23 May 2025
According to MSN, U.S. President, Donald Trump, and South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, have a bilateral meeting. The meeting occurred amid disagreements over trade policy, particularly regarding tariffs and U.S. demands for fairer trade practices. There were also disputes surrounding refugee and immigration policy, with South African officials criticizing aspects of U.S. policy under Trump. Despite these tensions, both leaders aim to strengthen economic ties and find common ground on issues of mutual interest, including investment and regional security.
Continental Leaders Unite to Demand Reform of Equitable Financial Systems
According to The African Union, African heads of state and government have jointly called for a comprehensive overhaul of the global financial architecture. Speaking at a high-level summit, leaders emphasized the need for fairer access to financing, debt relief, and the restructuring of international financial institutions to better reflect the realities and priorities of developing nations. They argued that the current system perpetuates inequality and limits Africa’s ability to respond to crises and invest in development. The declaration underscores a united continental push for financial justice, greater representation, and sustainable economic transformation.
Ruto Urges U.S. to Extend AGOA
According to AP News, Kenyan President, William Ruto, urges the U.S. to extend and expand the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), set to expire in 2025. Speaking in Atlanta ahead of his state visit to Washington, Ruto emphasized that extending AGOA would promote African industrialization and deepen U.S.-Africa trade relations. He also called for reforms in the global financial system to better support developing economies. The U.S. has signaled interest in renewing AGOA, but discussions on updates and conditions continue.
China Says It’s Committed to Expanding Its Investments in Africa
According to AfricaNews, China has reaffirmed its dedication to increasing economic engagement across the African continent. Chinese officials emphasized plans to boost investments in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and digital technology, while also supporting Africa’s industrialization and development goals. The statement comes amid intensifying global competition for influence in Africa, particularly from the United States and Europe. China framed its involvement as a partnership rooted in mutual benefit and long-term cooperation, highlighting ongoing projects and pledging continued financial and technical support to help African countries achieve sustainable growth.
Africa CEO Forum 2025: Africa’s Economic Potential in a Digital World
According to AfricaNews, The 2025 Africa CEO Forum included top business and political leaders gathered to discuss key drivers of Africa’s future economic growth. Major themes included the role of nuclear energy in addressing the continent’s power deficits, the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in sectors like agriculture and healthcare, and the urgent need to scale up infrastructure investment to support industrialization and regional integration. The forum emphasized public-private collaboration, innovation, and long-term planning as essential to harnessing Africa’s economic potential in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.
AfCFTA Unveils New Investment Protocol to Attract More Capital Into Africa
According to AllAfrica, The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has launched a new Investment Protocol aimed at boosting investor confidence and increasing capital inflows into African markets. The protocol establishes a unified legal and regulatory framework to protect investments, ensure transparency, and harmonize investment rules across member states. It is designed to support industrialization, infrastructure development, and job creation while aligning with AfCFTA’s broader goal of creating a single, integrated African market. Officials describe the initiative as a critical step toward making Africa a more attractive and secure destination for both domestic and foreign investors.
Afreximbank Disburses $40 Billion Under PAPSS to Boost Intra-African Trade
According to AllAfrica, The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has disbursed over $40 billion through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to support and accelerate intra-African trade. PAPSS is designed to enable instant, cross-border payments in local currencies, reducing reliance on foreign currencies and lowering transaction costs. The initiative is part of efforts to operationalize the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by improving payment infrastructure and financial integration. Afreximbank officials highlighted PAPSS as a transformative tool for facilitating seamless trade and enhancing economic cooperation across the continent.
ITFC Approves $40 Million Trade Finance Facility for Djibouti
According to AllAfrica, International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) has approved a $40 million trade finance facility to support Djibouti’s import of strategic commodities, including food and petroleum products. The funding aims to strengthen the country’s food and energy security while enhancing trade flows and economic resilience. The agreement aligns with ITFC’s broader mission to facilitate trade and development in member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), particularly by supporting essential imports and promoting sustainable growth in less diversified economies like Djibouti.
