Africa Now (16-31 January, 2025)

OVERVIEW

This edition of Africa Now explores significant political, economic, and diplomatic developments across the continent. The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains volatile with rebels taking over the largest city in the eastern province, Goma. Meanwhile, looming health crises threaten the continent as Tanzania confirms an outbreak of the Marburg virus and Uganda confirms an Ebola outbreak. After a year-long attempt by ECOWAS to convince Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to reconsider leaving the bloc, the countries officially exit.

Nigeria becomes a BRICS partner country, highlighting its growing importance at the multilateral forum. Africa remained at the center of international affairs with Egyptian president congratulating the newly elected Syrian president and US President Donald Trump calling the crisis in DRC a ‘very serious problem’.

India-Africa relations continue to strengthen. The India-Africa Trade Council (IATC) organized the India-Sierra Leone Trade Conference in Kochi reinforcing trade relations between the countries. In response to the ongoing crisis in the DRC, the Indian Embassy in Kinshasa issued an advisory that Indians living there are safe. An important highlight of the week was different foreign diplomats expressing their gratitude for the Maha Kumbh visit describing it as a "once-in-a-lifetime experience".

AFRICA

Tanzania confirms outbreak of Marburg virus

On 20 January 2025, the president of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan announced the outbreak of the Marburg virus in the northwest part of the country with one case confirmed so far. The symptoms include high fever, headache, diarrhoea, external bleeding, back pain, muscle weakness, and vomiting blood. It incidentally comes from the same virus family as Ebola and has a high fatality rate of 88 percent, which makes a rapid response to curb the outbreak extremely vital. Click here to read... [2]

Congo rebels seize the eastern town of Goma

On January 21, 2025, the M 23 rebels seized the eastern town of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. the Tutsi-led rebel group captured the largest city which, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, is a mineral-rich region consisting of untapped resources worth $24 trillion. Despite the Congolese government and army’s efforts, the M23 rebels have continued their renewed insurgencies in the area. The fall of the town has resulted in massive civilian casualties and disrupted peace and stability in the region. Click here to read... [3]

Burundian forces to counter M23 rebels in eastern Congo

As the M23 rebels advance toward Bukavu, there are chances of them encountering the Burundian troops who have been situated near the town since 2021. Earlier the soldiers from Burundi were stationed in eastern Congo to hunt down Burundian rebels but now they are supporting Kinhasa’s army against the M23. Any clash between the groups would exacerbate ethnic tensions as the Burundian ruling party heavily draws from the country’s Hutu community. Click here to read... [4]

Uganda confirms outbreak of Ebola

The Health Ministry of Uganda on January 30th confirmed the outbreak of the Ebola virus in the capital, Kampala with one patient dying. The symptoms include headache, vomiting of blood, muscle pains, and bleeding. The virus is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissue. The World Health Organization (WHO) said it had allocated $1 million from its contingency fund for emergencies to contain the outbreak. Click here to read... [5]

Boko Haram militants kill 20 in Borno state

On January 23, 2025, the Boko Haram insurgents attacked the northeastern state of Borno which resulted in the killing of twenty fishermen. The northeast region of Nigeria has been a turbulent area facing a 16-year-long Islamic insurgency not just by Boko Haram but also by its offshoot ISWAP. This instability has led to mass displacement, economic loss, and humanitarian crises. Click here to read... [6]

Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso formally leave Ecowas

On January 29, 2025, the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) disclosed that the three military-led West African nations – Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso – have officially withdrawn from it. The juntas in all three nations had accused ECOWAS of failing to support them in their fight against terrorism and of imposing sanctions. ECOWAS initially imposed sanctions on the three countries following successful military coups there but later withdrew. Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso had first announced their decision to leave ECOWAS in early 2024 and this brings to an end a year-long attempt by ECOWAS to convince the countries to reconsider leaving the bloc. Click here to read... [7]

Zambia's copper output increased by 12 percent in 2024

In 2024, the copper production in Zambia increased by 12 percent approximately reaching 820,676 metric tonnes from 732,583 metric tonnes in 2023. This was because of increased production at the existing mines, such as the Lumwana Mine and Konkola Copper Mines, which were able to do so despite severe droughts that impacted hydroelectric power supplies. Zambia is Africa's second-largest copper producer after the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the government aims to boost further the annual copper production to 3 million tonnes within the next decade. Click here to read... [8]

AFRICA AND WORLD

Nigeria becomes a BRICS partner country

On 17 January 2025, the government of Brazil announced Nigeria’s acceptance as a partner country in the BRICS. Nigeria has been active in strengthening south-south cooperation as well as reforming global governance. This inclusion highlights Nigeria’s growing importance at the multilateral fora and BRICS commitment to strengthen ties with developing nations of the Global South. Click here to read... [9]

Egypt needs $20B annually to secure petroleum products, says President

On 22 January, 2025, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said that the state needs $20 billion annually to secure a steady supply of petroleum products. He emphasized the need to ensure that Egypt’s dollar resources exceed its expenditures to address the country’s economic challenges and reduce prices and resolve the country’s dollar shortage crisis. The Government aims to strengthen its capabilities and production while highlighting the challenge posed by the shortage of dollars needed to meet the country’s requirements. Click here to read... [10]

Algeria Strikes Deal with Chevron for Offshore Cooperation

On 22 January, 2025, Algeria’s National Development Hydrocarbon Agency (ALNAFT) signed a deal on Wednesday with U.S. Chevron for assessing potential offshore oil resources in the Mediterranean, according to the country’s energy ministry. This is an important move that would pave the way for development projects that successfully tap the national hydrocarbon resources and attract quality investments in the field of offshore explorations. Click here to read... [11]

