Critical conversations

Hello readers ????

Greetings from the Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, where a team from Africa Practice is busy engaging industry leaders in discussions around mineral extraction, processing and transportation. The conference opened with a geopolitical bombshell, as South Africa’s Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe suggested African states withhold critical minerals from the US, in retaliation for the Trump administration’s proposed funding cuts. Mantashe argued that the continent’s vast mineral wealth should be used to “accelerate Africa’s industrialisation and close the development deficit” – rather than bowing to “the dictates of some developed nations”. As American funding for South Africa and USAID programming hangs in the balance – leaving critical social programmes in limbo – the continent is increasingly able to pick its partners for copper, cobalt, lithium, nickel, manganese and graphite extraction and value-addition. While Mantashe may be indulging in theatrics to score political points, South Africa has considerable scope to shape global mineral policy during its presidency of the G20. Hopefully US envoys will recognise that escalating tariff wars, unsubstantiated social media allegations, and financial threats merely serve to stoke resource nationalism, further complicating the operating environment for American investors in African mining and commodities.?

Yours hoping cool heads prevail,

AP editorial team

?? 50 billion

The Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from 27-28 January raised over USD 50 billion in commitments to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. The African Development Bank and the World Bank allocated USD 48 billion, with other donors including Agence Fran?aise de Développement, the Islamic Development Bank, the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank and the OPEC Fund committing sums between USD 1-2.65 billion apiece.

?? Voices of Africa – Ellie Gomez-Callus

Africa is poised to be a powerhouse in the global clean energy transition, but how can the continent turn potential into prosperity? Marcus Courage discusses Africa's crucial role in the green revolution with Ellie Gomez-Callus, Metals and Mining Associate at BloombergNEF. They delve into the surging demand for critical minerals, the rise of solar energy, and the smart policies needed to unlock Africa's potential. Listen here.?

???? Going 0.0%?

Diageo announced the sale of its 80.4% shareholding in Guinness Ghana Breweries to Castel Group for USD 81 million. This agreement strengthens the British company’s partnership with France’s Castel, which spans eleven markets in Africa. Diageo will retain ownership of the Guinness brand and other Diageo brands produced by Guinness Ghana, which will be licensed to Guinness Ghana under a new long-term agreement. Diageo will retain responsibility for the brand and marketing strategy for Guinness in collaboration with Castel. This sale, expected to be completed this year, is part of Diageo's shift towards an "asset-light" model in West Africa focused on minimising ownership of physical assets and limiting exposure to volatile exchange rates. It follows the sale of Diageo’s shareholding in Guinness Nigeria to Singapore's Tolaram in September 2024 and the sale of Guinness Cameroon to Castel in July 2022 for USD 487.2 million.?

???? Binding verdicts

Uganda's Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling on 31 January, ordering the immediate cessation of all charges and ongoing trials against civilians in military courts. The decision comes in the wake of a series of unlawful trials that followed a 2021 Constitutional Court ruling on the same issue. Among those affected is opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who was detained in Kenya in November and brought to Uganda to face a series of charges, some of which carry the death penalty. President Yoweri Museveni described the Supreme Court's ruling as "wrong", arguing that holding armed civilians accountable in military courts strengthens the civilian justice system's ability to safeguard citizens from criminals with guns. Museveni further stated that the country is governed by the people, not by judges. Besigye failed to appear in court on Monday as scheduled, as authorities grapple with how to proceed in light of the judgment. While the Supreme Court's decision is an important step towards upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of civilians in Uganda, the president's opposition raises the prospect of tensions between the judiciary and the executive branch.

???? Port progress

The first phase of the USD 2 billion Maputo port expansion has commenced, as Mozambique seeks to position itself as a major regional shipment hub. The Maputo Port Development Company – a consortium including DP World, Grindrod and Mozambique's state owned rail operator – won a 25-year extension to run the port until 2058. Port capacity, currently at 37 million tonnes per year, is set to increase to 54 million tonnes. South Africa’s transport bottlenecks have seen exporters looking to its neighbour for an alternative, while Mozambique’s growing economy heightens demand for expanded logistics networks. The renewed investment comes against the backdrop of post-election unrest, with border and road closures resulting in a 1% drop in 2024 port volumes. Last month, cognisant of the detrimental economic impact, the Southern African Development Community tasked its security committee to explore measures to protect regional trade routes and energy corridors against future such unrest.?

???? New dawn

France transferred its last military base in Chad to local authorities on 30 January, meeting the deadline set after the Chadian government terminated a defence cooperation agreement last November. Speaking after the handover of the Kossei military base in N'Djamena, President Mahamat Idriss Déby of Chad described it as a “new sunrise for a fully sovereign Chad” and emphasised the importance of achieving "autonomous security." He clarified that the end of the defence agreement does not signify a complete break in relations with Paris, but rather the conclusion of the military aspect of their cooperation. Since 2022, French troops have been asked to withdraw from six African countries, with forces now only remaining in Djibouti and Gabon. Countries in the region ending military ties with France have typically pursued closer relations with Russia. Over 2024, Chad deepened engagement with Russia, highlighted by President Déby's visit to Moscow in January 2024 and the alleged arrival of 130 Russian soldiers in N'Djamena in April 2024.

??Making waves

Kirsty Coventry, two-time Olympic gold medallist from Zimbabwe and the country's Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation since 2019, is among the leading candidates to succeed Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). If elected, she would be the first woman and first African to hold the position, as well as the youngest, aged 41. Coventry has used the campaign slogan 'Ubuntu' – described as “I am because we are” – to underscore her commitment to collaboration, the African philosophy of interconnectedness, and her intention to challenge the status quo. However, there are significant concerns regarding her complicity in the misdeeds of the Mnangagwa government, which has been accused of continuing Mugabe’s legacy of electoral malpractice and political repression. Coventry asserts that her government role has enabled her to promote domestic reforms.?

??? AI Action Summit

The AI Action Summit takes place in Paris on 10-11 February 2025, convening heads of state, international organisations, businesses, academics, researchers and civil society organisations to discuss the rapid development of AI and its impact on the future of work, public service, governance and culture more broadly. Africa Practice’s own Senior Consultant Blandine Sixdenier will be in attendance and would welcome the opportunity to connect with fellow attendees.

?? The Island Prize

The Island Prize for a debut novel from Africa is open to African writers aged 18 and over, regardless of place of residence, who have a full manuscript ready to submit. The goal is to assist upcoming authors in navigating the difficult world of the publishing industry, with a GBP 500 prize for the winner. Deadline is 16 February.?

?? African Urban Echoes: A Poetry Anthology

African Urban Echoes is a gathering of poets from the continent and the diaspora looking to evoke detailed portraits of “cities as lives and lives as cities”. Edited by Nigerian poets Jide Salawu and Razaq Malik, the collection captures the echoes of resistance, hope, and anxieties produced by African urban centers, exploring the marginal realities of urban citizenship and landscapes both new and familiar.?

??Tems – Try Me

This past weekend, singer Tems made history as the first Nigerian to ever win two Grammys, clinching the Best African Music Performance award for her song “Love Me JeJe” at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. Today's pick pays homage to her journey, tracing back to where it all started with her 2019 hit “Try Me.” This Afrobeat-infused R&B track captures the raw energy and emotion of Tems' early sound, as she explores themes of perseverance – a fitting reflection of her current success.

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