Africa’s Top 10 – July 2025

Over Q2, the US spearheaded high-stakes negotiations to de-escalate conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), using mineral diplomacy as leverage. Peace talks culminated in a historic agreement signed on 27 June 2025, contingent on Rwanda’s military withdrawal from eastern DRC. Washington’s mediation followed its broader pivot to secure critical mineral supply chains, including a new DRC-US mining deal. Meanwhile, China’s mining giant CMOC publicly challenged DRC’s cobalt export ban, while UN experts revealed unprecedented levels of smuggling of minerals by Rwandan-backed militias. Parallel to diplomacy headway in the region, infrastructure cooperation deepened, with the EU pledging support for Congolese mining, and Angola and the DRC advancing a US$1.5 billion transmission project, backed by US firm, Hydro-Link.

During Q2, Mozambique re-emerged as a pivotal energy player on the continent, reviving its liquified natural gas (LNG) ambitions. Early in the quarter, TotalEnergies confirmed plans to restart its long-stalled US$20 billion LNG project, supported by a US$637 million floating LNG contract with Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries and reducing security risks. Investment momentum extended to midstream assets, with Mozambique and Zambia agreeing to build a US$1.5 billion gas pipeline and the government greenlighting its first oil refinery in partnership with energy company Aiteo. Meanwhile, port upgrades in the country have added a logistical backbone, as DP World doubled Maputo terminal capacity and Beira Port geared up for a 34% cargo surge this year. To manage this investment wave, Mozambique launched a public infrastructure authority, the Administração Nacional de Obras Públicas (ANOP). Additionally, Italy’s Eni, the operator of the Coral South project, Mozambique’s first LNG producer, pursued community development initiatives across the country to ease environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns. Mozambique’s energy strategy now blends hydrocarbons, infrastructure and governance, positioning it as a key node in Africa’s evolving energy map.

Russia quietly cemented its presence across Africa’s energy and mining landscape over the course of June-July, forging new alliances that merged resource control with geopolitical alignment. In Mali, state authorities seized Canada’s Barrick Gold’s production complex while construction began on a Russian-backed refinery aimed at ending raw gold exports. Burkina Faso followed suit, finalising the nationalisation of five gold mines and formalising an electronuclear cooperation pact with Moscow. The moves unfolded alongside Russia’s deepening of ties with Mali on trade and nuclear energy, and a potential tripartite oil and gas deal with Pakistan and Nigeria. In Central Africa, a Congo–Russia pipeline project is advancing towards a Q4 launch. Namibia has also invited Russian and Western partners to scale its uranium sector. Russia’s resurgence in Africa, often welcomed by military-led regimes, signals a recalibration in the continent’s external partnerships – anchored less in conditional aid and more in reciprocal access to strategic resources and energy infrastructure.

In May 2025, South Africa took decisive regulatory steps to modernise its mining sector by unveiling two interlinked frameworks: the Draft Mineral Resources Development Bill and the Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy, both approved by the cabinet per the announcement of Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe. The strategy categorised platinum, manganese, iron ore, coal and chrome as “high-critical” and flagged gold, vanadium, palladium, rhodium and rare earths as “moderately-highly critical” while also mapping “moderate-criticality” for lithium, cobalt, copper, graphite and nickel. Guided by various pillars, such as mapping, local beneficiation, research and development, infrastructure, financing and regulatory alignment, the policy aims to drive value-added processing near production sites. The accompanying draft bill seeks to streamline permitting, align mining with environmental and water regulations, formalise artisanal operations, and bolster investor confidence. The dual rollout signals the country’s intent to transition from raw exports to industrial leadership in battery metals and rare earths.

Between June and July, China significantly expanded its economic and diplomatic footprint across Africa, reinforcing its position amid growing competition with the US. In mid-June, Beijing pledged to remove all tariffs on African imports and signed 28 new infrastructure agreements, deepening ties with key partners such as Djibouti, Ethiopia and South Africa, with BRICS and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) driving this engagement. Kenya’s expanding relationship with China drew US concern, particularly as multiple African financial institutions joined China’s cross-border Yuan payment system, accelerating financial realignment. In parallel, China struck a new military supply pact with Nigeria, reinforcing strategic cooperation. Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to China underscored South Africa’s growing relationship with Beijing as US-South Africa trade talks stalled ahead of tariff hikes. African nations are increasingly leveraging China’s offer of market access, financial alternatives and state-backed infrastructure against seemingly slower and more conditional Western engagement, resulting in a shifting geopolitical landscape.

Africa’s data centre industry entered a phase of measured expansion this past quarter, with operators projecting a 17.5% average growth rate over the next 12 months, according to the Africa Data Centres Association. In North Africa, Morocco deepened its digital ambitions by launching a five-year strategy as part of its ‘Digital Morocco 2030’ plan and announcing a 500MW renewable-powered data centre. West Africa saw Nigeria consolidate its status as a digital anchor, with MTN commissioning a new facility in Lagos to meet rising demand for localised cloud storage and enterprise solutions. In Central Africa, Gabon took a strategic leap towards digital sovereignty through a landmark national data centre agreement aimed at anchoring public sector services. Meanwhile, East Africa witnessed momentum through Kenya’s Safaricom-iXAfrica partnership, set to deliver hyperscale capabilities to the region’s fast-digitising economy. In southern Africa, Africa Data Centres introduced a self-cooling rack at its CPT1 facility in Cape Town, meeting the demand for high-performance computing while minimising energy consumption.

