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issue 627 | 01 Feb 2026

World

Artificial Intelligence in the workplace in 2026: Legal risk management, accountability and the emerging risk chain

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a peripheral workplace tool. In 2026, it is expected to be embedded across core business operations, employee workflows and organisational decision making. This shift is reflected in recent analysis published by the IBM Institute for Business Value, which identifies artificial intelligence as a defining force shaping how organisations operate, manage talent and compete over the coming years. IBM’s analysis focuses on the strategic and operational consequences of this acceleration, including increased AI adoption across the workforce, changing employee expectations and growing pressure on organisations to demonstrate trust and accountability in the use of AI. What is often discussed less explicitly, however, are the legal consequences of these trends, and the risk management associated thereto. As AI becomes embedded in the workplace, organisations face a widening set of legal risks that extend beyond traditional compliance concerns and require a more structured and forward looking approach to reputation management, privacy, accountability, intellectual property and risk management. 

Source: ENS

Africa

AfDB-AFD meeting aligns partners on energy, jobs and agriculture as cofinancing nears EUR2.4-billion

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) have held discussions on scaling up joint investment and aligning more closely on Africa’s development priorities. Senior leaders of the two institutions met in Abidjan on 23 January to sharpen a shared focus on high impact sectors – energy, including under the Mission 300 initiative; jobs and skills; entrepreneurship; water; and agriculture – while committing to accelerate delivery under a cofinancing partnership that has mobilised nearly EUR2.4-billion. The discussions at the Bank Group’s headquarters are expected to feed directly into expected negotiations on a new partnership agreement. AfDB Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Nnenna Nwabufo noted in her remarks that the partnership had entered a decisive phase as the current 2021–2026 partnership agreement nears its end. Nwabufo and AFD Executive Director for Mobilisation, Partnerships and Communication, Adama Mariko also agreed to accelerate project implementation. We have a strong pipeline of opportunities before us, Nwabufo said. “By sharpening our focus on a few high‑impact sectors and moving faster from pipeline to implementation, we can significantly scale up our joint impact for the people of Africa.”

Source: AfDB

Africa

Data Privacy Day – An African perspective: Turning responsibility into competitive advantage

Every day, organisations across Africa collect, process and store vast quantities of personal information. From mobile money platforms to e-commerce sites, from healthcare providers to financial institutions, personal information flows continuously through corporate systems, third-party processors and across borders. As we mark Data Privacy Day (28 January), it is an opportune moment for African businesses to pause and ask a fundamental question: what do you do with the data entrusted to you? This article discusses the value and responsibility of holding personal information, the African data privacy landscape, building a compliant data protection framework, and navigating AI and emerging technologies, among others.

Source: ENS

Africa

How Middle East hubs are powering India-Africa trade flows

India-Africa trade is expanding, but the real transformation is taking place in how cargo moves between the two regions. While political engagement and trade ambition are strong, logistics realities continue to shape the corridor. Limited direct connectivity, uneven infrastructure and capacity gaps have pushed trade flows towards a hub-based model, with the Middle East emerging as the most critical bridge. Today, ports and airports in Dubai, Doha, Jeddah and Salalah are no longer just transit points. They have become essential logistics hubs that allow Indian cargo to reach African markets more efficiently. This shift is redefining how India and Africa trade with each other. Industry studies by the Confederation of Indian Industry and multilateral institutions such as the World Bank point to strong medium-term potential for India-Africa trade. Both sides see growing opportunities in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, machinery, food products and manufactured goods. Governments and private players are actively seeking to deepen these ties. However, logistics infrastructure has not kept pace with trade ambition. Direct shipping and air cargo links between India and Africa remain limited, particularly to West and Central Africa. This gap has forced exporters, airlines and freight forwarders to rely on third-country hubs to move goods reliably. 

Source: Logistics Update Africa

East / Southern Africa

Why EAC trades more with SADC than with itself

East African Community (EAC) partner states traded more with external markets than among themselves last year, underscoring the continued drag from non-tariff barriers and limited diversification of goods and services. A new report shows that EAC members traded more with countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) than within the bloc. Intra-EAC trade slipped from 12.7% in the third quarter of 2024 to 12.0% in the three months to September 2025. The data, contained in the latest EAC Quarterly Statistics Bulletin, shows that member states increased exports to SADC countries and the rest of the world. The shift coincided with renewed disputes over non-tariff barriers, including the blocking of goods, congestion along transport corridors and security incidents that forced temporary border closures. EAC partner states – Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia – exported more merchandise to the rest of Africa and China during the period. The region also imported more from China, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Hong Kong and Singapore, which together absorbed 58% of EAC exports, up from 42.7% a year earlier. 

