Why Ethiopia’s Election Was Never in Doubt

Ethiopia’s ruling party has established a commanding lead in preliminary election results, leaving Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on track to secure another five-year term. On this week’s episode, Tiwa Adebayo speaks with Bloomberg Senior East Africa Reporter Simon Marks and Ethiopia Reporter Fasika Ta…

BONUS: Merryn Talks Money - Africa’s Growth Engine

Here's a bonus episode from another Bloomberg podcast we think listeners to Next Africa might enjoy Could Africa’s long-misunderstood population boom become its greatest economic advantage? Economist and author Joe Studwell joins host Merryn Somerset Webb to discuss his book, How Africa Works: Suc…

Can Africa Avoid An Ebola Economic Shock?

The 2014-16 Ebola epidemic in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone triggered one of the most severe health-related economic shocks in modern African history. While the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains a serious concern, analysts expect its economic impact to be far more cont…

Can African Founders Adapt as AI Boom Redirects Cash?

African startups are rewriting their funding playbook as the global artificial intelligence boom channels venture capital toward the US, leaving founders across emerging markets scrambling for capital. As Bloomberg publishes its 2026 list of 25 African Startups to Watch, Bloomberg Senior Technolog…

Did Aid Cuts Make The Ebola Outbreak Worse?

An Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which has already killed more than 130 people, may have been spreading for months, according to the World Health Organization. On this week’s episode of the Next Africa Podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by healthcare reporter Janice Ke…

Bobi Wine On The Battle for Uganda's Future (Correct)

Ugandan lawmakers have passed a contentious new law that imposes steep fines and jail terms for those receiving foreign funding without state approval. On this week's Next Africa podcast opposition leader Bobi Wine, who fled the country earlier this year, speaks to Bloomberg's Jennifer Zabasajja ab…

Is Xenophobia Risking South Africa’s International Reputation

Anti-Migrant protests and violence in South Africa have escalated in recent weeks, leading to condemnation from Governments across the continent. On this week’s Next Africa Podcast, Bloomberg’s government reporter Ntando Thukwana gives the latest on the protests, and then political commentator and…

China’s Growing Grip On Africa’s EV Fast Lane

In Ethiopia, the share of electric vehicles on the road has jumped to 6% from just 1% after a 2024 ban on new gasoline-car imports.  Across Africa, EV adoption is now among the fastest-growing globally — with Chinese automakers capturing the lion’s share of the market. On today’s episode, Bloombe…

Could Dangote's Stock Listing Transform African Investing?

Aliko Dangote plans to sell about 10% of his oil-refining company on multiple African stock exchanges to help fund the next phase of the tycoon’s business empire.  The IPO comes nearly five decades after a landmark share sale in Asia that went on to mint the continent’s richest person. In 1977, Dh…

Why Starlink Is Dividing South Africa

Starlink, SpaceX’s Satellite Internet Service is pushing for changes to South Africa’s equality rules which it says blocks the company from operating in Africa’s most industrialised economy.   South Africa requires companies in some sectors to have at least 30% Black ownership. These laws were int…