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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
Semafor World Economy
Alexis Akwagyiram

Alexis Akwagyiram

Managing Editor, Semafor Africa

Email Alexis@alexisak

Alexis has covered African news and current affairs for more than a decade at the BBC, Reuters and Financial Times. He was a BBC Africa reporter and led a multimedia team as the Reuters bureau chief in Nigeria. Alexis shaped the FT’s pandemic coverage as its health and science editor.

South Africa’s GDP shrank in Q2 2026

The impact of the Iran war ended an 18-month period of growth in Africa’s biggest economy.
The iconic Johannesburg’s Hillbrow Tower is seen as the sun sets, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Esa Alexander/Reuters

Kenya’s government clarifies foreign trader remarks

Kenya’s government sought to reassure foreign traders that they have legal protection to operate in the country.
Burundi nationals stand outside their country’s embassy as they seek travel documents to return to Burundi after Kenyan President William Ruto ordered a crackdown on small-scale traders.
Monicah Mwangi/Reuters

Kenya’s Ruto tells Tata Chemicals to leave

The president accused the company of failing to create jobs and process minerals locally.
Kenyan President William Ruto.
Denis Balibouse/Reuters

IMF agrees $2.2B Senegal loan package

The move is a key step in tackling an economic crisis in the west African country sparked by the discovery of previously unreported debt.
Senegal parliament holds an extraordinary session.
Misper Apawu/Reuters

How kidnapping became an industry in Nigeria

Insecurity has been a pivotal issue in Nigerian elections for decades — underscoring governments’ inability to tackle the issue.
Nigerian police in a truck.
Marvellous Durowaiye/Reuters

AI billionaires could drive African aid surge

AI firms’ record-breaking IPOs could generate a pool of philanthropic wealth potentially worth up to $100 billion a year.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman walks between meetings on Capitol Hill.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

Africa’s data center growth needs power sector overhaul

AI will have a negligible impact on the continent’s economic growth without upgrading infrastructure, warns the IMF.

Ebola health workers say they are yet to be paid

The protests by health workers puts efforts to contain the virus’ spread further at risk.

Ghana gold dispute draws in president’s brother

A legal row involving a company run by a brother of the Ghanaian president threatens to dent investor confidence in the country’s mining sector.

Ethiopia agrees $1B bond restructuring deal

The agreement moves Africa’s second-most populous country closer to resolving its longstanding debt crisis.

Zimbabwe lithium miners seek processing extension

Africa’s top lithium producer has pressed miners operating in the country to process more of the battery ​metal locally.

Kenya’s Ruto says country nearing US mineral deal

Kenya has large, untapped deposits of minerals required to build infrastructure for renewable energy and digital infrastructure.

The distant shocks squeezing African economies

When the US Federal Reserve announces the central bank’s decision on interest rate, the impact will reverberate across African capitals.

How AI is helping fight the latest Ebola outbreak

The technology is already showing its potential value, helping epidemiologists to make data-driven comparisons with previous outbreaks.

Scientists race to develop Ebola vaccines

Two of the four vaccines being developed for the Bundibugyo strain could be ready for clinical trials in two months.

WHO readies $500M to curb Ebola spread

The announcement came as confirmed cases in DR Congo topped 500.

Ghana’s president offers insights on life after USAID

Accra factored an average of $154 million a year from USAID into government budgets, of which nearly half went into “critical areas” of its health system.

Ghanaian president woos investors during UK visit

President John Dramani Mahama’s trip sought to present Ghana as investor-friendly after emerging from its worst economic crisis in decades.