Source: The EastAfrican

Angola

Afreximbank bolsters Angola’s energy sector with a USD1.75-billion facility for Sonangol

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), working with other mandated lead arrangers, has successfully closed a USD1.75-billion syndicated receivables purchase facility for Sonangol, Angola’s national oil company. The strategic financing will support Sonangol’s projected operating and capital expenditure requirements, while advancing Afreximbank’s mandate to promote African-led financing models that support growth, industrialisation, economic self-reliance, and sovereignty. Afreximbank played a catalytic, balance-sheet-led role in the financing, structuring, and syndication of the facility, which is designed to provide sustainable funding to the Angolan oil and gas sector while ensuring strong repayment assurance for lenders. In line with the Bank’s strategy of supporting African business champions in strategic sectors, Afreximbank helped design an innovative, de-risked structure that mitigates oil price volatility and allows for flexible security arrangements. The USD1.75-billion facility is expected to enable Sonangol to meet its operating and capital needs by strengthening export-linked trade structures, supporting Afreximbank’s objective of increasing Africa’s share of global trade and reinforcing the export of strategic commodities.

Source: Afreximbank

Angola

Examining Angola’s pragmatic path to energy security and low-carbon growth

As global energy debates continue to pit hydrocarbons against decarbonisation, Angola is charting a pragmatic middle path. The country is accelerating hydrocarbon development to meet domestic and regional petroleum demand while deploying innovative technologies and cleaner fuels to reduce emissions. By pairing oil-led growth with low-carbon solutions such as non-associated gas, Angola is demonstrating that energy security and climate responsibility work hand-in-hand – offering a blueprint for emerging producers across Africa navigating the energy transition on their own terms. Accounting for 90% of export earnings and 60% of government revenue, oil forms the backbone of Angola’s economy – and a centerpiece of its national energy strategy. The country has outlined clear production goals: sustain output above 1-million barrels per day in the short- to medium-term, backed by a multi-year licensing strategy as well as a Permanent Offer Regime. As a result, operators are expanding their investments, with a USD70-billion investment pipeline over the next five years set to support production growth in the long-term.

Source: Energy Capital & Power

Burkina Faso / Russia

Burkina Faso makes a decisive legal move as nuclear deal with Russia accelerates

Driven by its aspiration to establish nuclear programmes in collaboration with partners such as Russia, Burkina Faso has formally acceded to the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (VCLND). The accession to the convention was unanimously authorised by the Transitional Legislative Assembly on 27 January. This decision follows Burkina Faso's initiation of a medium-term nuclear power programme, as reported by Sputnik. The nation is collaborating with Russia on the construction of a nuclear power facility. In June 2025, Burkina Faso formally signed the final administrative document of a landmark intergovernmental nuclear agreement with Russia, thereby advancing its pursuit of nuclear energy. The VCLND is a key international treaty designed to ensure that adequate compensation is available for damage resulting from a nuclear incident, setting forth a strict liability regime where the operator of a nuclear installation is exclusively liable, irrespective of fault. By joining the Convention, Burkina Faso signals to the international community its readiness to adopt a globally recognised system for managing the potential risks associated with nuclear activities.

Source: Business Insider Africa

Ghana

Digital trade boom threatens Ghana’s manufacturing base – AfCFTA consultant

Mr Louis Yaw Afful, an International Trade Consultant, has expressed concern that the rapid expansion of digital and e‑commerce trade in Ghana poses a growing threat to the country’s manufacturing sector and Africa’s export competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Mr Afful, who is also an AfCFTA and Investment Promotion Consultant, noted that although digital platforms have widened market access, about 70% of products traded online in Ghana are imported from outside Africa, particularly from Asia. Speaking at a Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority media forum on the topic “Investment Outlook in Ghana under AfCFTA”, he explained that the influx of cheap foreign goods through digital channels is edging out domestically produced items, including products for which Ghana has adequate raw materials. He cautioned that a weakened local manufacturing base would undermine Ghana’s capacity to export competitively under AfCFTA and could destabilise foreign exchange earnings. Mr Afful therefore called for stronger import‑substitution measures, effective enforcement of digital taxation, and deliberate support for domestic producers to safeguard Ghana’s industrial foundation. 

