Exclusive: Invictus in finance talks with Southern Africa banks after Zimbabwe gas discovery

Australia stock exchange-traded Invictus Energy is in discussions with banks in Southern Africa on raising equity and debt finance following its gas discovery at the Cabora Bassa project in Zimbabwe, managing director Scott Macmillan tells The Africa Report. He declined to say how much is being sought, adding that he “won’t over-leverage” the company and … Read more

what went wrong and what comes next

The East African Community deployed a regional force for the first time into eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2022. Just over a year later, the troops have started withdrawing amid tension with the host state. We asked Jenna Russo, who has covered the conflict and interventions in the DRC for more than a … Read more

South Africa: Remembering Mandela, without rose-tinted glasses

Two new statues of Nelson Mandela were unveiled by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 18 July in Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape province – the birthplace of the country’s first democratically elected president. “There are already statues of Mandela everywhere – across South Africa, across the continent, in many parts of the world,” Ramaphosa said, citing … Read more

South Africa’s police are losing the war on crime – here’s how they need to rethink their approach

South Africa’s crime statistics for the third quarter of 2023 show that people continue to face a serious problem of violent crime, especially murder and attempted murder. The country’s per capita murder rate for 2022/23 was the highest in 20 years at 45 per 100,000 (a 50% increase compared to 2012/13). In response to this … Read more

Kenya: Fresh govt-parliament stalemate over delayed funds

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u has admitted to members of parliament that President William Ruto’s government is running low on cash to the extent that it is currently struggling to pay salaries of civil servants and fulfil other obligations. Ndung’u, who appeared before the National Assembly Finance Committee on Wednesday, was responding to angry lawmakers … Read more

new book defends the constitution

In 1994, South Africa became a democracy founded on a supreme constitution. The constitution’s preamble affirms the nation’s quest to establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights. The constitution clearly envisioned political accountability and judicial review of executive and legislative actions. But, almost three decades on, this vision is … Read more

Ethiopia talks the talk on telecoms liberalisation but foreign operators not listening

The decision by Orange in November to pull out of the process to buy a stake of up to 45% in Ethio Telecom shows the French telecoms company has the government’s number. There’s more to this story Get unlimited access to our exclusive journalism and features today. Our award-winning team of correspondents and editors report … Read more

new book explores why the west views brutality against Ukrainians and Palestinians differently

In a recently published book Steven Friedman, who has written extensively on the political and social aspects of apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa, explores the racist underpinnings of the west’s responses to Israel’s war in Gaza. This is an extract from the book, Good Jew, Bad Jew. Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani sees a link between … Read more

Kenya: No-one’s backing down on affordable housing levy collection

President William Ruto’s affordable housing project hangs in the balance as a dispute between labour unions and the implementing ministry over the collection of a levy to back the plan escalates. There’s more to this story Get unlimited access to our exclusive journalism and features today. Our award-winning team of correspondents and editors report from … Read more

If Kenya wants to help Haiti, it should push for colonial reparations not send in the police

As the security situation in Haiti deteriorates, Kenya has offered to lead a new sort of UN mission to the country from 2024. In early October, the UN Security Council authorised a Multinational Security Support mission led by Kenya to confront the paramilitary-style gangs that control the capital city of Port-au-Prince and other parts of … Read more