Reporter, Forbes Africa
Freddie Hiney reports for Forbes Africa. This story was originally published by Forbes Africa.
Inaugurated on October 10, Ethiopia’s National Precious Metals Refinery coincides with gold’s rising importance for the nation of nearly 140 million people. According to the National Bank of Ethiopia, gold exports rose from $133.6 million in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023/24 to $1.29 billion in Q4 2024/25. Welcomed as Ethiopia’s first gold refinery, and …
The financial toll of the ongoing global energy crisis is becoming increasingly apparent for Africa’s biggest economy. On Thursday, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) announced its decision to increase the interest rate by 25 basis points to 7%, a week after year-on-year head inflation hiked to 4%, up from 3.1% in March. Offering some …
According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) data, Tanzania is projected to become a $100 billion economy by 2027, nearly double what it was 10 years ago. It’s progression that comes at a time of momentum. The East African nation is expected to grow by 5.9% this year, followed by 6.1% the following year, and 6.3% …
A $750 million loan from the World Bank—aimed at strengthening governance, improving fiscal management, and expanding social protection—marks a positive step for Kenya’s reform agenda. Falling under the Development Policy Operation (DPO), the capital, which is split into a $340 million International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loan and $410 million highly concessional International …
Hailing from Harare, TJ Maguranyanga’s journey towards the National Football League (NFL) in the United States is one of tenacity, hope, and a willingness to charter the unknown. Back home, the 6-foot-4 edge rusher hopes to bridge these two unconnected but, increasingly, parallel worlds. TJ Maguranyanga may have NFL minutes under his belt, featuring in …
The southern African nation is plotting economic diversification as it looks to counteract the challenges in its key industry. Diamonds account for approximately 80% of Botswana’s export revenue and 30% of its GDP, but dropping prices, spurred, in large part, by the rise of lab-grown stones, have exposed the economy’s vulnerability to market shocks. Now, …
As stablecoins become increasingly prevalent, African administrations find themselves walking a tightrope between extraction and beneficiation. A balancing act that requires thoughtful planning, Kenya hopes its recently published Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) regulations will provide the stability it needs to excel in the blockchain era. It’s a move that gives the central bank significant …
Uganda’s rich vegetation and favorable climate make it particularly hospitable for bees, and the benefits these pollinators impart on the surrounding environments are far-reaching. It turns out it’s not just nature that can profit. Not long ago, apiculture was commonly looked at as a “lazy man’s job” for “the poorest of the poor,” Birungi Phionah, …
The scarcity of opportunities in rural areas has directed Africa’s migratory patterns towards urbanization on a major scale. But while cities were designed for the masses, many weren’t built with a colossal population boom in mind. The continent is expected to reach roughly 2.5 billion by 2050, representing around a quarter of the world. …
It’s in your food, your tea, your blood—and possibly even your liver and brain. It’s inside us, and around us, and it’s alarming. Like the rest of the world, Africa too is grappling with the rising threat of microplastics. This persistent, nearly indestructible material could bring environmental ruin, or create financial and economic opportunity. How is the continent dealing with it? In South Africa, another load …
“This is purely private philanthropy, which allows us to act swiftly and make direct investments in local communities.” The constant pursuit of uncharted territories has helped map mythical networks, document new species, and trace the origins of Africa’s mightiest rivers–and Dr Steve Boyes has had a direct impact on this. “We’ve been studying the highest …
Often draped in plastic, Modou Fall, widely known as ‘The Plastic Man’, has made it his life’s purpose to eradicate plastic waste. As the founder of the environmental association, Clean Senegal, Modou Fall travels the country, educating schools, organizing clean-ups, and campaigning against single-use plastics. “We organized an ecological march from Dakar to Saint Louis, …
As Africa’s digital transformation accelerates, green energy is becoming a marker of economic strength. With vast untapped renewable resources, Africa holds a strategic advantage, but high financing costs and fragmented infrastructure threaten to slow its momentum. The rapid rise of artificial intelligence is turning energy into a form of global currency (and influence). As infrastructure …
Revered by some, feared by many, snakes have a complicated history in Africa. their environmental impact is often overlooked, representing only a fragment of ecological studies. This seems to be changing and they are slowly creeping into the spotlight. Across sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA) plains, an unexpected hero slithers in the grass: the puff adder. These reptiles are responsible for some …
With the quadrennial World Cup football tournament set to kick off in June across North America, amid growing uncertainty in the Middle East, will the love of the game be enough to unite fans the world over once again? Football and war are worlds apart. This year, though, an untimely overlap has them closer than ever. The upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 promises to be another rendition of footballing brilliance, but it’s facing the tailwinds of global uncertainty. Will the United States (U.S.)-Isr
The continent’s deep reliance on global supply chains is exposing its agricultural sector to mounting costs, impacting some far harder than others. While the ongoing Middle East conflict will likely be remembered for ravaging oil and energy markets, it should also be noted for rattling the world’s agriculture sector–and the effects may only truly be …
One of the new seven wonders of nature, Table Mountain is increasingly being challenged by alien flora and a warming climate. Restorers are working hard to re-establish its indigenous biodiversity. Few urban backdrops are as iconic as Cape Town’s Table Mountain. It greets you as your flight descends into the Mother City, it caresses the …
