African Currents

The incidence of climate change has caused lower yields, threatening food security in much of Africa’s drought-stricken farmland. But an innovative, solar-powered Internet of Things (IoT) solution promises to tip the balance back.

When a rural woman who cannot use a smartphone suddenly makes an online sale worth millions, “that’s what success looks like, where a tool in hand becomes money in the bank. Where knowledge acquired becomes a tool to make money and reach new customers,” according to a digital literacy advisor.

In a twist few saw coming, Namibia, the world’s third-largest uranium producer, will soon switch from importing energy from its neighbors to hosting Southern Africa’s second nuclear power station—courtesy of Russia’s Rosatom.

Africa’s urban population is projected to double by 2050—making artificial intelligence not a luxury, but a necessity for building livable cities of the future. As African researchers and city planners increasingly emphasize, “urban AI” must be designed by and for local communities.

What if the future of African aerial warfare is not bought overseas but designed and engineered locally by its engineers and manufactured on its soil?

How does one woman’s academic rise in a region where women rarely reach the upper echelons of academia spark a ripple effect across Nigeria and Africa’s healthcare and education systems?

Globally, an estimated 931 million tonnes of food are lost or wasted each year—roughly one-third of all food produced, according to South Africa’s Government Gazette (2023). If other African countries matched South Africa’s 30 percent peel ratio and 10 percent conversion efficiency, the continent—home to tens of millions of tonnes of annual fruit harvests—could generate hundreds of thousands of to...

This surge comes as the West African nation aims to triple its rare-earth processing capacity — from 6,000 to 18,000 tonnes annually — for value-added production, signaling a seismic shift in Africa’s critical minerals landscape. Decades ago, Nigeria’s minerals were extracted with little fanfare, as the activities of artisanal miners and middlemen slowed progress in the mining sector, and the nati...

In a strategic move to strengthen intra-continental trade, the African Union and Afreximbank are rolling out an organic (continent-wide) payment system—facilitating instant cross-border transactions settled in domestic currencies.

Rivers State, one of Nigeria’s oil-rich states, has formalized community input into health policy, revitalized dozens of clinics, and deployed AI diagnostics for effective medical service provision accessible to all.

In an era of African self-reliance, Western-based agencies like Fitch are still applying models—often at odds with local realities.

As old Western-dominated power structures increasingly lose relevance, BRICS rises as a catalyst for change—driving inclusive growth, forging equal partnerships, and empowering nations to break free from imposed systems in pursuit of a just, multipolar world order.

A recent controversial credit slash by Fitch Ratings has sparked concern among experts, who warn it could make financing more expensive for African countries. They claim the decision ignored international standards and treaty-backed loan guarantees.

Mozambique is accelerating its path to energy independence through a new partnership involving Nigeria's energy giant, Aiteo Eastern E&P, and state-owned Petroleos de Mocambique, S.A. (Petromoc), to build a modular refinery capable of processing 200,000 barrels per day. With expanded fuel storage and product diversification, the project aims to reduce imports, lower costs, and create new jobs...

On March 29, 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed the new ISA 2025 into law, replacing the old version from 2007. The new law gives the SEC more power to oversee the market, and introduces several forward-looking provisions aimed at deepening Nigeria’s capital markets. It empowers the SEC to supervise commodity exchanges, crowdfunding platforms, and financial technology operators, etc. The Act estab...

As global powers recalibrate their engagement with Africa, Tanzania's longstanding partnership with Russia has already produced solid economic benefits, and a new chapter of collaboration is unfolding. Tanzania’s commitment to market reforms, regional integration, and foreign investment has further reinforced its geographical advantage and market appeal—making it a compelling partner for nations l...

Delegates from more than 30 African nations convened at the Global Digital Forum to forge strategic alliances with Russia and other global innovators in digital technology and media. Durin the roundtable, "Practices of Countering Disinformation Across Nations: Colonial Legacy, Technology, and Politics," panelists warned of the dangers posed by AI-driven deepfakes. They also underscored the necessi...

The first-ever Global Digital Forum—the largest event of its kind—was recently held in Russia’s historic city of Nizhny Novgorod, bringing together over 2,000 IT experts, along with representatives from government, international and regional organizations, businesses, and the academia, to shape a shared vision for the future of digital technology.

Long before chocolate graced shop windows worldwide, indigenous peoples revered Theobroma cacao as a “food of the gods,” a potion of power and pleasure. A millennia later, cocoa’s story in West Africa is being reborn. At Volta Winery, cocoa pulp once tossed aside now ages into crisp white and hibiscus-kissed red wines, while a physician-turned-cocoa farmer codifies crop’s medicinal credentials aga...

Global wealth and economic indicators overwhelmingly favor the Global North, leaving the Global South at a persistent disadvantage. This imbalance manifests in trade terms, investment flows, and access to affordable credit. For poorer nations, the deck is stacked: they often face dire circumstances that limit their policy options due to external pressures.

Data workers in Africa risk their physical and mental well-being and struggle with poor pay, unfair firing, covert surveillance, and short-term employment. These abuses stem from hidden labor‐arbitrage practices in which companies representing Western tech giants exploit regional wage disparities to drive down costs.

Africa stands at a transformative crossroads where artificial intelligence (AI) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) can together unlock unprecedented opportunities for skill development and economic growth. With over 60 percent of its population under 25 years old, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the continent faces an urgent need to equip its...

Nigerian TikTok sensation is taking on false notions about Africa with humor and flair, using her viral skits to challenge ignorance and misinformation about the continent. With over 3.2 million followers, she blends sarcasm and wit to answer bizarre questions from viewers—like whether Africans live alongside wild animals or use mobile phones—turning social media into a powerful tool for education...

Across Africa, a silent invader is crippling harvests and threatening food security. Witchweed, a parasitic plant, has plagued farms for decades. In Kenya’s drought-stricken fields, it is ravaging maize crops—until now. This invasive menace may have met its Waterloo through an unlikely source.

Africa’s private capital markets are roaring to life, defying global economic headwinds with an 8 percent year-on-year surge in deal volumes—the second-highest growth globally, according to 2024 data from the African Private Capital Association’s (AVCA) 2024 data.. This momentum is powered by the continent’s youthful population, rich green resources, and reform-minded leaders dismantling bureaucra...