
South Africa’s Anti-Migrant Crackdown Intensifies, Thousands Flee
South Africa’s anti-migrant crackdown has seen over 53,000 people deported or repatriated in weeks, as vigilante violence and state operations...
July 17, 2026Africa holds the minerals the energy transition cannot happen without: more than two-thirds of the world’s cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo, vast copper in the DRC and Zambia, lithium in Zimbabwe, plus manganese, graphite and the rare earths every great power now wants to control. The Rio Times tracks the mines, deals, export rules and the contest among China, the US and the Gulf for Africa’s critical-minerals supply chain – and what it means for resource-rich Latin America, which faces the same price-taker-or-leverage choice. This hub gathers our coverage of Africa’s minerals economy.

South Africa’s anti-migrant crackdown has seen over 53,000 people deported or repatriated in weeks, as vigilante violence and state operations...
July 17, 2026
Nigeria gazetted an $11.50-per-barrel Bonga Southwest tax credit for Shell, unlocking a potential $20B investment on 820M barrels of reserves....
July 17, 2026
On 9 July 2026, Sergey Lavrov offered to secure Mozambique’s $20 billion gas hub, threatening Europe’s alternative to Russian energy.
July 17, 2026
The European Union has banned Sudanese gold imports, stating the multi-billion-dollar trade directly finances the civil war between the SAF...
July 17, 2026
G7 leaders pledged $69 billion for 195 critical minerals projects on June 17, aiming to cut rare-earth dependence below 60%...
July 17, 2026
The DRC signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement with Washington in December 2025, offering priority access to over 70% of global...
July 17, 2026
Africa Intelligence Brief July 17 — Africa reels from twin tragedies in Uganda and Algeria while Nigeria repatriates citizens and...
July 17, 2026
Africa Intelligence Brief July 16 — Africa today feels suspended between firefighting and fragile ambition. An Ebola outbreak disrupts DRC...
July 16, 2026
As great-power competition intensifies into a 'new Cold War', Latin America emerges as a critical swing region where US, Chinese...
July 16, 2026Brazil runoff date: Sunday, October 25, poll closing times and when results start · Brazil runoff polls: Flávio 51%, Lula 49% · Kalshi and Polymarket odds