Antony Sguazzin

World Bank Allocates $350 Million to S. Africa Guarantee Vehicle The World Bank said it has allocated $350 million for a South African credit-guarantee vehicle aimed at boosting infrastructure development and mobilizing $10 billion over the next decade.

The World Bank said it has allocated $350 million for a South African credit-guarantee vehicle aimed at boosting infrastructure development and mobilizing $10 billion over the next decade
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World Bank Says $50 Billion Committed to African Electrification More than $50 billion has been committed to an ambitious plan to halve the number of people without access to electricity in Africa, according to the World Bank, its biggest backer.

More than $50 billion has been committed to an ambitious plan to halve the number of people without access to electricity in Africa, according to the World Bank
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Wine Farm Linked to South African Liberation Hero Up for Sale A historic South African wine farm linked to a former politician and anti-apartheid activist is set for auction this month, with brokers seeking bids of at least 180 million rand ($11 million).

A historic South African wine farm linked to former politician and anti-apartheid activist Tokyo Sexwale is set for auction this month
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Ghana Minister Asks Zelenskiy to Release Captured Citizens Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Ablakwa said he visited Kyiv and held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy seeking the release of citizens of the African country who are being held as pr...

Ghana's foreign minister travels to Kyiv to ask President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to release citizens of his country who were captured while fighting for Russia
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Eskom Backtracks on Pollution Pledge, Risking World Bank Angst Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., the world’s biggest emitter of the toxin sulfur dioxide, presented a study that argues against the cost of installing equipment to limit emissions, risking a breach of a World...

Eskom, the world’s biggest emitter of the toxin sulfur dioxide, presented a study that argues against the cost of installing equipment to limit emissions. That, if enacted, could see it breach loan conditions with the World Bank
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Trump’s African Villain Turns Winner in Trade Chaos US court ruling effectively halves tariffs on South African produce.

Trump’s announcement of a blanket 15% charge on America’s imports effectively halves duties on South African goods, bringing it in line with global competitors
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South Africa Wins Release of Men Tricked Into Fighting for Russia South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said his government has secured the release of the remaining citizens whose families said they were duped into fighting for Russia.

South Africa has secured the release of the remaining citizens whose families said they were duped into fighting for Russia
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Madagascan President Breaks Tradition With First Trip to Moscow Madagascan President Michael Randrianirina, who came to power in a coup last year, has broken tradition by visiting Russia rather than former colonial power France on his first official trip abroad.

Madagascan President Michael Randrianirina, who came to power in a coup last year, has broken tradition by visiting Russia rather than former colonial power France on his first official trip abroad
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China’s Drone Exports to Russia Use a New Route Through Thailand On the 30th floor of the Chartered Square building in downtown Bangkok, the low-key office of Skyhub Technologies Ltd. serves as a nexus for a burgeoning and contentious trade.

Russia's burgeoning ties to Thailand now include drone imports with the South East Asian coutnry having become a transhipment point for Chinese UAVs
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Kenya Says 1,000 of Its Citizens Are Fighting For Russia As many as 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine, the leader of the East African country’s National Assembly said, a development that threatens to spark a di...

As many as 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine, the leader of the East African country’s National Assembly said
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PE Firms Freeze Deals in Nigeria as They Lobby Over Higher Tax Private equity firms in Nigeria are slowing dealmaking, with some freezing investment as they lobby the government to soften the impact of its tripling of a capital-gains tax, people familiar with the...

Private equity firms in Nigeria fear a hike in capital gains tax will halt investment
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Tech Tycoon Pays ‘Natural Dividend’ to Preserve African Island Mark Shuttleworth, a technology tycoon, will start paying stipends to the inhabitants of an island off Africa’s west coast where he owns luxury resorts to help preserve its biodiversity.

Tech tycoon Mark Shuttleworth will this month start paying the inhabitants of the island of Principe a `natural dividend' to preserve biodiversity
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Russia Resorts to Religion for Sway in Africa Lacking the money of geopolitical rivals such as China and the US, Moscow deploys the church.

Lacking the money of geopolitical rivals such as China and the US, Moscow deploys the church for influence.
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Russia Turns to Religion to Woo New Friends in Africa Moscow doesn’t have the economic clout of the US and China.

Russia is resorting to soft power to win influence in Africa through its churches and cultural programs
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Arcelor’s South Africa Assets Get Approach From Steel Processors South African steel processors have approached the country’s biggest development-finance institution with a proposal to help take control of ArcelorMittal SA’s struggling local unit.

ArcelorMittal's South African unit is attracting fresh interest with a group of local steel processors including Allied Steelrode making a proposal to the Industrial Development Corp. for a potential take over of the company.
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Lacking Money, Russia Turns to God in Push for African Influence What may be the most significant expansion in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church is serving as a powerful new tool for the Kremlin.