Source: Ghana Business News

Kenya / India

Kenya, India to negotiate trade deal

Kenya and India are set to negotiate a new trade deal as Nairobi seeks to continue elevating ties with its largest business partners worldwide. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, also the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary, said the two sides will begin talks on a trade agreement aimed at enhancing business ties and improving commerce. He spoke at the residence of the Indian High Commissioner in Nairobi during the 77th celebrations of the Republic Day, commemorating the day when India gained its independence constitution. “We are pleased that both countries will commence negotiations on a trade agreement that will enhance market access and unlock greater investment flows,” Mudavadi said. “Bilateral trade has shown strong and consistent growth, indicating that there is immense potential for deepening the Kenya-India trade to reach a mutually favourable trade balance. India is among Kenya’s biggest trading partners. Others include China, the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU), Uganda, Pakistan and the United States. According to available statistics, trade volumes between India and Kenya reached USD3.351-billion in 2024, with Kenya importing goods worth USD3.175-billion and exporting USD176.34-million, signalling an imbalance. Mudavadi [did not] provide timelines for negotiations. But he suggested Kenya’s continued plan to elevate trade with its key partners. Kenya already negotiated deals with the EU and UK.

Source: The EastAfrican

Liberia

IMF staff reaches staff-level agreement on the third review of the ECF arrangement and a request for RSF arrangement

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Daehaeng Kim, visited Monrovia from 7 to 20 January to conduct discussions for the third review of Liberia’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The ECF was approved by the IMF Executive Board on 25 September 2024, with total access of SDR155-million (about USD210-million) over a 40-month period. The mission also discussed a new climate-focused programme under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), with total access of SDR193.8-million (about USD265-million) for the period through end-2027. Consideration by the IMF Executive Board is tentatively scheduled for early March 2026. At the conclusion of the discussions, Mr Kim issued the following statement, in part: “IMF staff and Liberia authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on the economic and financial policies needed to complete the third review of the ECF-supported programme. A staff-level agreement was also reached on the request for an arrangement under the [RSF], which aims to help Liberia address its long-term vulnerabilities to climate-related shocks and strengthen its pandemic preparedness.”

Source: IMF

Mozambique

Mozambique estimates USD644-million in flood-damaged infrastructure

Mozambique recently assessed the infrastructure destroyed and affected by the floods at USD644-million, with the government presenting a resilient reconstruction plan. “The Council of Ministers reviewed the strategic guidelines of the reconstruction plan for the destroyed infrastructure, preliminarily estimated at around USD644-million, whose main objective is to ensure a resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery of the socio-economic situation and the adoption of integrated and coordinated strategies for stabilisation and reconstruction in the post-flood period,” said the spokesperson for the Council of Ministers, Inocêncio Impissa. When evaluating the post-flood reconstruction plan, the government stated that this instrument – reviewed during a Council of Ministers session held in Xai-Xai, Gaza province, the most affected by the floods – will translate into a political decision to institute a new orientation in which climate risk management, prevention, preparedness and resilient reconstruction of infrastructure are integrated transversally into the country’s governance and development model. “The Government of Mozambique acknowledges that it is not enough to simply rebuild; it is necessary to plan better to protect more, reduce losses and ensure lasting results,” said the Cabinet spokesperson.

Source: Club of Mozambique

Mozambique

New World Bank Group strategy for Mozambique: Driving inclusive, resilient, and job-rich growth

The World Bank Group Board of Executive Directors has endorsed a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Mozambique for the period 2026 to 2031. As Mozambique confronts the severe impacts of the recent floods, highlighting the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters, we extend our heartfelt sympathies and solidarity to all affected communities. The CPF responds to these challenges by prioritising resilience and inclusive growth, setting out a strategic five‑year programme to unlock economic opportunities and create more and better jobs for the country’s young population, while leveraging Mozambique’s rich natural resources and strategic geographic location. The new strategy reflects the World Bank Group’s commitment to supporting Mozambique’s vision for inclusive, resilient development. It aligns with national priorities to accelerate economic transformation, strengthen institutions, and expand opportunities for youth and women. Building on the government’s efforts to revitalise economic corridors, it focuses on energy, agribusiness, and tourism while developing a skilled workforce, reinforcing macro-fiscal stability, and addressing fragility. These priorities are captured in four outcomes that guide the CPF’s support: strengthening macro-fiscal stability; improving workforce skills; expanding energy access and powering economic corridors; and increasing private sector-led jobs in agribusiness and tourism.

