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The final meeting ahead of the Africa Forward Summit which takes place in Nairobi, Kenya. (@ForeignOfficeKE/X)

From summits to substance: Europe’s chance to meet Africa on its terms

The clustering of Africa summits in 2026 is not coincidental. It reflects a continent whose geopolitical and economic weight is growing and whose governments are increasingly…

Global reality: Africa plays an increasingly central role in global debates surrounding development finance, climate governance, migration and international peace and security yet it does not have influence. Photo: APS

“You don’t get what you deserve; you get what you negotiate”

As the global order becomes more multipolar, opportunities for African agency are expanding. Yet these opportunities will only translate into meaningful influence if African…

Under fire: The cargo ship Mayuree Naree was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz. The Thai-flagged ship had
departed Khalifa Port in the UAE on 11 March before coming under attack. Photo: Ae Pek

SA warns of economic shock as Iran war expands

Iranian retaliation and Israeli air strikes are spreading across Gulf states and Lebanon, rattling energy markets and exposing deep divisions at the United Nations

Bracing: Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has warned that if the conflict is not resolved soon, it could
have serious implications for South Africa. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

Mideast war: Treasury rallies to cushion blow

As Iranian conflict rattles oil markets and raises economic risks for South Africa, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is building a scenario plan to assess the implications for…

Iranian ambassador Mansour Shakib Mehr. (X)

Iran’s envoy in South Africa defends retaliatory attacks on US bases in the Middle East

Ambassador Mansour Shakib Mehr said Tehran’s actions ‘are directed at military bases used against us’

A citizen holds a placard as a group gather in Palestine Square in the Iranian capital Tehran, staging a demonstration to support Iran’s drone and missile attacks on Israel on April 15, 2024. Carrying Iranian and Palestinian flags, the demonstrators chanted slogans against Israel. (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images)

‘Bad for business’: Gulf states scramble to avert wider war

Much is at stake for the wealthy, US-friendly Gulf states, whose expensive economic diversification plans rely on a peaceful environment for business and tourism