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Semafor africa

Why the world is ready for African stories

Editi Effiong is the founder of digital marketing company Anakle. The Black Book, which he co-wrote, marks his debut as a movie director. The movie has been an early global hit on Netflix.
Anakle Films

Top executives resign at South Africa’s state logistics company

Two top executives have resigned from South Africa’s state-owned ports and rail company amid a deepening crisis that is proving to be a drag on Africa’s most industrialized economy
Rajesh Jantilal/AFP via Getty Images

Kenya’s U.S.-backed plan to send forces to Haiti is fraught with political risks

A $100 million U.S.-backed plan for Kenya to lead a multinational security force to help Haiti restore order in the face of mounting gang violence is attracting growing criticism.
Reuters/Ralph Tedy Erol

South Africa’s struggling state logistics company is strangling the economy

Deep-rooted problems in South Africa’s state-owned ports and rail company threaten to plunge Africa’s most industrialized economy into a crisis.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

What it means to be Coloured in South Africa

Coloured is part memoir, part factual narrative exploring the difficult history and culture of communities in South Africa who have historically been classified as Coloured.
Jonathan Ball Publishers/Semafor collage

Africa’s calls for a global finance revolution to drive climate investment

The global financial system must be overhauled for African countries to address climate challenges, the continent’s leaders have said.
Reuters/Caitlin Ochs

US Treasury’s overtures to Nigeria teases era of renewed global relevance

U.S. deputy treasury secretary Wally Adeyemo sought to assure Nigerians that President Joe Biden’s primary interest in their country was to be a partner in strengthening its economy.

Africa’s biggest city is nervous about a Chinese-built metro system

A new Lagos train service will need to buck the trend of poor maintenance that has blighted other Chinese-funded mass transit projects in Africa to help solve the city’s transport problems.

Northern Nigeria’s Kannywood film sector says it’s being politically targeted

Kannywood filmmakers are struggling to keep producing movies after the censorship board revoked working licenses of all actors, actresses, directors and producers.

Congo Basin poses the highest risk for Africa’s next coup

Countries in Central Africa’s Congo Basin — led by Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, and Equatorial Guinea — are being watched closely for the possibility of future political upheaval.

Kenya’s President William Ruto marks one year in office

Kenya’s President William Ruto has been in office for exactly one year during which he has faced challenges with the economy and on the international stage.

Safaricom’s bumpy Ethiopia ride has investors worried

Safaricom Ethiopia signed up 5 million customers in 10 months but it soon became clear that its lofty ambitions have exposed managerial, operational, and domestic challenges.

Nigerian court throws tech’s role in election transparency into doubt

A court ruling that it is not mandatory for Nigeria’s electoral commission to transmit voting results electronically has thrown into doubt the future use of technology in Nigeria’s elections.

Taiwan’s ties with Eswatini hold out from China’s Africa push

A visit by Taiwan’s president this week to strengthen ties with Eswatini has highlighted the extent to which Taipei contributes to its counterpart’s economy — much to the ire of pro-democracy campaigners.

Bola Tinubu’s first 100 days as Nigeria president have been action packed

Bola Tinubu’s first 100 days as Nigerian president have been action packed, from removing a popular petrol subsidy to spearheading threats of military action against neighboring Niger’s junta.

When the (pop) music stopped in Gabon

The Bongo family that controlled Gabon for 56 years, until the coup a few days ago, loved music so much that they likely spent millions of the oil-rich country’s dollars on courting international artists.

Africa’s first climate summit opens in Nairobi with plea to focus on opportunities

Kenya’s president opened Africa’s first climate summit with a plea for delegates to identify opportunities that may arise from solving environmental problems rather than focusing on grievances.

Gabon’s opposition is urging the military to hand power back to civilians

Gabon’s main opposition alliance is urging the international community to put pressure on the military junta to hand power back to civilians.