Due to the current rerouting of global shipping, South Africa’s coastline has also come into sharper focus, seeing a surge in cargo traffic–and with it, the crucial concern over the proximity of vessels to marine mammals and the rising risk of fatal ‘ship strikes’. When Els Vermeulen, Chief Scientist at the University of Pretoria’s Mammal …
African farmers face a tumultuous future as erratic weather patterns appear imminent. The fragility of food security could once again implode into a regional crisis. This year has welcomed favorable yields across the region, from Malawian maize to South African citrus; however, an incoming super El Niño threatens to derail progress. On Tuesday, the World …
A still morning on day four; the Namibia Fish River Canyon
It’s in your food, your tea, your blood—and possibly even your liver and brain. It’s inside us, and around us, and it’s alarming. Like the rest of the world, Africa too is grappling with the rising threat of microplastics. This persistent, nearly indestructible material could bring environmental ruin, or create financial and economic opportunity. How is the continent dealing with it? In South Africa, another load …
With strategic geography, emerging talent and global partnerships, Africa’s space economy is projected to reach almost $40 billion by 2030, and the continent is claiming its place in the global space race. For the region, space is no longer a frontier far, far away anymore. How the region leverages its budding ecosystem could tip the …
An astronaut in the making, Fama Jallow is living proof that Africans have a future in space. Hailing from The Gambia, a small West African nation nestled within the borders of Senegal, the 28-year-old is an astronaut candidate with Titans Space Industries, training toward a spaceflight qualification by 2029. The mission? To establish a space …
For billions of years, Planet Earth has been perceived as humanity’s only home in the solar system. Now, scientists are working towards a multi-dimensional future. In the world of interplanetary missions, Mars is the number one destination. Traces of waterways and seasonal patterns have it being probed for future human habitation. When compared to the …
Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, entrepreneur and aerospace engineer Wanjiku Kanjumba is articulating Africa’s future in the global space race. It was an innate curiosity that sparked her path to space. “It started when I looked up into the stars [at the age of four]. The first thing going through my mind was: ‘why …
As celestial prowess becomes a source for geopolitical strength, Africa’s capacity in the projected trillion-dollar space sector will influence its global sway. With as much at stake, the African Space Agency (AfSA) was formed. Operational since April 2025, AfSA, headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, was years in the making, beginning in January 2016 when an African …
A shifting employment landscape will require the next (and current) generation of job-seekers to adapt and redefine the confines of traditional practices. The 2025 Future of Jobs Report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) illustrates a reality of opportunities and challenges. It’s estimated that by 2030, around 170 million jobs—translating to 14% of today’s total employment—will be created amid an …
Across Africa, immense educational challenges are narrowing the next generation’s scope of opportunity. However, early signs show that AI is daring to widen it. According to a 2022 United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) article, 87% of children in sub-Saharan Africa could not read and understand a simple text by the age of 10. Furthermore, many …
Picture over 700 horsepower whizzing by, the sound so visceral that, for a split-second, it nullifies the crowd’s roar as Ferraris, McLarens and the rest of the field thread through tight hairpins and high-speed corners. Having previously owned South Africa’s Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit during five Formula 1 weekends, Bob Hartslief has felt this sensory …
The scarcity of opportunities in rural areas has directed Africa’s migratory patterns towards urbanization on a major scale. But while cities were designed for the masses, many weren’t built with a colossal population boom in mind. The continent is expected to reach roughly 2.5 billion by 2050, representing around a quarter of the world. …
Burdened by some of the highest borrowing costs worldwide, the African growth story often comes at a price. The irony is that to ignite development, foreign capital is both an avenue and a barrier, so why look outwards when we can look inwards? The 2026 State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report by the Africa Finance …
A global benchmark for borrowing rates, the United States (U.S.) 10-Year Treasury Note yield reached its highest level since 2002 last week, exceeding 5.2%, and remains above that threshold at the time of writing. It has seemingly sparked an influx of investors seeking refuge in developed markets, drying up reserves elsewhere. “Higher global yields make …
South Africa’s Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is the undisputed capital market leader on the continent. According to a 2026 list by Daba Intelligence, its $1.5 trillion market value is more than the other 16 tracked bourses combined. Overall, the continent’s exchanges collectively amount to $2.03 trillion. Eliminating any notion of complacency, a recent report by …
In April, just as war in the Middle East erupted, the World Bank projected 4.1% growth for sub-Saharan Africa in 2026—a figure now, following the Africa Economic Update report on Tuesday, has been upgraded to 4.3%. A day later, Moody’s sovereign credit rating for sub-Saharan Africa was raised to positive on the back of favorable …
Africa is set to welcome Formula 1 action again, with a 10-year deal bringing the race to Rwanda starting in the early 2030s. It has been over three decades since the motorsport has been hosted on the continent, with Alain Prost beating the late great Ayrton Senna in South Africa in 1993. Formula 1’s decision …
War in the Middle East and Eastern Europe has dented diesel stockpiles worldwide, sending prices to record highs from South Africa to the United Kingdom and the United States (U.S.). In the U.S., diesel inventories dropped to 107.9 million barrels last month, the lowest level ever recorded for this time of year since records began, …
Topline: After much speculation and buzz, Nigerian industrialist and billionaire Aliko Dangote selected Botswana, the landlocked southern African nation, as the dual host for what is expected to be the continent’s largest-ever initial public offering (IPO), expected to open for trading by early December. Key Facts: Botswana’s Moment Having announced the intention for its first …