Source: World Bank

Sierra Leone

EU-backed EUR24-million programme seeks mini-grid developers for Sierra Leone

The Salone Off-Grid Renewable Energy Acceleration (SOGREA) Initiative – a three-year programme aimed at accelerating rural electrification in Sierra Leone – has launched a call for private sector companies to submit proposals for the development and upgrading of mini-grids in off-grid communities. Eligible applicants must demonstrate the ability to develop a new project within 12 months, possess experience operating mini-grids across sub-Saharan Africa, have expertise in smart meter integration and hold at least 30% female representation within their teams. The call for proposals marks a milestone in the rollout of SOGREA and in unlocking new investment opportunities in the country’s renewable energy sector. Funded with EUR24-million in catalytic support from the European Union (EU) and the Danish Government, SOGREA will cover upfront development costs for green mini-grids, helping address the funding gap in renewables projects. Cyril Arnold Grant, Minister of Energy in Sierra Leone said the EU funding will help the country to advance sector reforms and strengthen institutional capacity to uplift rural communities through improved energy access.

Source: Energy Capital & Power

Sudan

Sudan's vital gold industry hit by ongoing conflict, collapsing trade ties

Sudan's gold industry, a key source of foreign currency, is reeling under ongoing conflict, infrastructure damage, and collapsing trade ties. The price of gold is hitting record highs but gold traders in Sudan are missing out. The country is one of Africa's leading gold producers and exporters but conflict, infrastructure damage, and collapsing trade ties have seen its vital gold industry suffering severe setbacks. “The current market is incredibly difficult. [It is] a heavy blow to the gold sector,” says Mohammed Al-Sawakni, Head of the Gold Industry Association in Sudan's Red Sea State. Gold mining in Sudan remains largely traditional. Since the outbreak of the conflict, insecurity has caused a sharp decline in output, and a portion of the country's gold has been smuggled out through illegal channels. Gold processing and trade have also been disrupted. Shortages of raw materials have led some refineries to cut back or shut down, and small workshops and retail traders are struggling to stay afloat. Meanwhile, a visible drop in gold trade volume has narrowed profit margins for traders.

Source: Africanews

Tanzania

AfDB allocates USD98-million in savings for completion of road project that will strengthen regional connectivity

The Boards of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved, on 10 December 2025, the diversion of USD98-million in savings from the completed Transport Sector Support Program to finance the Bulamata-Uvinza Road Upgrading Project (Lot B) in western Tanzania. The project has a total cost of USD129-million. The Bank Group will provide USD98.17-million, including USD22.64-million from the African Development Fund, its concessional window. It entails an upgrade of the Bulamata-Msombwe road to bitumen standard, and construction of a 250-metre bridge over the Malagarasi River, as well as a rail overpass and connecting roads. It will also deliver community infrastructure including markets, solar lighting, boreholes, and parking areas. The upgraded road will link to the 342.9 km Tabora-Koga-Mpanda Road, and create a corridor from Mpanda District to the Central Corridor railway and the Port of Dar es Salaam. The route is expected to strengthen western Tanzania’s access to national markets and expand cross-border trade opportunities with Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan.

Source: AfDB

Tanzania

What Tanzania’s credit mix reveals about national economic growth

Tanzania’s private-sector credit continues to grow at over 20% annually. However, analysts caution that the dominance of personal loans highlights a growth model that relies heavily on consumption rather than investment. While this approach offers short-term benefits, it raises longer-term concerns. According to the Bank of Tanzania (BoT), the stock of private sector credit was estimated at TZS43.42-trillion at the end of December 2025, which is more than 21% of the country's GDP. Personal loans accounted for 35.8% of total lending, significantly surpassing trade at 13.6% and agriculture at 13%. Meanwhile, manufacturing – often regarded as a key sector for job creation and industrialisation – absorbed just 7.8%. The building and construction sector received 4.7%, and transport and communication accounted for 4.5%. In its January 2026 Monetary Policy Report, the BoT noted that personal loans, primarily extended to small and medium-sized enterprises through individual facilities, remained the main driver of overall private sector credit growth. Trade and agriculture followed in significance, with mining and quarrying experiencing the fastest growth at 30.1%.

