Hello from NYC. This week’s Brief comes packed: U.N. drama in New York, Africa’s minerals and broadband laid bare, Zambia betting on carbon credits and gorillas stealing hearts in Bwindi. Think of it as a tour from marble halls to forest trails—with plenty of numbers (and politics) in between.

Africa Trivia 

In 2024, Africa attracted about what share of global foreign direct investment?

A) ~1%
B) ~ 3%
C) ~ 6%
D) ~10%

Graphic of the Week 

UNGA 80 Crossroads

I searched this week for a clear graphic on U.N. funding—who pays what, what’s being cut and how much capital is allocated for Africa. The org is a beast and the numbers are scattered. Since I couldn’t find one clean graphic for you, I’m sharing a few visuals—plus a fresh UNGA 80 summary from NYC.

• Theme set: “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights” (UN | UN DESA).

• Reform push: UN chief António Guterres’ UN80 Initiative (consolidations, cost cuts ~20%, 6,900 jobs) took center stage (CFR explainer | UN brief).

  • Proposals: fold UNAIDS into WHO, merge climate/enviro arms and consolidate humanitarian ops under WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR and WHO.

  • Cuts could limit aid and influence, though hubs like Nairobi may gain.

• Spiky speeches:

  • Trump: slammed the UN, urged border closures and derided climate policies (Reuters | AP).

  • Abbas (video): accused Israel of war crimes; pushed for a cease-fire and said Hamas won’t govern Gaza (Guardian | Reuters | AP).

  • Zelenskiy warned of a destructive arms race if Russia isn’t stopped (Reuters).

  • EU: doubled down on multilateralism, climate, human rights (EU Commission | EEAS).

• AI on agenda: Leaders weighed AI’s promise and peril; UN to launch a Global Dialogue on AI Governance (AP News).

Why it matters:

• Do-more-with-less UN: Reform + cuts could reshape agencies and shrink core mandates (CFR).

• Politics vs. problem-solving: Border-first rhetoric collided with calls for cooperation on climate, health, AI and conflicts (EU Commission).

Africa angles:

• AfDB’s money test: New AfDB chief Sidi Ould Tah used UNGA to court partners ahead of ADF-17 (final session due December) (AfDB).

• Global Fund lifeline: Bill Gates pledged $912M in New York, matching 2022, and warned cuts risk reversing child health gains (Reuters | Foundation release).

• Carbon credits reset: Zambia’s Miombo Woodland aims to restore 800,000 to 1 million hectares, remove up to 2 million tons of CO₂/yr by 2030 and enlist 50,000 farmers (WSJ).

What We Are Reading

• Africa: Bill Gates pledged $912M to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, warning aid cuts put millions of African children’s lives at risk (Reuters); Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced they are withdrawing from the International Criminal Court, accusing it of “selective justice” (RFI); Only 1.2% of Africans have access to 5G compared with a 20% global average (Al Jazeera).

• Angola: Oil production rebounded to 1.03 million barrels a day in August (Bloomberg).

• Botswana: The president announced plans to buy a controlling stake in De Beers from Anglo American (Bloomberg).

• Cameroon: Amnesty International urged authorities to free 36 opposition activists still jailed five years after a crackdown on protests (RFI).

• Central African Republic: President Faustin-Archange Touadéra defended hosting Russian mercenaries while seeking wider international investment and partnerships (Financial Times).

• Chad: Lawmakers approved constitutional changes scrapping presidential term limits, a move critics warn could entrench Mahamat Déby’s rule and mark the “burial of democracy” (RFI).

• Egypt: Authorities released British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah after a presidential pardon, ending six years of imprisonment that strained ties with the UK (Bloomberg).

• Guinea: Voters approved a new constitution with more than 90% support, potentially allowing coup leader Mamady Doumbouya to run for president (Reuters).

• Kenya: The government announced free entry to all national parks on September 27 for UN World Tourism Day to promote conservation and sustainable tourism (Citizen Digital).

• Lesotho: The U.S. extended its duty-free Africa trade pact (AGOA) by one year, preserving garment jobs in Lesotho and across the region; President Trump reduced Lesotho tariffs from 50% to 15% in August (Reuters). 

• Malawi: Partial election results showed that ex-president Peter Mutharika is leading with 65.4% of the votes, putting him on track to reclaim power, as incumbent Lazarus Chakwera trails (Bloomberg).

• Nigeria: The central bank cut rates for the first time since COVID-19 as inflation slowed, making it the last of Africa’s big four economies to ease monetary policy (FT); GDP grew 4.2% in Q2, the fastest in four years, as oil output surged to its highest level since the pandemic and boosted overall economic activity (Bloomberg).

• Rwanda: President Kagame met Egypt’s President Al-Sisi in Cairo for bilateral talks and delegation meetings (New Times Rwanda).

• Sudan: A drone strike killed 15 in El-Fasher (AP News); The WHO warned of 12,700+ cholera cases in Darfur (AP News); Dengue cases surged to tens of thousands as the health system collapses (Reuters).

• Uganda: President Museveni announced he will run in the 2026 election, seeking a seventh term after nearly 40 years in power (Al Jazeera).

• Zimbabwe’s government raised its 2025 growth forecast to 6.6% on the back of strong tobacco yields and a gold rally (Reuters).

Business & Finance in Africa 

Africa’s Digital Pulse

The State of Broadband in Africa 2025 report paints a picture of rapid growth — and deep divides — in the continent’s connectivity. Internet use jumped from 25% in 2019 to 38% in 2024 but still trails the global average of 68%.

• Mobile is king: 527 million unique subscribers in 2023 (44% of the population). Yet 710 million people live in areas with mobile broadband but don’t use it.