ECOWAS Ministers Validate New Instruments to Boost Intra-Regional Trade
According to AllAfrica, ECOWAS trade ministers have approved a set of new legal and policy instruments aimed at enhancing intra-regional trade and deepening economic integration. The validated instruments include updated rules for the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS), procedures for product certification, and mechanisms to resolve trade disputes more efficiently. The ministers emphasized the importance of aligning these regional tools with the broader goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The move is expected to reduce trade barriers, improve transparency, and strengthen economic ties among ECOWAS member states.
AfCFTA Secretariat, ECOWAS Commission Sign Cooperation Agreement
According to AllAfrica, The signing of a cooperation agreement between the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the ECOWAS Commission has taken place. The agreement aims to enhance coordination and implementation of trade-related initiatives across West Africa, aligning ECOWAS protocols with AfCFTA objectives. Key areas of collaboration include customs procedures, trade facilitation, infrastructure development, and capacity building. The partnership is seen as a critical step toward accelerating continental integration, harmonizing trade rules, and maximizing the benefits of the AfCFTA for ECOWAS member states.
ECOWAS Promoting Economic Development and Regional Integration
According to ECOWAS, the sixth meeting of the Regional Trade Facilitation Committee (RTFC) in Lagos, Nigeria, a key regional gathering focused on advancing trade integration within West Africa, has taken place. The meeting brought together stakeholders from ECOWAS member states to assess progress on trade facilitation initiatives, including customs cooperation, border efficiency, and implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS). Participants discussed challenges and strategies to harmonize trade policies, improve infrastructure, and reduce non-tariff barriers. The event underscores ECOWAS’s commitment to deepening regional economic integration and creating a more seamless trading environment across West Africa.
Launch of SIGMAT from Benin and Nigeria
According to ECOWAS, Benin and Nigeria announces the implementation of the Interconnected Transit Goods Management System (SIGMAT) to streamline and secure the movement of goods between the two countries. The system enables real-time data exchange between customs administrations, reducing transit delays, curbing fraud, and improving revenue collection. This launch marks a major step in regional trade facilitation and supports ECOWAS’s broader agenda for economic integration. By digitizing and harmonizing customs procedures, SIGMAT aims to promote more efficient cross-border commerce and enhance cooperation among West African states.
Nambia coordinates Border Management Strategy and Time Release Strategy
According to SADC, Namibia coordinated a border management strategy and time release study. The official launch of the first key trade facilitation initiatives in Namibia aims to enhance collaboration among border agencies to streamline customs procedures, reduce delays, and improve efficiency at border crossings. Meanwhile, the Time Release Study assesses the average time required for goods to clear borders, identifying bottlenecks and proposing solutions to speed up trade flows. Both initiatives support SADC’s broader goals of regional integration, economic competitiveness, and smoother cross-border trade within southern Africa.
Nigeria Targets Mining, Automotive Sectors to Drive Industrial Revolution
According to The Guardian Nigeria, The Nigerian government strategically focuses on the mining and automotive industries as key drivers of the country’s industrialization agenda. Officials emphasize the need to diversify the economy away from oil dependence by boosting local production, creating jobs, and attracting investment in value-added sectors. The plan includes developing mineral processing capabilities and expanding the domestic automotive market through policy incentives and infrastructure support. This initiative is part of a broader push to position Nigeria as a regional manufacturing hub and to stimulate sustainable economic growth through industrial transformation.
According to ECOWAS, The Court’s renewed pledge to work closely with other ECOWAS institutions to achieve the goals outlined in “ECOWAS Vision 2050”, a strategic plan focused on regional integration, peace, and sustainable development. During a stakeholder engagement, the Court emphasized the importance of judicial cooperation, transparency, and institutional synergy in promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across West Africa. The article highlights the Court’s role in supporting regional governance structures and ensuring legal accountability as key pillars of the Vision 2050 agenda.
