Niger’s Western Security Belt Becomes the Sahel’s Main Battleground
Attacks on civilians in Niger’s western security belt surged over 120% in 2025, making Tillabéri the Central Sahel’s deadliest region...
July 16, 2026Section
Africa Energy
From Nigeria’s oil and Mozambique’s and Tanzania’s gas to South Africa’s grid crisis and the solar boom spreading across the continent, energy is where Africa’s growth and its great-power bargaining both play out. The Rio Times covers the oil and LNG deals, refineries, power projects and the transition finance reshaping how the continent fuels itself – with an eye on the capital flows and parallels linking Africa to Latin America’s own energy story. This hub collects our Africa energy coverage for investors and analysts.
Browse by themeAfrica Critical Minerals · Africa Markets & Investment · Africa & Latin America · Africa & the Great Powers · Doing Business & Living in Africa
France and Morocco Prepare a Historic Friendship Treaty
France and Morocco prepare a first-of-its-kind friendship treaty, Paris's first with a non-European nation, backed by a €10B deal package...
July 16, 2026
UN Warns Sudan’s Gum Arabic Trade Is Directly Financing the War
The UN says Sudan’s gum arabic trade, once worth $183 million annually, is now looted and taxed by the RSF...
July 16, 2026
Egypt Locks In a $4.69 Billion Abrams Tank Deal With the US
A $4.69B U.S. Foreign Military Sale will refurbish 555 Egyptian M1A1 Abrams tanks with new thermal sights, engines, and transmissions...
July 16, 2026
BRICS+ Builds Coordinated Critical-Mineral Strategy with South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia
BRICS+ is moving toward a coordinated critical-mineral strategy with South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia positioned as key hubs for exploration,...
July 15, 2026
Gulf Conflict Risk Threatens $100 Billion in Africa Investment and Remittances
Middle East conflict puts over US$100 billion in Gulf FDI and vital remittances to Comoros, Gambia, Lesotho, and Liberia at...
July 15, 2026US–China Race for Africa’s Minerals Heats Up in Namibia and Niger
The US–China race for Africa’s minerals intensifies as Washington pursues offtake deals in Namibia and uranium-rich Niger becomes a geopolitical...
July 15, 2026
Qatar Opens Its Piggy Bank for DRC’s Copper-Cobalt Belt
Qatar commits roughly $21 billion to the DRC and takes a $500 million stake in Ivanhoe Mines, signalling a new...
July 15, 2026
How Resource-for-Security Deals Are Reshaping Power in Africa
From the DRC to the Sahel, resource-for-security deals exchanging critical minerals for military protection are redrawing alliances. The US, Russia...
July 15, 2026