[Premium Times] An official said the vessel sailing under the flag of Sao Tomé and Principe with 12 crew members onboard, was arrested on 23 July within Nigerian waters.

[Ghanaian Times] President John Dramani Mahama has urged African governments to place the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at the centre of their development strategies to accelerate the continent's growth.

[Vanguard] The Zamfara Government says the Lithium mining processing plant will create over 2000 direct and indirect employment opportunities and develop mining sector and general economic development of the state and Nigeria.

[Independent (Kampala)] News Analysis -- NCBA Bank Uganda has launched two digital banking platforms aimed at transforming how individuals and businesses access and manage financial services, as competition in Uganda's banking sector increasingly shifts towards technology-driven solutions.

[Nyasa Times] Telekom Networks Malawi is pressing ahead with network investment despite persistent foreign-exchange shortages that continue to weigh on the importation of critical equipment, Chief Executive Michel Hebert told shareholders at the company's 31st Annual General Meeting in Lilongwe.

[AIM] Maputo -- A group of illegal miners have taken control of Nairoto gold mine, in the Montepuez district, in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.

[Premium Times] Internal Shell documents disclosed in a UK court case have exposed evidence of ageing pipelines, missing oil wells and an estimated $10.9 billion decommissioning liability, raising fresh questions over decades of pollution in Nigeria's Niger Delta.

[Scrolla] Trade officials have backed a new 20% import duty on peanut butter, saying local manufacturers are struggling against cheaper overseas products. Peanut butter is one of South Africa's cheapest sources of protein, but a 400 gram jar already costs between R39 and R55 in many supermarkets.

[Nyasa Times] Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) has raised expectations for a more stable power supply following the commissioning of a 20MW/40MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a project the utility hopes will begin addressing the country's chronic electricity shortfalls.

[Premium Times] The project is part of the Federal Government's ongoing efforts to modernise airport infrastructure and improve safety, operational efficiency, and passenger experience.

[GroundUp] NUMSA says Chinese company BAIC is paying far below industry rates

[Independent (Kampala)] Kampala -- As the world develops green hydrogen for industries from steel to aviation, Uganda is seeking to turn its renewable energy advantage into a new engine for industrial growth

[Reporter] CEO Mesfin Tasew awaits green light for retirement

[SAnews.gov.za] As Mandela Month draws to a close, the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in partnership with Sibanye-Stillwater and the Mineworkers Development Agency (MDA), has launched a food garden initiative in Marikana, aimed at improving food security and promoting community self-reliance.

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- The government says the Hustler Fund has now disbursed Sh90 billion to borrowers since its launch, highlighting growing uptake of the flagship credit scheme among micro and small enterprises as it seeks to expand access to affordable financing.

[Bird Story Agency] Aso-Oke has never been more fashionable, appearing on international runways and in luxury collections. But behind the vibrant fabric lies a quieter story: the women who built Nigeria's iconic textile trade are fighting rising costs, imported materials and disappearing skills to ensure a centuries-old tradition survives another generation.

[Bird Story Agency] A locally developed portable ginnery is helping Kenyan cotton farmers process their harvests closer to home, reduce losses and earn more by selling lint and seed separately. Its developers believe decentralised processing could help revive the country's cotton industry while keeping more value and jobs in rural communities.

[Nyasa Times] Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango has officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the rehabilitation of the M1 Road, a major project spanning from the Bunda Turnoff in Lilongwe to the Kameza Roundabout in Blantyre, with the launch event held at Linthipe 1, off the Lobi Turnoff Road in Dedza district.

[Capital FM] Onafriq, Africa's largest payments network, has partnered with leading stablecoin infrastructure provider, Privy, to strengthen its digital asset infrastructure and drive the development of stablecoin-enabled payment services for businesses across its network.

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- KCB Bank Kenya has secured Sh12.9 billion from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to expand lending to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with a focus on women, youth-led businesses and green investments.

[Liberian Observer] Liberia is preparing to take its extractive sector reform agenda to the global stage after the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) unanimously approved the country's participation in the 2026 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Global Conference in Belgium.

[Vanguard] ASABA -- Vehicle movement to and from Illah in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State has been disrupted following the collapse of the Illah-Ugbolu Road.

[New Zimbabwe] CABINET has approved the establishment of a national Task Force to combat illegal mining as the government moves to address the damage caused by unregulated mining activities across the country.

[New Zimbabwe] THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed the first review of Zimbabwe's 10-month Staff-Monitored Programme (SMP), projecting continued single-digit inflation while warning that economic risks remain.

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has welcomed a compromise between traders and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) that will see the customs benchmark value for consolidated cargo rise gradually, giving importers more time to adjust.

[New Times] If you are formally employed, you may have noticed a little less landing in your account each month. Since January 2025, the mandatory pension contribution rose from 6 percent to 12 percent of your salary, split evenly between you and your employer. Your share went from 3 percent to 6 percent.

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- Kenya has long wrestled with a familiar problem: while services account for more than half of the country's economy, manufacturing has remained stubbornly below the 10 per cent contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) envisioned under Vision 2030.

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- Kenya's public debt has climbed to Sh12.82 trillion, with loan repayments now consuming 71 per cent of all government revenue, leaving just 29 per cent to fund salaries, public services and development projects, Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o has told Parliament.

[Nyasa Times] A desperate gold miner has been crushed to death after an unstable pit caved in on top of him -- the latest tragedy to strike an illegal mining site that has now claimed 13 lives in less than a year.

[Nyasa Times] Innovators from Malawi's top agricultural university have urged smallholder farmers to adopt modern farming technology following their success at an international innovation contest.