China in Africa: investment and trade work well when there’s strong oversight, and badly when there isn’t

China’s economic footprint in Africa has grown fast over the last two decades. Across the continent, Chinese-backed mines, oilfields, railways and industrial zones have gone from being ambitious projects to central pillars of national development plans. This has been made possible by over US$181 billion in infrastructure loans and about US$50 billion in foreign...

Iran has named their new Supreme Leader and Trump threatens to hit Iran harder

By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider  Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been named the new Supreme Leader in succession to his father who was murdered in an airstrike launched by the United States and Israel.  In addition to his father, his...

Protest at Nyanga Police Station due to growing taxi violence 

By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider  The Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) saw its constituents march outside of the Nyanga Police station on Monday morning, as they demand action against the grueling...

Trump’s New Envoy Faces Uphill Battle in Pretoria Over Gaza Genocide Case He is Tasked to Halt

By Thobile Jiwulane Donald Trump’s new Ambassador to South Africa, L. Brent Bozell III, may face a formidable challenge in carrying out his mandate: persuading Pretoria to withdraw its genocide...

Trump’s New Envoy Faces Uphill Battle in Pretoria Over Gaza Genocide Case He is Tasked to Halt

By Thobile Jiwulane Donald Trump’s new Ambassador to South Africa, L. Brent Bozell III, may face a formidable challenge in carrying out his mandate: persuading Pretoria to withdraw its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Bozell arrived in Pretoria last week, where Deputy Director‑General Clayson Monyela...

China in Africa: investment and trade work well when there’s strong oversight, and badly when there isn’t

China’s economic footprint in Africa has grown fast over the last two decades. Across the continent, Chinese-backed mines, oilfields, railways and industrial zones have gone from being ambitious projects to central pillars of national development plans. This has been made possible by over US$181 billion in infrastructure loans...

Gulf attention is turning inward: why the Iran war could destabilise the Horn of Africa

Gulf states have become increasingly prominent in the squabbles, civil wars and inter-country tensions in the Horn of Africa over the past decade. The countries in this region include Sudan, Ethiopia,...

War in the Gulf: Iran, Israel, and the United States Collide

By Mirna Fahmy The date of February 28, 2026, carried immense symbolic weight as it marked the tenth day of Ramadan and the Jewish Shabbat Zachor. This specific Shabbat is...
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Authentically Taiwan with all the flavours and finesse

By Virginia Keppler-Young Referring to himself as an authentic product from Taiwan, Representative Oliver Liao, a career diplomat of the Republic of China (Taiwan), not only presented authentic Taiwanese dishes, but he is a pro at flipping an oyster omelette. And he definitely knows how to make the tastiest Bubble tea,...

Gulf attention is turning inward: why the Iran war could destabilise the Horn of Africa

Gulf states have become increasingly prominent in the squabbles, civil wars and inter-country tensions in the Horn of Africa over the past decade. The countries in...

South Africa’s economy is picking up, but hasn’t reached a turning point yet – economist

In presenting the 2026 national budget to South Africa’s parliament on 25 February, finance minister Enoch Godongwana characterised this as the turning point in South Africa’s...
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Gulf attention is turning inward: why the Iran war could destabilise the Horn of Africa

Gulf states have become increasingly prominent in the squabbles, civil wars and inter-country tensions...

Trump claims he will choose the next leader of Iran 

By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider  On Sunday, United States President Donald Trump has expressed that the...

Strait of Hormuz: Gulf states’ food security is at immediate risk but wider shortages could push up consumer prices globally

The Iranian regime has announced the closure of the strait of Hormuz and threatened...

The Iran war and global trade: will the Cape route become the new normal?

Events in the Middle East during February and March 2026 again disrupted the flows of...

War in the Gulf: Iran, Israel, and the United States Collide

By Mirna Fahmy The date of February 28, 2026, carried immense symbolic weight as it...

South Africa’s economy is picking up, but hasn’t reached a turning point yet – economist

In presenting the 2026 national budget to South Africa’s parliament on 25 February, finance minister Enoch...

How did the climate split into two in early 2026?

By Mirna Fahmy In 2026, extreme weather has already made a strong impact across the...

The ANC’s Leadership Crossroads: Billionaire Politics vs Generational Renewal

By Thobile Jiwulane As Cyril Ramaphosa’s tenure as ANC president approaches its end in 2027,...

South Africa’s economy is picking up, but hasn’t reached a turning point yet – economist

In presenting the 2026 national budget to South Africa’s parliament on 25 February, finance minister Enoch...

De-risking Africa’s Mining Value Chains for investment, highlighted at Mining Indaba

By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider The Continental Extractive Industries Programme (CEIP) is a pan-African initiative which...

Africa hosts an estimated US$29.5 trillion in Mine-site mineral value 

By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider The Compendium of Africa’s Strategic Minerals was launched at the Mining...

Kidnapping Kingpin named at Madlanga Commission 

By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider  Mozambican kidnapping crime lord Esmael Nangy, has had his name featured...

Moroccan Caftan Inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List

10 December 2025 New Delhi - The Moroccan Caftan was added on Wednesday in New...

Qantas Airways direct flight to SA to boost tourism

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille on Monday welcomed the launch of Qantas Airways’ new...
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Ramaphosa willing to play mediator in the Iran/Israel Conflict

By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider  South Africa has put their hat in the ring in regards...

Ramaphosa’s 3.8% salary increase approved by Parliament

By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider  Members of the National Assembly have just approved the pay hike...

Load Shedding may be due for a return on the horizon

By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider According to the Synthesis Power Solutions director and energy expert, Thomas...

Iran war fallout for the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa: political analyst weighs up the risks

The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, in March 2026 marks the end...

Belgium reiterates Its support for Autonomy Under Moroccan Sovereignty

The Kingdom of Belgium reaffirmed on 2nd March 2026 in Rabat its clear and consistent...

“Voluntary” Repatriation: How South Africa’s ZEP Cancellation Violates Constitutional Rights

By Sacha Knox At Park Station in central Johannesburg, South Africa, hundreds of Zimbabweans queue...

Private credit rating agencies shape Africa’s access to debt. Better oversight is needed

Africa’s development finance challenge has reached a critical point. Mounting debt pressure is squeezing...

As Syria’s new government consolidates its power, the Kurdish minority fears for its future

Renewed fighting in Syria in recent weeks between government-aligned forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic...

What can the G20 offer for Africa as it draws to a close

By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider As the first G20 ever hosted on African soil draws to...

The Purple Resurgence

By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider  Over the past two weeks there has been a major purple...

Global finance reform key for sustainable development

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has called for...

Ramaphosa appoints new electoral commission team 

By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider  President Cyril Ramaphosa, has moved to appoint new members to be...

Morocco gains support from United Nations over Western Sahara

By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider  The security council of the United Nations (UN) have recently approved...

UN Security Council adopted a resolution backing Morocco’s autonomy plan in Sahara

The United Nations Security Council on Friday31 October 2025, adopted what diplomats described as...