Breaking News Today – Monday 25 May 2026

African Start-up News Headlines:

• EBID and Afriland First Bank CI have created a $17,745 million partnership to boost SME growth in Côte d’Ivoire. The new financing partnership between the (ECOWAS EBID) Bank for Investment and Development and Afriland First Bank Côte d’Ivoire aims to expand access to credit for SMEs and mid-sized firms, supporting entrepreneurship, job creation and industrial growth across key sectors of the Ivorian economy.
• Egyptian startup support platform GrowthLabs has acquired Startup Gate in a transaction valued at approximately $665 000. The deal merges GrowthLabs’ “Catalyst OS” backend, used by accelerators and incubators, with Startup Gate’s front-end founder-investor network. Startup Gate was founded in 2025 by Emmy Tawfik
• South African startup The Marking App has developed an AI-powered platform that automates the marking of handwritten test papers in seconds, providing teacher-style feedback directly on learner scripts without the need for learner devices or ICT infrastructure upgrades. The App is designed for real classroom environments, particularly in under-resourced and low-connectivity contexts, it enables teachers to scan and upload assessments

Business News Today 

Africa Day – Challenges in Funding and Opportunities For Growth

Today (25 May) is officially Africa Day, As originally appointed by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) – now the African Union, as a day aimed at promoting African Unity and to celebrate African heritage. Today is significant in that while all African states have been independent for some time, there is still a major challenge in terms of lifting the standard of living across the continent. McKinsey reports that Africa currently faces a $200 billion fiscal gap, equalling six times more than the expected decline in official development assistance (ODA).

Yet 77 percent of Africa’s countries still depend on ODA for more than 10 percent of government revenue, highlighting how deeply external financing remains embedded in public sector systems across the continent. External debt by African States has climbed to roughly $746 billion, roughly 25% of the continent’s gross national income, with 22 countries in debt distress or at high risk of debt distress. African countries have an opportunity not only to fill the budget shortfall left by the withdrawal of ODA but also to consider reforms that narrow budget deficits and build long-term resilience. These opportunities include reducing waste and inefficiencies – which McKinsey believes could alone add around 2.6% to Africa’s GDP

Iran Conflict Forcing African Countries to Seek Emergency Financing

The World Bank says that the Iran war is forcing more African countries to seek emergency financing. According to an internal World Bank document reported by Reuters, 27 countries have activated crisis financing mechanisms since the conflict began in February. The war has disrupted energy markets and global supply chains. Fertiliser shipments to developing countries have also been affected. Kenya is among the countries that have already requested urgent financial support from the World Bank amid rising fuel prices.

The World Bank’s recent Africa Economic Update highlighted that external debt-service costs for African governments have doubled, jumping from roughly 9% of government revenues in 2017 to 18%. This dramatic spike has forced many countries into fiscal consolidation, leaving less than adequate funding available for essential development and public infrastructure

Egyptian robotics startup Egrobots, has announced the launch of the first autonomous agricultural AI driven harvesting robot fully developed by Egyptian engineers. The new robot introduces a major shift in the concept of agricultural automation and smart farming, and was built using sophisticated computer vision, AI, and autonomous navigation systems. These technologies enable the robot to identify ripe crops, determine the most efficient paths within farms, and execute harvesting tasks with high precision and minimal human intervention.

Oil Hits 3-Week Low

Brent crude futures dropped more than -5% to below $98 per barrel hitting a 3-week low this morning. This extends last week’s decline as the US and Iran moved closer to a peace deal. Reports indicate that the proposed deal could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, an bring an end to hostilities, with the release of frozen Iranian assets, and additional talks focused on curbing Tehran’s nuclear program on the horizon. A full reopening of Hormuz would provide significant relief for major Asian and African economies and could push oil prices substantially lower, considering the waterway carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG shipments. The Iran conflict and the dual blockade of Hormuz have severely disrupted global energy markets, forcing Middle Eastern producers to halt millions of barrels per day in crude output.