West Africa’s largest economy saw renewed momentum in oil and gas during the latter half of the past quarter as domestic reforms and global partnerships began reshaping the industry landscape. Renaissance Africa Energy, a consortium of Nigerian oil companies, announced a US$15 billion investment targeting 32 oil and gas projects, aimed at increasing production, expanding supply and improving export capacity. Simultaneously, the Dangote Refinery ramped up operations, exporting its first gasoline cargo to Asia, lowering domestic petrol prices, and launching a national fuel distribution network. The company also revealed plans to list publicly by 2026, signalling a drive towards greater market integration and transparency. However, global volatility cast a shadow on these developments, with a US$5 billion oil-backed loan from Saudi Aramco postponed due to falling crude prices. Despite this, industry confidence remained strong, supported by expanding supply chains and efforts to localise fuel production. Nigeria’s approach reflects a dual strategy – attracting global capital while building internal resilience through industrialisation and price reform.

During Q2, the Middle Eastern powerhouse intensified its strategic engagement with Africa through a wave of high-value infrastructure, energy, and technology partnerships. Early in the quarter, a UAE-Africa ministerial summit laid the groundwork for deeper cooperation in transport and logistics, with Dubai-based DP World advancing port expansions and launching a new automotive logistics platform across key trade corridors. In West Africa, the UAE signed a US$1 billion deal with Ghana to develop a flagship artificial intelligence and tech hub, hosting Microsoft and Meta and positioning Accra as a regional innovation anchor. Simultaneously, a US$120 million logistics agreement in Egypt and a 50MW solar project in Madagascar signalled breadth of investments across North and southern Africa. The UAE also partnered with South Africa on satellite development, extending its presence into the digital and aerospace domain. This multi-sector approach reflects UAE’s ambition to entrench itself as a long-term infrastructure and investment partner across the continent.

Similar to Q1, African nations advanced a new wave of rail infrastructure projects to reinforce regional integration and trade resilience. In North Africa, Morocco broke ground on the continent’s longest high-speed rail line. At the same time, China launched its first rail–sea logistics route linking Moroccan ports, positioning the country as a critical transhipment hub. In East Africa, Kenya resumed the stalled US$13.8 billion railway corridor with Ethiopia and advanced the Kisumu–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) as a means to enhance domestic connectivity and regional freight flow. Uganda followed suit, allocating over US$595 million in its 2025/2026 budget to fast-track its own SGR ambitions. In West Africa, Liberia signed a US$1.8 billion deal with US minerals supplier, Ivanhoe Atlantic, to rehabilitate and expand its mining rail network. These developments point to sustained momentum in cross-border rail investment, driven by economic diversification, rising freight demand, and strategic partnerships with China and private investors.

Africa advanced its renewable energy transition in July with a surge of investments in battery energy storage systems (BESS), aimed at stabilising grids and supporting solar expansion. Early in the month, South African state-owned power utility Eskom issued a major tender for rooftop PV and battery energy storage solutions, signalling a decentralised shift in urban energy strategy. Simultaneously in South Africa, Globeleq, a leading African independent power producer, and renewable energy developer African Rainbow Energy, accelerated development of the Red Sands BESS project, set to become the continent’s largest standalone battery facility. The plant is expected to store excess solar power and reduce grid volatility. In parallel, US-based Energy America launched AstroVolt, a next-generation lithium storage platform tailored for African solar developers, adding to the region’s technology mix. With solar uptake rising and grid capacity under strain, battery deployment has become a strategic enabler of Africa’s low-carbon, decentralised energy future.

Other notable stories

LexisNexis introduces AI tool to transform Africa’s legal sector

In June, LexisNexis launched its first generative AI platform, ‘Lexis+’, tailored for African legal professionals, marking a key step in legal tech innovation on the continent. The platform is designed to streamline legal research, document drafting/summarising, and workflow efficiency. Built with safeguards to ensure data privacy and professional accuracy, the tool is positioned to bridge resource gaps and boost productivity across jurisdictions. Its rollout reflects growing interest in AI-driven solutions for Africa’s evolving legal and regulatory landscape.

G20 finance meeting delivers consensus amid tariff headwinds

In mid-July, South Africa hosted the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting, under tense global conditions with trade disputes and debt distress dominating the agenda. Focus areas included reforming multilateral development banks, climate finance, global tax coordination, and safeguarding progress towards the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. US tariff escalation under President Donald Trump did, however, cast a shadow on proceedings, prompting concerns about economic fragmentation. Delegates reached consensus on a final communiqué, the first since October 2024, in backing central bank independence and committing to more flexible lending tools for low- and middle-income countries. South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana warned of long-term damage to development if global policy coordination falters, with South Africa’s asset markets responding positively to the summit’s resolution, reflecting somewhat restored investor confidence. As the US prepares to assume the G20 presidency, calls to return the forum to its core economic mandate gained momentum in parallel. Holistically, the meeting reaffirmed cautious multilateralism in a deeply polarised global economy.

ZiG gains ground as Zimbabwe boosts gold reserves

Zimbabwe’s gold-backed currency, the ZiG, showed signs of stabilisation over the last quarter, buoyed by a surge in gold and forex reserves, to reach record levels of US$731 million. The currency recorded its strongest performance of the year against the dollar, helping the country’s central bank counter investor scepticism. Authorities expanded gold reserves to reinforce the currency and signalled long-term commitment to monetary discipline. While market confidence remains tentative, the ZiG’s upward trend suggests early gains in restoring credibility to Zimbabwe’s monetary system.