Portugal to import US, Nigerian LNG, reduce Russian dependence

On 21 January 2025, Portuguese Environment Minister Maria da Graca Carvalho said that they plan to increase purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US and Nigeria. The aim behind this move is to end the current reliance on Russian gas which has been dwindling over the past few years. Lisbon imported 49,141 gigawatt-hours of natural gas in 2024, with 96 percent as LNG, and out of this Nigeria accounted for 51 percent, 40 percent came from the United States, and around 4.4 percent from Russia. In 2021, Russia accounted for 15 percent of Portugal's LNG supply and marks a drop of about 10.6 percent from 2021 levels. Click here to read... [12]

Egypt’s president congratulates Syria’s new president

On January 31,2025, Egyptian President Abdel al Sisi congratulated Ahmed al Sharaa, Syria’s new president. Sharaa is an Islamist and a former al-Qaeda affiliate who assumed leadership after former President, Bashar al-Assad was ousted following a rebel offensive. This move by the Egyptian president shows his acknowledgment of the new leadership in Syria despite Egypt’s strict policies against Islamists. Click here to read... [13]

WHO exit by US jeopardizes Africa, says health body

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on January 23, 2025, that Trump’s order on the World Health Organisation (WHO) exit will harm Africa’s health initiatives. They urged African countries to find alternative financing and funding opportunities with other non-African countries. Many countries rely on U.S. investment via the WHO to fund public health drives and the cutting of funding will affect the delivery of health programmes. Click here to read... [14]

US issues waiver for PEPFAR, to continue HIV interventions in Nigeria

On January 29, 2025, an ‘emergency humanitarian waiver’ was granted by the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. This waiver would allow the continuation of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) across 55 countries including Nigeria. Under this plan, life-saving HIV medications have been provided to low-income countries and a 90-day freeze on foreign aid by President Trump had raised concerns about combating HIV/AIDS in countries like Nigeria where PEPFAR supports over 20 million individuals globally. Click here to read... [15]

ReconAfrica finds oil traces in onshore Naingopo well

Canada's Reconnaissance Energy Africa (ReconAfrica), has found traces of oil at its Naingopo onshore exploration well. This find might accelerate drilling in the region despite mounting criticism from different environmentalists and climate-conscious communities in Namibia. The company has the government backing to continue drilling and has environmental authorization to drill multiple wells. Namibia is a global exploration hotspot and this indication of oil in the Naingopo well is significant for oil production. Click here to read... [16]

Trump says the crisis between Rwanda and DRC is a 'very serious problem'

On 30 January 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump described the crisis between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a "very serious problem." During a press conference, he acknowledged the severity of the situation in DRC but refrained from providing more details on the issue. The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio had expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict in the eastern DRC and urged for an immediate ceasefire. Despite ongoing efforts by the international community, the situation remains precarious. Click here to read... [17]

Tanzania, Burundi sign deal with China to build nickel-carrying railway

On 30 January 2025, Tanzania and Burundi signed an agreement with two Chinese firms to build a railway between the two African countries for transporting metals, including the vital battery mineral, nickel, to the port city of Dar es Salaam. Tanzania's transport minister Makame Mbarawa said that China Railway Engineering Group Ltd and China Railway Engineering Design and Consulting Group will construct the $2.15 billion joint venture. This will increase the Chinese foothold in the continent where it has funded infrastructure projects, such as railways, power plants, and ports, through its Belt and Road Initiative. Click here to read... [18]

AFRICA AND INDIA

Indian Embassy in Congo asks Indians to depart to safety

The Indian Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo issued an updated advisory for Indian nationals in Bukavu, urging them to remain alert. The advisory strongly advised Indian nationals not to travel to Bukavu and to move to safer locations immediately. It also reported that the M23 rebel group is located about 20-25 km from Kinshasa city and that all Indians in the Democratic Republic of Congo are safe amid the ongoing conflict. Click here to read... [19]

Foreign diplomat express gratitude on Maha Kumbh visit

The Maha Kumbh 2025 has drawn diplomats from around the world, with many foreign diplomats expressing their excitement and gratitude to India for the opportunity to experience its rich cultural heritage firsthand in the Maha Kumbh Mela. Anil Sooklal, High Commissioner of South Africa to India, described the Maha Kumbh as a "once-in-a-lifetime experience" and a "global celebration of humanity." He also praised India's ability to bring people together, celebrating common humanity and spirituality. Click here to read... [20]

Air India and Kenya Airways Partner for Easier Travel

Air India, India’s top global airline, has partnered with the top African carrier, Kenya Airways in a new codeshare partnership. Under the agreement, Air India will place its ‘AI’ code on Kenya Airways’ twice-daily flights between Nairobi and Mumbai. Additionally, passengers can easily travel from Nairobi to several points in India via Delhi. This collaboration aims to enhance seamless travel between India, Africa, and beyond, building on their existing interline agreement. Click here to read... [21]

India-Africa Trade Council Hosts Trade Conference in Kochi

On January 23, 2025, the India-Africa Trade Council (IATC) organized the India-Sierra Leone Trade Conference in Kochi. The conference brought together prominent stakeholders from the South Indian business community and a diplomatic delegation from Sierra Leone. The event served as a platform to strengthen bilateral trade relations and explore economic opportunities between the two nations. Click here to read... [22]