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Southern Africa and islands

Madagascar
Tana awaits $75m from the World Bank for aviation sector

The World Bank will vote in May on a $75m subsidy to boost civil aviation in Madagascar.

Subscribers only Finance 03.03.2025

Spotlight | Mozambique
TotalEnergies stands down Mozambique LNG's subcontractors

The TotalEnergies gas complex in Afungi, Cabo Delgado, September 2021. © Simon Wohlfahrt/AFP

Subscribers only Energy 28.02.2025

Madagascar
Launch of Antananarivo cable car postponed again

More than a year after the call for tenders, President Rajoelina has still not chosen the consortium to run the capital's cable car transport, but a resolution may be in sight.

Subscribers only Infrastructure 27.02.2025

Sand dunes in the KwaZulu-Natal province, near Richards Bay, South Africa. © Antoine Lorgnier/Biosphoto via AFP

South Africa
Rio Tinto ready to relaunch Richards Bay Minerals

After tensions with locals living near its South African mineral sands deposit on the shores of the Indian Ocean, the Anglo-Australian mining giant is this year set to finally go ahead with plans to expand its Zulti South concession.

Subscribers only Mining 26.02.2025

Vanilla beans drying in Bemalamatra, north Madagascar, in 2016. © Rijasolo/AFP

Spotlight | Madagascar
Antananarivo prepares to cut number of vanilla exporters

Madagascar's trade minister wants to radically reduce the number of vanilla exporters in a bid to rationalise the key sector. The potential move is troubling the industry, particularly US clients, who buy 70% of the country's vanilla.

Subscribers only Commodity traders 26.02.2025

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari (in blue), Aliko Dangote (on his right) and Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé (on his left) in Lagos, 22 May 2023. © Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP

South Africa
Inspired by Nigeria's Dangote, Pretoria dreams of its own mega refinery

South Africa is considering building a new oil refinery to reduce its dependence on fuel imports, yet the colossal cost may make it an unlikely option.

Subscribers only Energy 25.02.2025

Malawi
Chakwera prioritises mining projects in run-up to presidential poll

The Malawian president, who is standing for re-election against two of his predecessors, is hoping to tap into the nascent mining boom being spearheaded by Australian firms.

Subscribers only Mining, Politics 24.02.2025

Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 2024 Summit, Beijing, 5 September 2024.

Madagascar
Base Toliara seeks tax benefits and stability guarantees

Work on the $770m project will begin in 2026, but in the meantime the mining company is seeking special status under the Law on Large Mining Investments, which it considers more favourable to investors.

Subscribers only Mining 21.02.2025

South Africa
Gunvor in race to buy Shell's South African petrol stations

Rothschild & Co bank is about to announce the candidates shortlisted for the purchase of Shell's 600 petrol stations in South Africa. The commodity trading giant Gunvor has joined forces with Sipho Maseko's company to make a bid.

Subscribers only Energy, Commodity traders 20.02.2025

A petrol station in Soweto, South Africa, on 11 March 2009.

South Africa
Mantashe's empty promises about new mining cadastre

Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe’s officials believe they will not be able to meet the June 2025 deadline for South Africa's new online mining cadastre to come into service, despite the minister's claims that it will be ready on time.

Subscribers only Mining 19.02.2025

Madagascar
Coup plotter Paul Rafanoharana's partner evacuated for medical treatment

Voahangy Andrianandrianina, imprisoned in connection with the ‘Apollo 21’ affair, has left Tsiafahy prison for treatment on Reunion Island.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 18.02.2025

Madagascar
Rajoelina gears up to bury hatchet with SADC

For the first time in August, Antananarivo will be taking on the rotating presidency of SADC for the next year. An opportunity to turn the page on the conflictual relationship between Andry Rajoelina and the regional organisation.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 17.02.2025

South Africa
How TV giant Canal+ aims to reorganise MultiChoice with South African partners

To obtain the government's approval for its takeover of MultiChoice, the French media giant plans to create, with Sonja De Bruyn Sebotsa and Sipho Maseko, a new South African consortium to which it will hand over its local television licence.

Subscribers only Business 17.02.2025

Southern Africa
SADC's late call to unite behind Madagascar's AU Commission candidate

The Southern Africa Development Community has come out in support of the Madagascan Richard Randriamandrato for the position of chairperson.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 14.02.2025

Spotlight | South Africa
Ramaphosa's plan to defuse tensions with Trump

Pretoria has launched a damage control operation amid a salvo of attacks from the new US president, one that involves all available diplomatic and commercial tools.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 13.02.2025

US President Donald Trump and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa.

Angola, Comoros islands
Moroni and Luanda lay foundations for cooperation

Presidents Azali Assoumani and João Lourenço want to deepen the collaboration between their countries. They have instructed their heads of diplomacy to sign an agreement to this effect ahead of the African Union summit of heads of state in mid-February.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 13.02.2025

South Africa
Transnet seeks financing from Rio Tinto and Anglo American

South Africa's state-owned logistics group, in the absence of fresh public funding, is seeking help from its major mining customers exporting from Richards Bay and Saldanha. It wants them to finance the upgrading of its railways and port terminals in exchange for slashing their bills.

Subscribers only Infrastructure, Mining 12.02.2025

Transnet Port Terminal at Richards Bay, South Africa.

Madagascar
Belgian businessman jailed over land dispute

David Verly was placed under arrest on 9 January and will be tried in Antananarivo on 17 March in connection with a dispute over land on the island of Nosy Be.

Subscribers only Business 11.02.2025

South Africa
Unlikely ANC-DA united front forms after Trump threat over land expropriation law

The Democratic Alliance party was fiercely opposed to the African National Congress's land expropriation act. But its rhetoric changed radically after President Donald Trump threatened to suspend US aid to South Africa over the new law.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 10.02.2025

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen in Cape Town, on 18 July 2024.

