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Africa
Africa
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Africa. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, has worked alongside Sophie Chandauka for years – now things have turned sour. Photos: Getty Images, Dr Sophie Chandauka MBE/LinkedIn
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Meet Sophie Chandauka, the woman at the centre of Prince Harry’s charity fallout

Prince Harry has stepped down from the charity he founded after its chair, Zimbabwean lawyer Dr Sophie Chandauka MBE, refused to leave her role and instead decided to sue.

Sudan

Sudan army chief declares capital ‘free’ from inside presidential palace

War and conflict

South Sudan teetering on edge of another civil war, UN official warns

China-Africa relations

Nigeria courts Chinese investment as interest booms in oil and opportunities

Abuja pushes for shift towards value-added exports amid increasing concern about trade imbalance that favours Beijing.

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While courting investment, Nigeria is keen to address its trade imbalance with China. Last year, China shipped goods worth US$18.9 billion to Nigeria but imports, including oil, from Nigeria were US$2.98 billion, according to Chinese customs data. Photo: XInhua
South Africa

South Africa’s expelled US ambassador returns home with ‘no regrets’

Ebrahim Rasool was expelled after he described Trump’s Maga movement as a supremacist reaction to diversity in the US.

China-Africa relations

Will Zambian mine disaster spill over to destroy relations with China?

A 50-million-litre acid spill from a Chinese-owned copper mine in Zambia is now threatening to kill ties with Beijing, experts say.

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Sudan

Sudan army advances in central Khartoum after retaking palace

The military says it has seized several key buildings from the Rapid Support Forces, including state intelligence headquarters.

Soldiers pose for a picture at the damaged presidential palace after the Sudanese army recaptured the complex from RSF troops in Khartoum on Friday. Photo: AFP
War and conflict

Rwanda-backed rebels make gains in DR Congo’s mineral-rich east

M23’s success comes after a surprise meeting between the presidents of Congo and Rwanda in Qatar, where they pledged to ease tensions.

Sudan

‘The palace is back’: Sudan’s military retakes presidential compound

The fighting has caused a massive humanitarian crisis, killing thousands, forcing millions to flee and leaving some families eating grass.

IOC

Kirsty Coventry elected IOC president: first woman, African to land role

Coventry, the Zimbabwean sports minister, is a close ally of German Thomas Bach, who steps down as IOC chief after 12 years.

Kirsty Coventry reacts after being elected the next president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in Costa Navarino, Greece on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Science

China’s rare earth dominance could crumble in 10 years, CAS study forecasts

Modelling suggests ‘fundamental shifts’ are under way with Africa, South America, Australia and Greenland emerging as competitors.

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A report by China’s leading science institute warns of a profound transformation in global supplies of critical minerals. Illustration: Reuters
Banking & finance

Exclusive | Hong Kong key to StanChart’s US$200 billion new money target: CEO Winters

Bank is developing over 200 use cases for AI, including fraud detection and prevention, anti-money-laundering screening and new products.

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SCMP Highlights

Hong Kong Labubu’s origin, China’s US$1 trillion reserve fund: 5 weekend reads

From China’s US$1 trillion reserve fund to Hong Kong Labubu’s origin, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

Banking & finance

Standard Chartered sees key role for Hong Kong amid evolving global trade

Jose Vinals to bid adieu at the bank’s annual general meeting in May after nine years at the helm.

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Standard Chartered Chairman Jose Vinals will step down in May after nine years in the post. Photo: Jonathan Wong
European Union

Explainer | A look at some of the worst fires at nightclubs and music venues

Tragically, there have been many fatal nightclub and music venue fires, including one that killed almost 500 people.

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People hug as they wait in lines to light candles in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, following a massive fire in a nightclub early Sunday. Photo: AP
US-China relations

Trump cut off aid to South Africa. Will it tilt the balance in China’s favour?

Washington’s ‘self-centred foreign policy’ may push Pretoria and others closer to Beijing, observer says.

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China-Africa relations

As Chinese gas investments in Africa take off, oil imports sink

While China’s oil trade in Africa has dropped over recent years, there is another fuel that investors cannot get enough of.

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US-China relations

G7 slams China’s ‘dangerous’ moves in South China Sea, strongly backs Ukraine

Statement by foreign ministers gathered in Canada also highlights importance of ‘maintaining peace and stability’ across Taiwan Strait.

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(From left) French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrive at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in La Malbaie, Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada, on Friday. Photo: Reuters
Israel-Gaza war

US and Israel look to Africa for resettling Palestinians from war-torn Gaza

US and Israel explore resettling more than 2 million Palestinians in Sudan, Somalia and Somaliland.

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Space

‘Blood Moon’ to bathe Earth with red light in total lunar eclipse

It is the first total lunar eclipse since 2022, but there will be another this September.

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Science

Why is China quietly helping Africa build a Great Green Wall across the Sahara?

‘This battle can be won’: desert expert reveals how China’s technology, funding and strategies aid ambitious environmental project.

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Africa’s Great Green Wall project, which features input and funding from China, is promoted in southeastern Niger. Photo: Weibo
China-Africa relations

China still leads the pack in Africa’s critical minerals race as US falls behind

Beijing has spent years – and billions – investing in Africa’s mining sector, and it is now paying off, experts say.

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China has spent billions investing in African critical minerals, such as this copper and cobalt mine in the DRC, leaving the US in its dust in the global rare earths race. Photo: AFP
Global South

Opinion | How the Global South can rise above the fray as the West fractures

Countries must seize this moment to promote an open, inclusive world order grounded in common interests and mutual respect.

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Digital currencies

Hong Kong’s dollar peg seen as advantage amid stablecoin growth

Stablecoin transactions are now a fifth of all cryptocurrency transactions, and they make it easier to transact in US dollar-backed assets.

War and conflict

Sudan accuses UAE of ‘complicity in genocide’ amid civil war

The United Arab Emirates has long been accused by Sudan and others of supporting the rebel paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. Photo: Reuters
Two Sessions 2025

China pledges to help Africa develop as ‘land of hope for the 21st century’

Foreign Minister Wang Yi stresses support for an African ‘voice in international affairs’ as ‘crucial to the shared destiny of humanity’.

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Workers from Niger and China work on an oil pipeline, one of the scores of Chinese-funded projects across the continent. Photo: AFP
Food and Drinks

Arabica, robusta ... excelsa? Rare coffee bean in the spotlight

There’s a coffee crisis due to climate change. It’s ravaging harvests. A coffee variety native to Africa and grown in Asia may be a saviour.

Business of climate change

China miners accelerate overseas buying spree

Last month, MMG said it would buy British miner Anglo American’s nickel business in Brazil.

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