African markets and business updates

Our Superfoods Deserve the World | #AGRAPodcast Ep 13

Global oil prices rose for a second consecutive session on Tuesday as persistent concerns over supply disruptions in the Middle East, amid stalled negotiations between the United States and Iran, continued to drive market uncertainty.

With El Niño rains forecast for October to December 2026, the Kenya Defence Forces is strengthening its emergency medical capacity to support national response efforts when local health services come under pressure. Floods do more than damage homes. They block access to clinics, contaminate water, and push families into crowded camps where diseases such as cholera spread quickly. Kenya has already seen the cost this year. Flooding during the March to May long rains affected 27 counties, triggered landslides in Tharaka-Nithi, Elgeyo-Marakwet and Kiambu, and cut communities off from essential services. In May 122 deaths and more than 42,000 people were affected.…

Technical skills alone no longer guarantee success in tech careers in Africa. Now, companies are prioritising business literacy, leadership, and AI-driven strategic thinking over pure coding ability. Across Africa’s tech ecosystem, technical proficiency alone is no longer enough to guarantee career progression or long-term value. Engineers may excel at writing clean code and passing technical assessments, yet they often struggle to translate their output into organisational impact. The traditional engineering assessment has become a flawed metric. For years, tech companies have assumed that raw programming capability directly equates to commercial value. This assumption is proving costly.…

Professional military education has become an important instrument of defence diplomacy, enabling defence forces to exchange strategic perspectives, share operational experience and build relationships that strengthen collective responses to evolving security challenges. On 28 September 2026, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) hosted a 25-member delegation from the Zambia Command and Staff College for a study tour in Nairobi, reinforcing military-to-military cooperation and professional knowledge exchange between Kenya and Zambia. Led by Colonel Charles Chembo, the delegation paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces (VCDF), Lieutenant General John Omenda, at Defence Headquarters.…

African fintech startups have been invited to apply for the inaugural TWIF Changemakers competition, a new annual honour dedicated to recognising the individuals and institutions driving tangible, lasting impact in financial services. The Week in Fintech, an independent news publication covering the people, companies, and ideas shaping the future of fintech, has opened applications for [...] African fintech startups have been invited to apply for the inaugural TWIF Changemakers competition, a new annual honour dedicated to recognising the individuals and institutions driving tangible, lasting impact in financial services.…

On Monday, 28 September 2026, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi attended the inauguration of Egypt Mining Forum 2026. Upon his arrival at the forum venue, the President was received by Prime Minister, Dr. Moustafa Madbouly, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Eng. Karim Badawi. Spokesman for the Presidency Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy said a commemorative photo was taken of the President alongside forum participants, including government representatives, heads of international organizations, and major foreign companies operating in the mining sector.…

The President made the call today during a meeting with a Japanese delegation led by Ambassador Takahashi Misako, Director General and Assistant Minister for the African Affairs Department at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at State House, Entebbe. The discussions focused on strengthening Uganda-Japan bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, energy, investment, education, health, youth development and other areas of mutual interest. President Museveni commended Japan for its support to Uganda’s infrastructure development, citing projects such as the Kampala Flyover and Karuma Bridge. “Thank you for the support like the flyover and Karuma Bridge,” President Museveni said.…

For the Igbos, the festival is more than a celebration of the first harvest of the year. It is a cultural homecoming, a moment when people reconnect with their roots, honour their heritage and give thanks for the blessings of the farming season.

The Bank of Central African States (BEAC) kept its main policy rate unchanged at 4.5% on September 28, while cutting its 2026 growth forecast for the CEMAC region to 3%. The rate decision came at the Monetary Policy Committee's third ordinary session of the year in Yaounde, chaired by Governor Yvon Sana Bangui. The committee also maintained the marginal lending facility rate at 5.75% and the deposit facility rate at 0%. Compulsory reserve ratios remained at 6.5% for sight liabilities and 4% for term liabilities.…