• Mobile economy = 7.3% of sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP in 2023 (~$140B) + 3.7 million jobs.

Why it matters:

• Investment surge: Operators put in more than $28B over five years; $62B more coming by 2030, mostly for 5G.

• Subsea cables boom: Projects like 2Africa will span 45,000 km, linking 33 countries.

• Big tech bets: Google generated $16B in economic activity in 2023; AWS pledged $1.7B by 2029.

By the numbers:

• Coverage: 88% live under a mobile signal; 86% under mobile broadband, but only 27% actually use it.

• Affordability: Mobile data (2GB) costs 4.2% of GNI per capita, double the UN target; fixed broadband costs a punishing 15% of GNI.

• Gender divide: Only 31% of women online vs. 43% of men.

• Urban–rural gap: 57% of urban households are online vs. 23% rural.

• Daily use: South Africans spend 9 hours 32 minutes online/day (global average = 6 hours 35 minutes).

Bottom line: Africa’s broadband is booming but unequal — growth is driven by subsea cables, satellites, mobile and big tech bets but affordability, gender gaps and rural divides remain the choke points.

Climate in Africa

Carbon Credit Comeback?

A Wall Street Journal feature spotlights Zambia’s Miombo Woodland Restoration Project, which aims to restore nearly a million hectares, employ 50,000 farmers and remove 2 million tons of CO₂ annually by 2030. The project promises 60% of revenues to local communities, hoping to reset Africa’s troubled carbon credit market.

Why it matters:

• Farmers first: Payments go straight to farmers — $80 upfront for tree planting plus annual upkeep — turning “charcoal burners” into ecopreneurs.

• Market reset: Past scandals (like Zimbabwe’s Kariba project) gutted confidence; this project seeks “high integrity” certification under Verra’s new Abacus label.

• Corporate demand: Microsoft, Deloitte and others want reliable credits; Zambia could offer the proof of concept.

• Scale potential: With 25,000 farmers already registered, the project targets 50,000 by year’s end and credits by 2027, locking in a 40-year carbon sink.

The result: Zambia is betting farmer-led conservation can revive Africa’s credibility in global carbon markets (WSJ).

From Rocks to Riches

The Africa Governance Report 2025 (AGR25) says a lot about how land, mineral and marine resources are and should be governed but the numbers around minerals caught my attention most. According to the report, the Africa Mining Vision (AMV) sets a framework for transparent, equitable and sustainable mineral extraction on the continent. The African Green Minerals Strategy (2023) targets industrialization and electrification by harnessing minerals critical for clean energy and green tech.

By the numbers:

• Mining delivers up to 76% of export revenue, 23% of tax revenue and ~11% of GDP in resource-rich states.

• But it creates just 2% of formal jobs, showing a gap between revenue and employment.

• Costs bite: Power averages $0.22/kWh, transport is 100% higher than other developing regions, and logistics are 250% above global averages.

• Illicit flows: Around $150B a year is lost through illegal mineral trade and mispricing.

Of course, the real opportunity is moving beyond raw exports to local processing and supply chain integration.

AfDB Funding Test

Sidi Ould Tah’s UNGA debut as AfDB president includes his first test: landing record pledges for ADF-17, the Bank’s concessional arm, by December. The last round raised $8.9B; this one comes as the U.S. and Europe cut aid and Gulf states are courted to step in.

Why it matters:

• Fragile states: ADF funds 37 of Africa’s poorest nations; without replenishment, climate, debt and conflict pressures could stall Agenda 2063 and SDG progress.

• Shifting donors: U.S. aid is shrinking, Europe is stretched but the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait may fill the gap.

• African buy-in: Thirteen African countries now contribute, signaling growing ownership of the fund.

• Leadership test: Ould Tah’s Gulf ties from his decade at the Arab Bank could make or break the December outcome.

The result: AfDB’s credibility and reach hinge on whether its new chief can secure fresh billions for Africa’s future (Ecofin).

Explorations in Africa

Guardians of the Forest

With my Rwanda residency permit in hand, this could be the year I finally trek to see mountain gorillas. World Gorilla Day (Sept. 24) marked Dian Fossey’s legacy and the remarkable comeback of these great beasts. Mountain gorillas once teetered on extinction; by 2018, their numbers started to turn around, topping 1,000, enough to move them from critically endangered to endangered. About half live in Uganda.

• Bwindi Impenetrable Park in Uganda is the beating heart of gorilla tourism, 27 habituated families draw visitors who pay $800 a permit. Rwanda’s reputation is higher-end! 

• Locals share the gains: $10 per ticket goes to community projects; 20% of park fees stay in the region.

• Former poachers now patrol the forest as protectors, a shift sparked by the 2020 killing of a beloved gorilla named Rafiki.

Why It Matters:

• Economy + empathy: Named gorillas spark community pride — their health is treated like family news.

• Tourism shift: Poachers became rangers, women became porters and gorillas became the engine of a thriving local economy.

• Fragile gains: Habitat loss and poaching risks remain but daily treks, ranger patrols and community buy-in keep populations rising.

Some think gorillas aren’t just a draw for tourists — they’re proof conservation and commerce can work hand-in-hand. Read more from AP: What to know about endangered gorillas and tourist tours tracking them and Tourism is helping Uganda’s endangered mountain gorillas make a comeback.

Africa Trivia Answer

Answer: C) In 2024, Africa attracted about what share of global FDI? ➝ ~6% (≈$97B). UNCTAD World Investment Report 2025.

Miss our last edition? Read about Africa’s GDP speed lanes and what it takes to move from the middle lane to the fast lane. If you appreciate The Africa Brief, please share it with a colleague or friend. As always, email us at [email protected]. Happy weekend.