Africa

1. Trump’s Africa picks
2. Sudan army head sanctions
3. Skills gap in South Africa
4. Nigeria inflation rises again
5. Ghana’s cathedral probe

An ancient Ethiopian brew makes a comeback.

Hello! The world’s attention next week will be split between Davos — where government leaders and business executives gather to discuss the future of the global economy — and Washington, DC, for US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

In Davos, Africa watchers will be paying close attention to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who will showcase his country’s G20 presidency this year, while DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi will unveil a major conservation initiative.

The presidents of Botswana and Somalia, the King of Lesotho, as well as Egypt’s prime minister and Nigeria’s vice president will also be in attendance, together with more than 40 ministers from various African countries.

There’s a sense that even with a major disruption to US politics, the day-to-day reality for most of Africa’s interactions with Washington will not change dramatically. “But next week is an opportunity to platform African issues at the highest level, that’s where much of the energy will be,” Chido Munyati, the Africa head of the World Economic Forum, told me.

🟡 I’ll be in Davos all week, moderating a few of Semafor’s can’t-miss events and hopefully meeting some of you. If you’re around, reply to this email and let me know.

We’re also reviving our Davos pop-up newsletter, which will bring you the big ideas, small talk, and inside scoop from the global village. You can subscribe to Semafor Davos here.

Trump’s Africa team takes shape

Former Special Envoy for the Sahel Region J. Peter Pham is expected to become the top Africa official in the new Trump administration, people familiar with the transition told Semafor. They also said retired Lt. Col. Rudolph Atallah, an Africa expert, is set to serve on the White House’s counterterrorism team. Meanwhile, Trump’s former top African affairs official, Tibor Nagy, announced on Thursday he will be returning to the State Department in a temporary role “beyond just Africa.”

Pham is a veteran player in US-Africa policy circles. One person told Semafor it feels like he has been “auditioning for the role for decades.” Even so, some in Trump’s Republican Party have expressed concerns about rumored picks, questioning their alignment with the incoming president’s disruptive agenda. Trump’s Africa-focused officials will face challenges including the brutal civil war in Sudan, countering Russian and Chinese influence, and strengthening economic ties with the continent.

— Mathias Hammer and Yinka Adegoke

US sanctions Sudan army chief

The US imposed sanctions on the head of Sudan’s armed forces and reportedly believes the military has used chemical weapons in the country’s two-year civil war. Washington’s announcement — a week after similar penalties against the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces — points to its belief that “neither man is fit to govern a future, peaceful Sudan,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. The sanctions, combined with the chemical weapons assessment reported by The New York Times, point to the brutality of the war, which is by many measures the world’s worst humanitarian disaster, with tens of thousands dead and more than 10 million displaced, alongside a widening famine.

South Africa’s skills gap concerns

More than 60% of businesses in South Africa identified skills gaps as a key obstacle to their future operations, a report found. Around a third plan to remove degree requirements to expand their talent pool, according to the World Economic Forum’s latest Future of Jobs report. Companies also anticipate rising demand for roles such as robotics engineers and machine-learning specialists, driven by the growth of artificial intelligence. Unlike in the US, where an increasing number of firms are ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs before vocal critic President-elect Donald Trump takes office, many South African employers expect to focus on diversity. The report found that 55% of firms plan to target individuals from disadvantaged religious, ethnic, or racial backgrounds, compared to 27% globally.

Inflation rises again in Nigeria

Nigeria’s inflation rate rose for a fourth straight month in December to 34.8%. The government’s statistics bureau put the uptick down to “increases in demand for goods and services” over the festive period. Inflation has soared since President Bola Tinubu cut fuel subsidies and devalued the naira after taking office in 2023. Rates cooled briefly in the middle of the year due to higher corn yields. Government policies that led to increased petrol prices drove up food and transportation costs for most of 2024. Food inflation at the end of the past year was at nearly 40%, compared to less than 34% in 2023, the statistics bureau said.

Ghana to probe costly cathedral

The cost of a controversial project to build a national cathedral in Ghana. President John Mahama, who took office last week, said his government would investigate the project that was commissioned by his predecessor. Former President Nana Akufo-Addo vowed to build the cathedral after crediting God for his 2016 election victory. Construction at the site in Accra stalled three years ago. It was proposed as a privately funded initiative but has reportedly cost Ghanaian taxpayers $58 million. Ghana is grappling with its worst economic crisis in decades, pushing up the cost of living. Akufo-Addo’s critics said the cathedral project was emblematic of his administration’s economic mismanagement and it was widely seen as having contributed to his party’s poor performance in December’s election.

Moving beyond identifying barriers to achieving practical, scalable interventions — The Next 3 Billion at Davos will discuss emphasizing collaboration between public and private sectors to mobilize resources and technology for global good.

Semafor’s Yinka Adegoke will moderate a conversation with Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO of Naspers South Africa, and Simi Nwogugu, CEO, Junior Achievement Africa to discuss digital upskilling and inclusion.

Jan. 23, 2025 | Davos, Switzerland | Request Invitation

Business & Macro

🇰🇪 Kenya is exploring a partnership with the United Arab Emirates to extend a standard gauge railway line to connect the country to Uganda and South Sudan.

Geopolitics & Policy

🇦🇴 Angola and France are set to sign a package of nearly 430 million euros ($443 million) in “contracts and investments” during the Angolan president’s ongoing state visit to Paris.

Deals

🇰🇪 Private equity firms Amethis and Metier are looking to sell their stakes in Kenafric, a confectioneries company in Kenya valued at more than $100 million.

🇰🇪 Africa-focused investment firm Novastar Ventures invested $3.5 million in the Nairobi and London-based biogas technology company Sistema.bio.

Tech

🇳🇬 Nigeria’s naira is one of eight new currencies in which Amazon will now accept payments for its AWS cloud storage service.

🇿🇦 Amazon opened a walk-in center in South Africa as part of its strategy to make it easier for sellers to sign up on its website and draw business away from its main local competitor Takealot.

An ancient Ethiopian brew is making an unexpected comeback among young people. Tella, an alcoholic drink made from fermented barley, is typically associated with older generations and the countryside. But the beverage is becoming increasingly popular with urban youth, according to The Reporter Ethiopia. Rising beer prices have turned some university students toward the traditional drink. “At first, I didn’t like the taste,” one told the newspaper, but a bar serving tella in one of Addis Ababa’s busiest districts has become a regular hangout. “It connects us to a tradition our parents once enjoyed.” The shift is also part of a bigger trend: A growing appreciation for locally-made products. “Beer is everywhere, but tella is something special,” another fan said.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang energized the Consumer Electronics Show with the announcement of a new gaming GPU and his revealing comments about robotics, Semafor’s Reed Albergotti reported. “I think 2025 is going to mark an inflection point for robotics, perhaps not in the form of consumer products, but in breakthroughs that will lead to some mind-blowing advances down the road,” Albergotti wrote.

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— Alexis Akwagyiram, Preeti Jha, Alexander Onukwue, and Yinka Adegoke.