Market sentiment in the first week of 2026 is defined by a rigorous push toward fiscal transparency and structural overhauls across the continent's major economies. From Nigeria's bold restructuring of its oil monolith to South Africa’s strategic positioning for the upcoming G20 presidency, the focus has shifted from mere survival to institutional strengthening.

African startup financing has undergone a structural transformation over the last 12 months, as venture debt more than doubled to reach $1.6 billion. While high-equity Series B and C rounds have nearly vanished, debt has become the primary lubricant for growth in Fintech and Logistics, as founders seek to avoid heavy dilution at currently depressed valuations. Read more →

The Democratic Republic of Congo has officially extended its cobalt export quota system as it continues to refine a new regulatory framework aimed at forcing domestic processing. Although copper and cobalt exploration spending reached 67% of total global mineral investment this past year, Kinshasa is using quotas to prevent oversupply and maintain price levers. Read more →

While many fear the fragmenting of global trade due to US-China tensions, the IMF suggests this "dual shock" is actually accelerating African industrialization. Countries are being forced to build internal supply chains—such as the Lobito Corridor—to ensure mineral sovereignty, effectively doing more for intra-continental trade than a decade of policy papers. Read more →

The coming weeks will be dominated by the rollout of the "African Mineral and Energy Classification and Management System," a standardized framework intended to harmonize resource reporting across 54 countries. Additionally, analysts are watching the secondary effects of the final AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) revision talks; how the US maneuvers these trade perks will determine the flow of textile and agricultural investment for the remainder of 2026.