Vol 66 No 18 | JAPANAFRICA Tokyo scores on policy but loses on scale 12th September 2025 Summit pledges on cutting the cost of capital, boosting fair trade and investment were popular, but delegates want quantity as well as quality One of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s last diplomatic forays before his resignation on 7 September was his hosting of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9)... READ FOR FREE
Vol 66 No 17 | AFRICAUNITED NATIONSCLIMATE CHANGE ICJ climate ruling opens floodgates for billions in pollution payouts 22nd August 2025 The UN court’s opinion defining greenhouse gas emissions as ‘internationally wrongful acts’ argues for climate finance to become a legal obligation for the main polluting countries The ruling by the UN’s top court that countries may be held legally accountable for their greenhouse gas emissions and the environmental damage they cause could help reshape...
Vol 66 No 17 | FRANCEAFRICA Paris resets military ties in Africa, tilting to Europe 14th August 2025 After their exit from the Sahel, French troops prioritise flexible partnerships and blunting Russia’s influence When France’s Secretary of State for la Francophonie and International Partnerships, Thani Mohamed-Soilihi told journalists on 27 July that the security crisis in the Sahel was no longer...
Vol 66 No 16 | UNITED STATESAFRICA Trump lessens the tariff pain, but they will still bite 6th August 2025 The worst was averted – yet oil states and surplus exporters still face steep duties, as Lesotho breathes easier and AGOA’s future hangs in the balance The final tariff sweep was softer than feared – but still sharp enough to sting. Algeria, Libya and South Africa will face 30% tariffs on goods exports, while...
Vol 66 No 16 | ECONOMYAFRICA As external support ebbs, states seek to plug the revenue gap 8th August 2025 Efforts to raise domestic funds are colliding with political constraints – and public trust remains elusive as global reforms falter As indebted African governments confront declining aid flows and western reluctance to reform the international financial system, they are again eyeing ways to boost domestic revenues and tap...
DISPATCHES Vol 66 No 16 | UNITED KINGDOMAFRICA Africa faces the brunt of Whitehall’s aid cuts 28th July 2025 Development budget reduced as military spending increases Africa will be the main victim of cuts to the UK’s foreign aid budget, according to a new report and impact assessment by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development... READ FOR FREE
Vol 66 No 15 | AFRICAUNITED NATIONSDEBT High hopes, little change 25th July 2025 After yet another UN summit, African governments see sparse progress on debt relief or global financial reform The familiar sound of empty promises rang around Seville at the close of the latest UN summit on international financial reforms. Few delegates from developing nations trusted commitments...
Vol 66 No 15 | UNITED STATESAFRICAMIGRATION Trump ‘cash for migrants’ playbook hits roadblocks in Africa 18th July 2025 As the EU spends over US$9 billion on migration deals with African states, Washington is pushing its own plan Opposition is mounting to efforts by US President Donald Trump’s administration to persuade African states to accept third-country deportees. Some governments such as Nigeria have openly rejected the...
DISPATCHES Vol 66 No 15 | UNITED STATESTRADEAFRICA Trump targets four countries with new tariff 14th July 2025 Despite US pledges, plans for AGOA revamp are unclear South Africa, Libya, Algeria and Tunisia were among a group of over 20 countries to be issued with tariff letters from United States President Donald Trump’s administration this... READ FOR FREE
Vol 66 No 14 | AFRICAUNITED NATIONSCLIMATE CHANGE Bonn summit exposes rifts and inertia on climate action 8th July 2025 Geopolitical rivalries are sinking the UN treaty to cut carbon emissions and protect developing economies ahead of the Brazil summit in November The UN’s preparatory climate summit in Bonn from 16-26 June offered a grim portent of what may happen in the main event – the UN COP30 climate summit...