Source: The Citizen

Togo

Togo’s coffee, cocoa committee urges “shared sacrifice” as prices plunge

A sharp decline in international coffee and cocoa prices is weighing heavily on the Togolese economy. These two commodities are major export products for the country. The situation has led to the buildup of approximately 1 500 tonnes of unsold stocks, according to the Coordination Committee for the Coffee and Cocoa Sectors (CCFCC). The CCFCC held a meeting on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, in Lomé. The gathering brought together producers, buyers, exporters and processors to identify the root causes of the crisis and explore possible solutions. According to the stakeholders present, the accumulation of unsold stocks is mainly due to the sudden collapse in prices, which has brought commercial transactions to a standstill. Prices have fallen sharply within a few months. They have dropped from around F.CFA5 000 to nearly F.CFA2 000 today. This steep decline has left many operators with significant volumes of unsold coffee and cocoa. Enselme Gouthon, Secretary General of the CCFCC, said this price volatility stems from the surge recorded the previous year. “Prices had risen sharply due to lower production in the main producing countries, notably Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana,” Gouthon explained. He said this underperformance was linked to the effects of climate change, as well as the aging of plantations and producers.

Source: Togo First

Uganda

IMF Executive Board concludes the 2025 Post-Financing Assessment with Uganda

On 12 January 2026 the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Post-Financing Assessment (PFA) with Uganda and considered and endorsed the staff appraisal without a meeting on a lapse-of-time basis. The authorities have consented to the publication of the Staff Report prepared for the PFA discussions. Uganda has navigated the post-pandemic environment relatively well, though progress in rebuilding durable fiscal space has been limited. Real GDP growth rose to 6.3% in FY24/25, inflation stabilised below 4%, and the estimated current account deficit narrowed to 6.1% of GDP, supported by strong coffee exports. Foreign exchange reserves increased to over three months of import coverage by October 2025, partly reflecting strong portfolio inflows in 2025. However, the overall budget deficit widened to 6% of GDP in FY24/25 from 4.7% in FY23/24, and public debt reached 52.4% of GDP. Uganda’s capacity to repay the IMF is assessed as adequate, though subject to risks. In a downside scenario involving large portfolio outflows, adverse terms-of-trade shocks, and further delays in the oil project, repayment indicators would weaken but remain within adequate levels.

Source: IMF

Uganda

UIA seeks UGX255-billion to accelerate industrialisation

Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) is seeking UGX255.1-billion in the 2026/27 financial year to scale up investment promotion, expand industrial parks, and strengthen institutional capacity as Uganda pushes to accelerate industrialisation. The request was presented to the Parliament Finance Committee by UIA management team led by Director General Robert Mukiza during the defence of the Authority’s Budget Framework Paper for the 2026/27 financial year. The proposed budget, UIA indicated, will support three priority areas, including enhancing coordination, promotion, attraction, facilitation, retention, and growth of investments; sustainably acquiring, developing, and managing serviced industrial parks; and strengthening the institutional capacity of both UIA and the private sector to drive industrial growth. UIA also plans to implement several activities, such as promoting affordable agricultural financing mechanisms, developing and maintaining infrastructure in free zones and industrial parks, undertaking investment promotion campaigns, supporting certification of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises' products to improve market access, and rolling out digital investment facilitation strategies.

Source: Monitor

Zambia

IMF Executive Board completes sixth review under the ECF with Zambia

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed the sixth and final review of Zambia’s 38-month Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, approved on 31 August 2022. The completion of this review allows for an immediate disbursement of SDR138.9-million (about USD190-million), bringing Zambia’s total disbursement under the ECF-supported programme to SDR1 271.66-million (about USD1.7-billion). Programme performance has been broadly satisfactory, albeit with some delays on structural conditionality. All end-June 2025 quantitative performance criteria (QPC) and indicative targets (ITs) were met, except for the QPC on net international reserves and the IT on spending arrears clearance. Eight out of 19 structural benchmarks (SBs) were met, and six additional SBs were completed with delays. The submission to Parliament of the revised Banking and Financial Services Act, broadly aligned with international standards, satisfied the prior action set for this review. The Executive Board also granted a waiver for the nonobservance of the QPC on net international reserves at end-June 2025. Zambia’s economic outlook remains positive. Real GDP growth is estimated at 5.2% in 2025, underpinned by strong mining activities and record-high maize production. Real GDP growth in 2026 is projected at 5.8% on the back of continued recovery in electricity generation and strong performance in mining and services. Inflation is projected to converge gradually toward the 6-8% target band by 2027.

Source: IMF