How Rwanda Won The Race To Host Africa’s F1

Formula 1 will return to Africa, with a first race set to take place in Rwanda in the early 2030s. The East African nation will host the F1 African Grand Prix under a 10-year agreement, Formula 1 said in a statement on Tuesday.  Rwanda beat out competition from South Africa and Morocco to win the r…

Why fighting in the Horn of Africa risks a new Red Sea conflict

Ethiopian troops have regained control of the city of Mekelle, the capital of the country’s northern Tigray region - after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front - the TPLF had seized the city’s airport and declared war on the government. As Ethiopia’s relationship with its neighbours worsen some fea…

Why South Africa’s Fight Against Violent Crime Is Failing

The discovery of 11 women’s bodies in and around Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, has horrified South Africans. Then the last few days provided a stark reminder of the country's violent crime problem:  two separate mass shootings left 28 people dead, just days after 11 people were killed at a hous…

Can Dangote’s IPO Live Up to The Hype?

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has finally launched the much anticipated IPO of part of his refinery business, and it's generated so much hype that many investment apps were overwhelmed by demand. The company hopes to raise as much as $2 billion from retail investors and with a minimum invest…

Replay: China's Growing Grip on Africa's EV Fastlane

We wanted to bring you one of our favourite episodes from the last 12 months this week. 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 …

Why Investors Are Bullish on Kenya

A sovereign-rating upgrade and a stabilizing currency are helping restore Kenya’s appeal investors. Two years after deadly protests rattled sentiment, the markets have staged a recovery. Kenya’s all-share index has more than tripled in dollar terms since the start of 2024 making it the world's thir…

What If You Give Everyone $700?

A $200 million project in Malawi, one of the world’s poorest countries, is testing a radically simple approach to aid: giving about $700 directly to as many as 230,000 adults and letting them decide how best to spend it. The hope is that recipients will use the money to start businesses, invest in…

How Zambia’s ‘Better Democracy' Has Come Under Threat

Zambia had been the shining light for democracy in sub-Saharan Africa, but president Hichilema's recent reelection has been tainted by accusations of irregularities, the killing of a former minister and what the UN has called arbitrary arrests.  On this week’s Episode, Bloomberg’s Matthew Hill who…

How the Iran War Reshaped Africa’s Oil Trade — At A Cost

As the Iran War broke out and the Strait of Hormuz closed, fuel prices surged and supplies became disrupted. The African countries that thought they had supply deals in place found deliveries being cancelled.  But the world’s largest oil trader turned the Hormuz crisis to its advantage. Vitol was a…

Why The Deadly Ebola Outbreak Is Accelerating

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the country’s worst ever, with more than 2,000 confirmed deaths and a fatality rate of more than 46%. The World Health Organization says it's the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record, and has warned that contact tracing isn't kee…