Semafor Africa

Managing Editor, Semafor Africa People leave the Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria, Sept. 30, 2026 Marvellous Durowaiye/Reuters Nigeria’s Federal High Court invalidating the election candidacy of President Bola Tinubu’s leading challenger was unexpected — but not entirely surp

The cheap plastic drape saving mothers’ lives in Nigeria An 80 cent “maternal drape” is saving women’s lives in Kano, Nigeria — the country where more women die in childbirth than anywhere else in the world. The drape measures blood loss during childbirth; once the level passes 3

Gabon outlines $2B mining project with Emirati and Chinese companies Gabon is planning a $2 billion project with Emirati and Chinese companies to mine and process rare earth elements and niobium, a metal used to strengthen steel, in a move aimed at exploiting the country’s undeve

South Africa’s Shoprite plans banking move with Investec Africa’s biggest grocer Shoprite plans to team up with upmarket lender Investec to offer customers a debit card and expanded financial services, as competition in South Africa’s banking sector heats up. Under the proposed t

Africa returns to global debt market but prices stay high African sovereigns are flooding back into global debt markets, accepting some of the world’s highest borrowing costs and adding to the debate about how investors price risk just as the continent’s new credit agency begins

South African voters punish ANC with worst ever result The African National Congress suffered its worst ever result in local elections, potentially shifting the balance of power in South Africa’s coalition government. The ANC, which led the country out of apartheid, won 31% of th

Exclusive / US DR Congo relations on track despite midterms defeat Managing Editor, Semafor Africa DR Congo’s strategic partnership with Washington is unlikely to be affected by the heavy defeat suffered by President Donald Trump’s party in the US midterms, its communications min

Nigerian high court voids opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar A Nigerian high court invalidated the candidacy of the leading challenger to President Bola Tinubu, creating uncertainty with just 10 weeks to go until voters have their say in Africa’s biggest democratic exercise. The

Southern Africa Correspondent A voter marks their ballot at a voting station in Khayelitsha informal settlement during local government elections in Cape Town, South Africa South African President Cyril Ramaphosa acquired some useful new friends in Washington this week. Unfortuna

A banner for OPay, hangs at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to celebrate the company’s IPO in New York City, US, Oct. 30, 2026 Bankers and advisers were “shocked” when OPay abruptly pulled its $304 million US IPO just hours after pricing on Oct. 30, after a Chinese regulatory