Next Africa

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is causing turmoil in energy markets, and is also hitting the price and supply of crucial fertilizers.   On this week’s episode Bloomberg’s Agnieszka de Sousa and René Vollgraaff join Jennifer Zabasajja to discuss why the Strait of Hormuz is so crucial to fertilizer supplies, and how energy shortages and rising costs could have far reaching effects on Africa’s farmers and the price of food For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ethan Bronner, Bloomberg’s Israel bureau chief, analyzes Israeli strategic moves in the Red Sea. Simon Marks, Bloomberg East Africa reporter, reports from Somaliland on politics and security. They discuss Israel’s rationale for recognizing Somaliland. They explore possible base sites, regional pushback, and how this shifts strategic calculations in the Horn of Africa.

S’thembile Cele, a South Africa government reporter, and Neil Munshi, Bloomberg’s Middle East and Africa editor, discuss U.S. fixation on Nigeria and South Africa. They trace how political and evangelical narratives pushed claims of persecution. They examine how both countries respond diplomatically, the role of U.S. domestic politics, and security and trade tensions shaping relations.

Yvonne Mhango, a Bloomberg Economics Africa economist who models macro impacts, and Stephen Stapczynski, a Bloomberg energy reporter who tracks oil and gas markets, discuss rising energy prices and supply risks. They cover sharp moves in jet fuel, shipping and gas. They map which African countries gain or suffer, the role of chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, and how price paths hinge on conflict duration.

Mumbi Gitau, Bloomberg soft commodities reporter covering cocoa markets and West African production. She maps the causes of cocoa’s price collapse and how manufacturers cutting chocolate use worsened demand. She explains why fixed farm-gate pricing in Ghana and Ivory Coast is creating exporter and inventory headaches. She outlines the risk that wild price swings could become the new normal and when retail chocolate might get cheaper.

Kjetil Tronvoll, a Horn of Africa scholar, and Simon Marks, an East Africa reporter, unpack troop buildups near Tigray. They discuss reasons Eritrea was left out of the Pretoria deal. They explore Ethiopia’s push for Red Sea access and shifting Tigrayan alliances. They map regional proxy ties and the risk of wider spillover across the Horn.

William Clowes, Bloomberg reporter on African mining and geopolitics, and Matthew Hill, Bloomberg commodities reporter with on-the-ground Mining Indaba coverage. They discuss the upbeat Mining Indaba atmosphere and rising global demand for critical minerals. They cover Africa’s vast undeveloped mineral wealth, new infrastructure corridors like Lobito, and how Congo and Zambia are leveraging deals and geopolitics for better terms.

Precious metals soared last month in a rally underpinned by speculative momentum, geopolitical upheaval and concerns about the Federal Reserve’s independence. However, market watchers warned that the advances had been too large and too swift. The surge came to a sudden halt at the end of last week, with silver seeing its biggest daily drop on record and gold plunging the most since 2013. On this week’s episode of the Next Africa podcast, Bloomberg Intelligence’s Metals and Minerals analyst Emmanuel Munjeri and Bloomberg Metals and Minerals Reporter Jack Ryan join Jennifer Zabasajja to talk through the last few weeks on the metal markets, whether new African projects could soon be greenlit and what else to look out for in the coming weeks. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Toni Fola-Alade, co-founder of Do Good Africa and charity leader, recounts her Makoko school being torn down and efforts to rehouse students. Anthony Osae-Brown, Bloomberg’s Nigeria bureau chief, explains large-scale waterfront demolitions, safety and compensation claims, and how informal land rights complicate displacement. They discuss privatized waterfronts, urban renewal pressures, and calls for inclusive resettlement.

Chinese mine operators in Zambia started paying royalties and taxes in yuan in Africa’s second-biggest copper producer, the latest sign of the growing acceptance of the currency on the continent.   On this week’s episode, bloomberg reporter Matthew Hill and Bloomberg Economics Africa Economist Yvonne Mhango join Jennifer Zabasajja to discuss why China wants to boost the use of its currency, what’s in it for African countries, and whether there’s a risk of US retaliation For more stories from the region, you can subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.