African markets and business updates

Col. Solomon Seium, head of follow-up of national federations and the Olympic and Paralympic committees at the Commission of Culture and Sports, announced that Asmara Marathon 2026 will be held on 7 June on the streets of Asmara. Col. Solomon said that the Asmara Marathon will be held for the seventh time and that athletes from five countries, namely Eritrea, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Uganda, are expected to take part. Indicating that a 21 km race for female athletes will be organized for the first time…

“Peace doesn’t happen by chance. It is a shared responsibility.” This is the simple but powerful message on the importance of investing in peace issued by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. Speaking at an official commemorative ceremony in Juba, Anita Kiki Gbeho, stressed the immense harm caused by persistent conflict in South Sudan…

The World Health Organization (WHO) actively participated in the 2nd Summit on Health Care Integration in the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), held from 13 to 15 May 2026, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a meeting that brought together policymakers, experts and partners to promote the integration of healthcare in CPLP countries. The focus of this Summit was the sharing of experiences, evidence and best practices to address the current challenges facing health systems…

Merck Foundation ( www.Merck-Foundation.com ), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany officially launched their programs in partnership with H.E. Madam ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, The First Lady of Gabonese Republic, also the Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, the programs which started in 2024 with the aim to transform patient care, build healthcare capacity, break the stigma of infertility, empower women, support girl education in Gabon and the rest of Africa.…

The region's favourite meal may also be its clearest route towards sovereignty, jobs, and regional growth.

Crude Oil: Power, Turnaround and Transformation in Angola – the latest work from NJ Ayuk, widely recognized as Chairman of the African Energy Chamber ( www.EnergyChamber.com ) and one of the most influential voices on African energy policy, investment and industrial development – has emerged as a Top 3 Amazon New Release following its launch on May 20, 2026. The book offers a rigorous and deeply researched examination of Angola’s energy landscape, tracing its evolution through cycles of reform…

The African Energy chamber (AEC) ( ) held high-level meetings in Brazzaville on May 18 with the Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and the Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), reinforcing a renewed push to accelerate investment, expand LNG infrastructure and strengthen local operational capacity. Discussions centered on positioning Congo as a premier regional gas hub while transforming SNPC into a more active upstream operator with broader international ambitions. Against this backdrop…

His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, has on Friday, 29 May 2026, arrived in the Capital of India, New Delhi, on a Working Visit. The Working Visit is scheduled for 29 May to 03 June 2026. South Africa and India have a longstanding relationship grounded in shared history, cultural relations, and a mutual vision rooted in non-alignment, aiming to advance the Global South through South-South partnerships.…

Yesterday, the President of the Republic, alongside the Minister for Transport, Ms Veronique Laporte, and the Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mrs Amanda Bernstein, undertook an official visit to Coetivy Island to tour important development sites and ongoing projects contributing to the island’s economic activities and future development. Also present during the visit were the Chief Executive Officer of the Islands Development Company (IDC), Mr Christian Lionnet…

Mental health experts, policymakers, civil society organizations and partners from more than twenty African countries, meeting for the first-ever mental health intercountry meeting, have called for stronger, coordinated action to close critical gaps in mental health services in the region. Organized by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, with support from the Wellcome Trust…