Russia has turned a record-breaking expansion of its national church into a formidable asset for state influence in Africa
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Clean-Cooking Company’s Collapse Touches World Bank and Beyond The collapse of clean-cooking company Koko Networks Ltd. will reverberate beyond the $300 million investors lost on what used to be one of the industry’s leading businesses.

The collapse of clean-cooking company Koko Networks will reverberate beyond the $300 million investors lost on what used to be one of the industry’s leading businesses. The World Bank insured them and RMB lent them money @lauramillan.bsky.social
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Cape Town Seeks Panel of Power Traders to Meet Demand Cape Town has issued a tender seeking proposals from electricity traders as it moves to establish a panel of suppliers to help power South Africa’s second-largest city.

Cape Town wants to appoint a panel of power trading companies to source the electricity the city needs
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UN Agricultural Agency Sees Middle East Funding Potential Another international aid and developmental assistance agency is pinning its hopes on the Middle East for funding in the wake of the US and Europe curbing their contributions.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development said the Middle East, with its interest in African food production, is a promising source of funding
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Bankers Pitching EM Debt Swaps Hit a Wall in a Once-Hot Market Bankers in the small but lucrative market for debt swaps are now struggling to complete deals.

Bankers in the small but lucrative market for debt-for-nature swaps are now struggling to complete deals. In some cases debt for development swaps are being favored
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Kenya Seals Return of Russia War Recruits as South Africans Wait Kenya repatriated 27 of its citizens recruited to fight for Russia against Ukraine, the government said, as the families of 17 South African men fighting in that conflict demanded that President Cyril...

Kenya repatriated 27 of its citizens recruited to fight for Russia against Ukraine, the government said, as the families of 17 South African men fighting in that conflict demanded that President Cyril Ramaphosa intervene to bring them home.
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South Africa Farm Exports Hit Record Even as US Shipments Crash South African agricultural exports hit an annual record of $15.1 billion in 2025, even as sales to the US slumped in the second half.

South African agricultural exports hit an annual record of $15.1 billion in 2025, even as shipments to the US slumped
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South Africa to Permit Rhino, Elephant Hunts After Six-Year Halt South Africa will award trophy export quotas to pave the way for the hunting of black rhino, elephant and leopard for the first time in about six years.

South Africa to allow export of rhino and elephant hunting trophies, ending a 6-year dispute with the wildlife industry and effecively restarting hunting
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Cape Town Goes Private to Boost Electricity and Water Supply Cape Town will call for tenders to implement several major projects that aim at cutting electricity costs and bolstering water security in South Africa’s second-biggest city and main tourist hub.

Cape Town is planning a series of tenders this year to cut the cost of power and bolster its water security
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Cape Town Will Slap Tax Hike on Airbnb Owners Cape Town plans to more than double municipal rates on homes that are rented out for short durations, including those listed on Airbnb Inc. and Booking.com, as a boom in private tourist accommodation ...

Cape Town will more than double rates on homes that are rented out for short durations, including those listed on Airbnb Inc. and Booking.com, as a boom in private tourist accommodation drives up prices and stokes resentment.

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African Lenders Set Up Early-Warning Network on Debt Distress The Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions, a group of lenders known as the Africa Club, developed an initiative to proactively detect potential debt troubles among sovereign borrower...

A group of lenders known as the Africa Club develops an initiative to proactively detect potential debt troubles among sovereign borrowers on the continent and avoid future disputes

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Africa Finance Corp. Says S&P Rating May Help it Add Investors Africa Finance Corp. expects its inaugural investment grade credit assessment from S&P Global Ratings to bolster the drive to expand its shareholder base, slash borrowing costs and diversify fundi...

An inaugural rating from S&P may help Africa Finance Corp. add shareholders and reduce borrowing costs, its leader says
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Libya Seeks $100 Million as Zimbabwe’s Debt Disputes Deepen Libya’s central bank is suing Zimbabwe’s finance minister and national oil company for more than $100 million, the latest development in a spiraling debt crisis that’s bedeviled the southern African n...

Zimbabwe's debt woes deepen as Libyan central bank sues for $100 million in unpaid fuel import debts
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Angola Plans $1.4 Billion Debt-for-Health Swap in 2026 Angola plans a $1.4 billion debt-for-health swap this year, the finance ministry said in a borrowing plan.

Angola plans a $1.4 billion debt-for-health swap this year, the finance ministry said in a borrowing plan
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Mini-Grid Firms Need $46 Billion to Meet World Bank Power Plan Leaders of the some of the world’s biggest solar mini-grid companies said they need as much as $46 billion in investment by 2030 to achieve the electrification plans of 29 African countries that plan ...

Leaders of the some of the world’s biggest solar mini-grid companies said they need investment of as much as $46 billion by 2030 to achieve the electrification plans of 29 African countries that plan to use the technology under a World Bank-backed program
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