Labour Court Upholds Enforceability of Restraint of Trade Agreements
According to Skills Portal, A South African Labour Court decision affirms that restraint of trade agreements remain legally enforceable, provided they are reasonable and protect a legitimate business interest. The court emphasized that such agreements balance the right to work with the employer’s right to safeguard proprietary information, client relationships, and trade secrets. In this case, the court ruled in favor of the employer, enforcing the restraint against a former employee who had joined a competitor. The decision reinforces that while South African law supports freedom of trade, it also respects contractual obligations when fairly applied.
Africa's Evolving Economic Landscape
According to AGBI (Arabian Gulf Business Insight), Africa's evolving economic landscape, focusing on trade, investment, and finance developments across the continent, highlights growing foreign interest. Key themes include the competition for strategic partnerships, efforts by African nations to diversify exports, and initiatives to improve intra-African trade under frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The piece underscores Africa’s increasing importance in global supply chains and economic diplomacy, while noting the challenges of political instability, debt burdens, and uneven development across regions.
Kenyans Worry a U.S. Duty-Free Trade Deal Might End and Expose Them to Trump’s Tariffs
According to MSN, article titled highlights growing concerns in Kenya over the potential expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which allows duty-free access to U.S. markets. With Donald Trump’s possible return to the presidency, Kenyan officials and exporters fear the imposition of tariffs that could harm key industries like textiles and agriculture. The uncertainty surrounding AGOA’s renewal and U.S. trade policy more broadly has led to anxiety among Kenyan businesses, who rely heavily on preferential trade terms to remain competitive. The article underscores the broader vulnerability of African economies to shifting U.S. trade strategies.
U.S. Shifts Foreign Assistance in Africa Toward Strategic Interests
According to the New York Times, there has been a significant change in U.S. policy toward Africa, emphasizing a pivot from traditional development aid to a strategy focused on advancing American geopolitical and economic interests. Under this approach, aid is increasingly tied to outcomes that align with U.S. priorities, such as countering Chinese and Russian influence, promoting private sector-led growth, and ensuring access to critical minerals and trade routes. Officials describe the move as a modernization of U.S.-Africa relations, but critics warn it may undermine long-term development goals by prioritizing short-term strategic gains over local needs and democratic governance.
SA Resubmits Revised Trade Proposal to US: Seeks LNG, AGOA Renewal & Tesla Investment
According to DevDiscourse, South Africa has resubmitted a revised trade proposal to the United States aimed at deepening economic ties and securing strategic investments. The proposal prioritizes the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a key U.S. trade program that allows duty-free exports and supports South African job creation and economic growth. Additionally, South Africa is seeking U.S. collaboration on liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure to help address its energy challenges. The country is also courting investment from Tesla, positioning itself as a potential hub for green manufacturing and technology. This initiative reflects South Africa’s broader effort to strengthen trade relations with the U.S. and attract high-value investment amid evolving global trade dynamics.
Kenyans Worry a U.S. Duty-Free Trade Deal Might Expose Them to Trump’s Tariffs
According to APNews, Kenya is pushing for an extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a U.S. trade program set to expire in 2025. AGOA grants eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the U.S. market for thousands of products. Kenya’s President William Ruto emphasized the program’s importance during a visit to Washington, D.C., arguing it has boosted African economies and deepened U.S.-Africa ties. While the Biden administration supports its renewal, the final decision lies with Congress. African leaders hope for a 10-to-20-year extension to provide long-term trade certainty and encourage investment.
Events – 05/23/2025
“Third UN Conference”. UN. Nice, France. 9 June-13 June 2025.
“Debt Relief for Resilience: Reimagining Debt Solutions for Low-Income Countries”. IISD. Online Webinar. 12 June 2025.
“Digital Finance: The Next Wave”. Invest Africa. Johannesburg. 12 June 2025.