Botswana
Botswana Democratic Party takes government to task over new De Beers deal

The diamond giant, which has signed a partnership agreement with the new Botswanan government, has been accused by the former ruling party of dodging its tax obligations.

Subscribers only Mining, Politics 10.02.2025

Minister of Mineral and Energy Bogolo Kenewendo with De Beers CEO Al Cook in Cape Town, South Africa, 3 February 2025.

The weekly summary

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Senegal
Paris and Dakar mull defence relations

Morocco
US-China trade war threatens Morocco's nascent battery industry

Southern Africa and islands

Madagascar
Tana awaits $75m from the World Bank for aviation sector

Spotlight | Mozambique
TotalEnergies stands down Mozambique LNG's subcontractors

Madagascar
Launch of Antananarivo cable car postponed again

South Africa
Rio Tinto ready to relaunch Richards Bay Minerals

Spotlight | Madagascar
Antananarivo prepares to cut number of vanilla exporters

South Africa
Inspired by Nigeria's Dangote, Pretoria dreams of its own mega refinery

Malawi
Chakwera prioritises mining projects in run-up to presidential poll

Madagascar
Base Toliara seeks tax benefits and stability guarantees

South Africa
Gunvor in race to buy Shell's South African petrol stations

South Africa
Mantashe's empty promises about new mining cadastre

Madagascar
Coup plotter Paul Rafanoharana's partner evacuated for medical treatment

Madagascar
Rajoelina gears up to bury hatchet with SADC

South Africa
How TV giant Canal+ aims to reorganise MultiChoice with South African partners

Southern Africa
SADC's late call to unite behind Madagascar's AU Commission candidate

Spotlight | South Africa
Ramaphosa's plan to defuse tensions with Trump

Angola, Comoros islands
Moroni and Luanda lay foundations for cooperation

South Africa
Transnet seeks financing from Rio Tinto and Anglo American

Madagascar
Belgian businessman jailed over land dispute

South Africa
Unlikely ANC-DA united front forms after Trump threat over land expropriation law

Botswana
Botswana Democratic Party takes government to task over new De Beers deal

The weekly summary

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

Senegal Paris and Dakar mull defence relations

Morocco US-China trade war threatens Morocco's nascent battery industry

West African cocoa cartel battles with the traders

Makhzen Inc. or the ever more prosperous business empire of Mohammed VI's entourage

Cabo Delgado: a gas Eldorado and security nightmare

Southern Africa and islands

Madagascar Tana awaits $75m from the World Bank for aviation sector

Spotlight | Mozambique TotalEnergies stands down Mozambique LNG's subcontractors

Madagascar Launch of Antananarivo cable car postponed again

South Africa Rio Tinto ready to relaunch Richards Bay Minerals

Spotlight | Madagascar Antananarivo prepares to cut number of vanilla exporters

South Africa Inspired by Nigeria's Dangote, Pretoria dreams of its own mega refinery

Malawi Chakwera prioritises mining projects in run-up to presidential poll

Madagascar Base Toliara seeks tax benefits and stability guarantees

South Africa Gunvor in race to buy Shell's South African petrol stations

South Africa Mantashe's empty promises about new mining cadastre

Madagascar Coup plotter Paul Rafanoharana's partner evacuated for medical treatment

Madagascar Rajoelina gears up to bury hatchet with SADC

South Africa How TV giant Canal+ aims to reorganise MultiChoice with South African partners

Southern Africa SADC's late call to unite behind Madagascar's AU Commission candidate

Spotlight | South Africa Ramaphosa's plan to defuse tensions with Trump

Angola, Comoros islands Moroni and Luanda lay foundations for cooperation

South Africa Transnet seeks financing from Rio Tinto and Anglo American

Madagascar Belgian businessman jailed over land dispute

South Africa Unlikely ANC-DA united front forms after Trump threat over land expropriation law

Botswana Botswana Democratic Party takes government to task over new De Beers deal

The weekly summary

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Senegal
Paris and Dakar mull defence relations

Morocco
US-China trade war threatens Morocco's nascent battery industry

Madagascar
Tana awaits $75m from the World Bank for aviation sector

Spotlight | Mozambique
TotalEnergies stands down Mozambique LNG's subcontractors

Madagascar
Launch of Antananarivo cable car postponed again

South Africa
Rio Tinto ready to relaunch Richards Bay Minerals

Spotlight | Madagascar
Antananarivo prepares to cut number of vanilla exporters

South Africa
Inspired by Nigeria's Dangote, Pretoria dreams of its own mega refinery

Malawi
Chakwera prioritises mining projects in run-up to presidential poll

Madagascar
Base Toliara seeks tax benefits and stability guarantees

South Africa
Gunvor in race to buy Shell's South African petrol stations

South Africa
Mantashe's empty promises about new mining cadastre

Madagascar
Coup plotter Paul Rafanoharana's partner evacuated for medical treatment

Madagascar
Rajoelina gears up to bury hatchet with SADC

South Africa
How TV giant Canal+ aims to reorganise MultiChoice with South African partners

Southern Africa
SADC's late call to unite behind Madagascar's AU Commission candidate

Spotlight | South Africa
Ramaphosa's plan to defuse tensions with Trump

Angola, Comoros islands
Moroni and Luanda lay foundations for cooperation

South Africa
Transnet seeks financing from Rio Tinto and Anglo American

Madagascar
Belgian businessman jailed over land dispute

South Africa
Unlikely ANC-DA united front forms after Trump threat over land expropriation law

Botswana
Botswana Democratic Party takes government to task over new De Beers deal