The mining sectors in Zambia and DR Congo have taken a severe hit following the decision of the international mining company Glencore to suspend its mining operations at its Mopani Copper Mines venture in Zambia and Katanga Mining venture in DR Congo for 18 months starting September 2015. Miners in both countries face regulatory uncertainty, high production costs and prices which have fallen considerably over the past twelve months in response...

The Zambian economy has been expanding at a rapid pace in recent years, but is facing uncertain times in 2015. Global copper prices fell sharply in December and January, and in March were trading around 20% below the levels achieved a year earlier. Copper exports are by far the single largest contributor to export earnings in Zambia (typically accounting for around 70% of total merchandise exports) and the fall in copper prices is undermining...

Gabon has a mobile penetration rate of around 190% (at end-2014), which is one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. The country’s telecommunications sector could receive a boost over the next few years from the roll-out of more extensive 3G and 4G mobile networks. Service providers have invested heavily to expand their infrastructure across Libreville and Port Gentil, which is likely to intensify competition between the three service providers...

The slump in global oil prices since mid-2014 is taking its toll on Africa’s oil exporters. For instance, Angola has seen its realised and projected export earnings plummet and has been forced to revise down its fiscal revenue and spending plans by around US$14bn in its Budget 2015 proposals compared with estimates tabled in late 2014. Meanwhile, the state-owned oil company (Sonangol) published its preliminary results for 2014 at end-February...

Ethiopia successfully piloted its first mobile money-transfer service (M-BIRR) in 2013 and 2014. It now has its sights firmly set on rolling out mobile money networks in the hope of reducing transaction costs and increasing financial inclusion throughout the country. Foreign firms are providing services to support the development of mobile banking in Ethiopia, which includes the wider roll-out of M-BIRR and introduction of competing services...

Nigeria and Cameroon have signed a series of agreements to strengthen trade and commerce between the two countries. However, a section of Cameroon’s north-western border with Nigeria was closed by the Nigerian authorities in February in an attempt to block the free passage of the militant Islamist group Boko Haram. The group is waging a campaign of violence in north eastern Nigeria and has reportedly used areas in north-western Cameroon to...