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Markets & Economy
Africa Holds 41 Transition Minerals but Still Exports Them Raw, Study Finds
A World Bank-commissioned study finds deposits of 41 transition minerals across 48 African countries, but most are exported raw or lightly processed. The researchers say regional coordination on trade, processing and infrastructure could help countries capture more value.
Markets & Economy
Senegal IMF Deal Reshapes Debt Management, Two Markets Price Same Debt Differently
Senegal's technical agreement with the IMF on a $2.2 billion programme has not yet delivered any funds or reduced the debt. The international eurobond market and the regional Uemoa market are pricing the same sovereign debt very differently, a gap economist Florent Kanga Gbongué calls the perimeter premium.
Markets & Economy
ECOWAS, EU, GIZ Move to Finalise 13 Trade in Services Workplans
ECOWAS, the European Union and GIZ held a technical session in Abuja on 24 September 2026 to finalise workplans for 13 strategic reform processes under the Trade in Services Programme. Participants reviewed priorities, sequencing, timelines and institutional responsibilities, including activities through March 2029. GIZ's Dr. Hartmut James said the next stage would be to validate the workplans and proceed towards implementation.
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Social Justice & Human Rights
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Health Care Programmes
ECOWAS Marks World Rabies Day, Urges Coordinated Action on Dog-Transmitted Disease
ECOWAS has used World Rabies Day to urge member states, health services and communities to intensify joint efforts against rabies. The bloc's Regional Animal Health Centre in Bissau cited regional surveillance data showing dog-transmitted rabies accounted for 38.8 per cent of reported priority zoonoses outbreaks in the first quarter of 2026.
Global News
DRC Cobalt Exports Carry Undeclared Uranium, Study Finds, Raising Nuclear Accounting Concerns
Research published in July 2026 estimates that 2,000 to 5,000 tonnes of natural uranium left the Democratic Republic of Congo inside cobalt hydroxide cargoes between 2000 and 2024, with less than 10 percent declared to the IAEA. The DRC has since launched a verification campaign to test uranium content in cobalt exports and will consult the nuclear watchdog.
Social Impact & Development
ECOWAS Donates Supplies and 500,000 CFA to Ouidah Children’s Shelter in Benin
ECOWAS Resident Representative in Benin, Ambassador Amadou Diongue, presented a donation to the 'House of Joy' Child Care and Protection Centre in Ouidah on September 21, 2026. The contribution included food, school supplies, vocational equipment, and 500,000 CFA for tuition fees. The ceremony was attended by local officials and the children at the centre.
Climate & Environment
West African Water Ministers Adopt Strategic Resolutions in Abidjan Before First Regional Water Forum
Water ministers from across West Africa adopted strategic resolutions on regional water governance at the 6th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee on IWRM in Abidjan, convened under ECOWAS, WAEMU and CILSS. The decisions cover revision of the West African Water Resources Policy, operationalisation of the African Water Vision 2063 and institutionalisation of the West Africa Regional Water Forum. The outcomes will inform the First West Africa Regional Water Forum, scheduled for 24–25 September 2026 in Abidjan.
Health Care Programmes
Africa CDC’s New Immunisation Strategy Targets Falling Vaccination Rates Across the Continent
Africa CDC has launched a Continental Immunisation Strategy for 2026–2030 after about 7.1 million African children under one received no routine vaccine dose in 2025. The strategy covers six areas, and its authors identify five priorities including domestic financing, digital systems and vaccine sovereignty.
Sports
Senegal’s Youth Olympic Games Venues Raise a Post-Games Financing Question
Senegal has built and rehabilitated sports facilities in Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly for the Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for 31 October to 13 November 2026. Two researchers argue the Games could reshape how the country finances, manages and maintains sports infrastructure once the competition ends.