, a Continental Debate: Across Africa, GMOs present potential benefits for food security, such as higher yields and improved nutrition. However, concerns about health, environmental risks and corporate control persist, with many countries advancing cautiously amid growing research and regulatory frameworks (Nation Africa). 

African Founders’ Challenges

A recent survey by Flourish Ventures, titled "Passion and Perseverance: Voices from the African Founder Journey," gathered insights from 169 startup founders across 13 African countries (Flourish Ventures).

Key Findings:

• 80% of founders reported enjoying their entrepreneurial journey while their top stressors include:

  • Fundraising: Securing capital remains a primary challenge. Some things are the same everywhere! 

  • Economic Factors: Inflation, currency devaluation and other macroeconomic issues add significant pressure.

Climate in Africa

COP29: How is Africa’s Climate?

According to the World Metrological Organization (WMO), African countries are losing 2% to 5% of their GDP and diverting up to 9% of their budgets to respond to climate extremes. The cost of adaptation is estimated to be between $30B to $50B annually over the next decade (WMO).

In 2022, weather, climate and water-related risks directly impacted more than 110 million people across the continent, resulting in economic damages more than $8.5B (WMO).

Key Stats: 

• Compared to 1970 to 1979, the frequency of droughts in sub-Saharan Africa increased between 2010 and 2019 (Data One).

• By 2050, Africa's climate adaptation is expected to cost $50B annually. Currently, Africa receives $19.5B annually in climate funding (Data One).

• Africa has slightly more than 1% of installed solar power while having 60% of the world's highest solar potential (Data One).

Current State:

• The Global Shield fund, launched at the UN climate talks in Egypt, has dispersed $5.4M in two years, aiming to ease the financial burden of climate disasters for vulnerable countries (Bloomberg).

• The COP29 Climate Summit in Azerbaijan set an ambitious $1.3T annual climate finance target, but developed nations only met their 2009 pledge of $100B. Africa may face its own climate change and major economic powers need transparency (Bloomberg).

• During the COP29 Summit, Uganda's Energy Minister, Ruth Nankabirwa, confirmed the world's longest heated oil pipeline will be operational in three years, transforming East Africa's energy market. The pipeline will run through Tanzania to Tanga, producing 230,000 barrels a day, higher than Gabon's output (Financial Times).

Future State:

• By 2030, up to 118 million living in extreme poverty will be exposed to drought, floods and extreme heat, putting additional burdens on poverty alleviation efforts and hampering growth (WMO).

• African countries require significant financial and technical support to become global leaders in sustainable energy and meet climate goals, with annual grid system upgrades costing $40B and over $190B from 2026 to 2030 (Data One).

Democracy in Africa

Somaliland's New Leader Puts Ethiopia Deal in Doubt

• Election Outcome: Opposition leader Abdirahman Cirro of the Waddani party won Somaliland's presidential election with 64% of the vote, defeating incumbent Muse Bihi Abdi (Polity).

• National Unity: Cirro emphasized the election as a moment of national unity and progress for Somaliland, a region that has maintained de facto independence since 1991 but lacks international recognition (The Sudan Times).

• Ethiopia Agreement: Earlier this year, Somaliland signed a preliminary deal with Ethiopia, granting Ethiopia coastal access in exchange for recognition (Nation Africa).

• Regional Tensions: The deal has strained relations between Somalia and Ethiopia, while drawing Somalia closer to Ethiopia's rivals, Egypt and Eritrea (Le Monde).

• Uncertain Future: Cirro has not confirmed if his administration will honor the deal and several key members of his team oppose it. A decision is expected after he takes office in mid-December 2024 (Devdiscourse).

Europe in Africa

Russia Blocks Ceasefire Effort in Sudan

On November 18, 2024, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid in Sudan (Reuters). 

• Context: The resolution, supported by all other council members, including China, aimed to address the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, ongoing since April 2023 (Associated Press).

• Impact: The war has displaced millions, creating the world's largest population of internal refugees and triggering widespread atrocities, including massacres in Darfur (The Economist).

EU Doubles Protection of LNG in Moz

• Funding Boost: On November 18, 2024, the European Union Council approved an additional EUR 20M to support the Rwanda Defence Force's operations to protect liquefied natural gas in Mozambique, focusing on the acquisition of personal equipment and strategic airlift costs.

• Background: This funding complements the EUR 20M previously committed by the EU in December 2022  (European Council).

• Impact: Rwandan forces have significantly contributed to curbing an Islamic State-backed insurgency in Cabo Delgado, enabling progress in a delayed $20B liquefied natural gas project led by TotalEnergies (Bloomberg).

Explorations in Africa

Legendary Glamma

Margret Chola, an 80-something grandmother from Zambia, gained internet fame as "Legendary Glamma" for her bold, playful outfits.

• How: Her granddaughter, stylist Diana Kaumba, launched the "Granny Series" in 2023, showcasing Chola's style.

• Glamma has attracted around 134,000 Instagram followers and aims to inspire people to live fully, regardless of age (BBC Africa).

Tuna Scandal Boats Up for Bid

Mozambique is auctioning off the unused tuna fishing vessels central to its $2B debt scandal.

Why It Matters: Selling these boats could help Mozambique recover some losses from the corruption case that severely impacted its economy. 

• Auction Details: The fleet, unused for a decade, is listed with base prices between $270K and $1.4M. Bidding closes on December 4, 2024. 

• Legal Context: A London court awarded Mozambique over $2B in damages from the supplier involved, though enforcement remains complex.

Interested buyers should submit bids before the December 4 deadline (Financial Times).

Africa Trivia Response

Answer: C, Protecting tourists.

Explanation: South Africa has allocated ZAR 175M (approximately $10M) to enhance its ‘tourist protection squad.’ This initiative is aimed at improving safety for visitors, which is critical for revitalizing the country’s tourism sector, a significant contributor to its economy. The squad will focus on high-traffic tourist areas to ensure a secure experience for international and domestic travelers. Read more.

P.S. We hope you enjoyed the Brief! Reach out if you have ideas or feedback ([email protected]) or want to chat. See you next week.