Breaking News Today – Thursday 26 March 2026

African Start-up News Headlines:

• Togo is emerging as a notable startup hub in West Africa, supported by government initiatives and improving ecosystem infrastructure. Recent developments have highlighted its potential in fintech, agritech, and digital services. While a smaller player than peers like Nigeria or Kenya, strategic policies and regional positioning are attracting investor interest. This “quiet rise” is part of a broader trend of secondary markets gaining traction as founders seek less saturated opportunities. The Togo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-Togo) recently announced plans to launch a dedicated investment fund in 2026 to back youth-led startups. Target sectors include digital services and the agro-tech industry,
• The Tech Unite Africa 5.0 conference is taking place today (26 March 2026) at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos. A major highlight will be the Startup World Cup Nigeria segment, where selected African startups will pitch for a chance to represent Nigeria at the global finale in San Francisco, with potential for a $1 million investment prize. The event brings together founders, investors, and innovators and is expected to generate new deal flows and partnerships in the coming days.

Business News Today 

SARB Likely To Keep Repo Rate Unchanged

Despite Inflation reaching 3% in February, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meets tomorrow, Thursday 26 March 2026, to decide on the repo rate. The SARB is expected to resist the opportunity to assist stretched consumers and keep its repo rate unchanged at 6.75% when it meets today. The current repo rate stands at 6.75% (prime lending rate 10.25%). Consensus among economists and markets is that the SARB will hold rates unchanged at this level, despite February 2026 headline CPI inflation falling to exactly 3.0% — the new 3% target midpoint (with a ±1% tolerance band) for the first time this year. This cautious stance reflects upside risks from the Iran conflict and oil prices spiking above $100/barrel, which could push inflation higher in coming months.

Alibaba’s Africa’s Business Heroes 2026 Launches with $1.5M in Grants

Alibaba Philanthropy and the Jack Ma Foundation announced the 8th edition of Africa’s Business Heroes, offering $1.5 million in grants to African entrepreneurs. The 2026 theme “Defining Africa’s Future Today” targets startups in manufacturing, digital finance, healthcare, logistics, climate-smart agriculture, and emerging technologies. The programme provides mentorship, training, and global exposure. Since inception, it has received over 30,000 applications and become a key platform for impact-driven founders. Applications are open, with the initiative aiming to support scalable solutions to the continent’s biggest challenges.

Kenya’s NSE Blue-Chip Firms Shed Sh200 Billion Amid Iran War

Kenyan blue-chip companies on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, have lost approximately Sh200 billion (approximately $1.55 billion US Dollars) in market value in the last three week period, as investors reacted to escalating tensions from the Iran conflict. The sell-off reflects concerns over higher fuel costs, supply chain disruptions, and broader economic shocks. Sectors like aviation, manufacturing, and transport were hit hardest. The development highlights Africa’s vulnerability to investor confidence as the Middle East instability has indicated, despite efforts to build supply-chain resilience through intra-African trade and alternative routing. Safaricom has dropped around -10.8%, with KCB Group sliding by -12.1%

Breaking Business and Market News Shorts:  

• Uganda’s Finance Ministry announced late on Tuesday that the country’s economy had grown by 8.5% in the last financial quarter that ended in December 2025. A year earlier, growth in the same quarter had stood at 5.4%.Announcing the results in a post on X, the Finance Ministry said that the positive development at the end of December was due to several factors including higher consumer demand.
• MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita has confirmed the telecom giant is considering significant expansion in East Africa, including increased investment in AI and digital services. The move forms part of broader ambitions to strengthen its footprint in high-growth markets.
• The United States current account deficit narrowed to a seasonally adjusted $190.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025 from $239.1 billion in the previous period, marking the lowest deficit since the first quarter of 2021. The goods deficit narrowed to $241.5 billion from $265.9 billion, as imports contracted more than exports
• China’s Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.4% to 3,917, while the Shenzhen Component Index dropped 0.3% to 13,756 this morning, retreating after two consecutive sessions of gains as investors weighed conflicting signals surrounding efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East. 
• Brent crude futures rose above $103 per barrel this morning, recovering part of the previous session’s drop in prices amid conflicting statements from the US and Iran on efforts to end the conflict that has roiled global energy markets. Iran said it has no intention of entering talks with the US and would reject a proposed ceasefire,

Markets by Numbers 

Currency markets indicate the US dollar gaining ground against major currencies today. The Greenback is trading against the Euro at 1.15673 while trading against the Pound at 1.33621. The Yen is currently trading at 159.47 to the dollar. The rand (ZAR), remains steady, just below the 17.00 mark against the US dollar, and is currently trading at R16.98 against the US dollar.

Commodities:  

• Gold futures are trading marginally lower this morning, and currently at around $4515.00 per ounce.  
• Copper prices are trending -1.3% lower today, with prices currently around $5.4543 per pound
• Silver futures are trending over 0.5% higher today, and currently trading at around $71.713 per ounce.
• Platinum futures are trending almost -1% lower this morning, currently trading at $1906.80, While Palladium prices have dropped by -0.8% this morning, and currently trading around $1421.50 per ounce.
• Brent crude oil prices are have risen 1.6%, above the $100 level this morning, with prices currently at $103.88, with WTI trading over 1.5% higher at $91.74.
• Cocoa futures have slid by over -3% this morning, with prices currently trading around $3133 per ton. 
• Coffee futures are -0.55% lower today, and trading at around $3.1610 per pound

Crypto Currencies: 

• Bitcoin prices are trending -0.6% lower this morning, and trading at around $70 866 per coin currently 
• Ether prices are down around -0.7% today, and currently trading around $2152.87
• $Trumpcoin are currently trading lower at around $3.195

(All prices quoted at approximately 06H00 Central African Time) 

African General News Briefs:

• Congolese rapper, Gims, was arrested on arrival in Paris on yesterday as part of an ongoing investigation into money laundering. Africa Intelligence has reported that the singer, whose real name is Gandhi Djuna, was taken into custody at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport by the National Judicial Customs Service. Paris judges are investigating a complex money laundering network involving multiple shell companies set up in different countries.
• South African prosecutors announced yesterday, they intend to charge the head of police, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, over a $20-million health service tender, in a case that has at least a dozen other officers arrested and charged. Masemola has been served with a summons to appear in court next month, said Kaizer Kganyago, spokesman for South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority.The case centres on a now-cancelled 2024 police tender for health services awarded to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who is suspected of links to organised crime.