Breaking Business and Market News Shorts:  

• India’s BSE Sensex opened about 1.1% higher at 76,252 today, following gains from the previous session and tracking advances across Asian markets, as optimism over a potential US-Iran peace agreement eased concerns about global energy supply disruptions. Investor sentiment improved after reports that Washington and Tehran had largely negotiated a memorandum aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
• Platinum futures rose nearly 2% to above $1,970 an ounce this morning, rebounding from a one-month low last week, as signs of progress in US-Iran negotiations eased concerns about inflation and further interest rate hikes. The market also remains structurally tight, with output in major suppliers – South Africa and Russia constrained by aging mines, high operating costs, and sanctions-related challenges. Expectations of solid industrial demand from the automotive sector, further added support.
• Foreign direct investment inflows into China slid by -10.3% year-on-year to CNY 287.7 billion in the first four months of 2026. Within the total, FDI in the manufacturing sector amounted to CNY 78.9 billion, while high-tech industries attracted CNY 166.3 billion, up 20.3% and accounting for 40.4% of total FDI.
• Gold climbed toward $4,600 an ounce on Monday, recovering losses from last week as increasing optimism over a potential US-Iran agreement eased concerns about inflation and interest rate hikes. Reports indicated that the proposed deal could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, end hostilities
• Moody’s Ratings has upgraded its outlook on South Africa’s domestic and foreign-currency long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings to positive from stable last Friday, while holding the rating at Ba2. Moody’s commented the “positive outlook reflects South Africa’s gradually strengthening fiscal performance and sustained commitment to structural reforms, with prospects of increasingly tangible results”.

Markets by Numbers 

Currency markets indicate the US dollar dropping against major currencies today. The Greenback is trading against the Euro at 1.16439 while trading against the Pound at 1.34879. The Yen is currently trading at 158.84 to the dollar. The rand (ZAR), is currently trading around the 16.33 mark against the US dollar this morning.

Commodities:  

• Gold futures are trending over 1% higher this morning, and currently trading at around $4562.80 per ounce.  
• Copper prices up by 0.8% today, with prices currently around $6.3949 per pound
• Silver futures have surged around 3% higher today, and currently trading at around $77.711 per ounce.
• Platinum futures are up by around 1.5% this morning, and currently trading at $1969.90, While Palladium prices are trending 2% higher, and currently trading around $1389.00 per ounce.
• Brent crude oil prices are trending -5.8% lower today, and currently trading around $97.46, with WTI trading at $90.75 currently
• Cocoa futures are around 0.7% higher this morning, and currently trading around $3796 per ton. 
• Coffee futures are trending around -0.3% lower today, and currently trading at around $2.7235 per pound

Crypto Currencies: 

• Bitcoin prices are up by 0.43% today and trading at around $77 316 per coin currently 
• Ether prices are trending 0.38% higher today, and currently trading around $2106.36
• $Trumpcoin are currently trading at around $2.087

(All prices quoted at approximately 07H25 Central African Time) 

African General News Briefs:

• The prior finance minister of Benin, Romuald Wadagni, has officially been sworn in as the country’s new president on Sunday (24 May), and will be taking the place of his former-boss, Patrice Talon.Wadagni, an economist with a reputation as a technocrat who embodies continuity with Talon’s two mandates, was elected on 12 April with 94 percent of the ballots. “I will serve Benin with integrity, courage and commitment,” Wadagni said at his inauguration.”I will serve with the constant knowledge that power is never a personal privilege,” he said.
• Morocco’s flag carrier Royal Air Maroc says it’s suspending 12 routes to several African and European destinations due to the rising price of aviation fuel. The company also cited a slowdown in demand on certain international routes, prompting the group to temporarily adjust its network. Affected routes include those from the airline’s Casablanca hub to Kinshasa, Brazzaville, Yaounde and Libreville. Flights from Marrakech to Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux and Brussels are also on hold.