☑️The Winner is...?
Good Morning -
Donald Trump is back. It has been a long and wild campaign ride, but how will Trump deal with Africa this time? Will it mean more trade and commerce, or more false promises and insults?
Commodities
Trending 📈
Teflon Don has done it again! The 78-year-old bombastic billionaire made one of American history's most historic political comebacks. After a sweeping victory in 2016 - which shocked the world - to a devastating defeat in 2020, to a dramatic win in 2024. This political campaign had it all - a president who had a terrible debate performance (Biden) which subsequently led to his replacement (Harris) taking the reigns, which stimulated the Democrats with money and energy, then two assassination attempts on (Trump) who climbed back and broke down the “Blue Wall” to secure his victory. African politics ain't got nothing on American politics!
After outrage from across the globe, the Nigerian government has released 29 minors who were held and charged with treason for their activity in protests in Nigeria over the summer. Treason charges are capital offenses and usually end up with execution. Nigeria did the right thing by releasing these minors because there would have been international upheaval if they didn't.
Business 💸 💹
The African Atlantic Pipeline - this is a gas pipeline project that will connect 13 nations to help stimulate local economies and boost trade and development. Nigeria, Morocco, and ECOWAS (what's left of it) met to reaffirm their commitment to this multi-billion dollar project. A few key points about this project:
With an estimated cost of $26 billion, the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) combines two major projects: the $975 million West African Gas Pipeline Extension Project, which spans 678 km, and the 5,669 km Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, anticipated to cost around $25 billion.
The project aims to capitalize on Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves, boosting the country’s revenue, diversifying its gas export routes, and reducing gas flaring. It will supply gas to Morocco, 13 ECOWAS countries, and Europe, fostering economic integration within the region.
The pipeline extends 5,300 km from Nigeria to Dakhla in Morocco, with an additional 1,700 km of onshore pipeline running from Dakhla to Northern Morocco. [source Naira Metrics]
Finance 🪙 💹
Bitcoin is balling! The most famous cryptocurrency in the world recently hit an all-time high when it eclipsed $75,000. This rally is attributed to the “Trump effect” since Trump who is a promoter of the currency will soon take power. The coin’s previous high was around $73,000 earlier this year. Is this new high sustainable? How stable will this currency be, and will it usurp the dollar anytime soon for regional and international trading?
Tech 🧑💻 📲
Africacom will be held in South Africa in the coming weeks. It is one of the largest gatherings for thought leaders in the technology and telecom space in Africa. This meeting will highlight several initiatives including:
4G/5G integration in Africa and the growth potential.
How to have a connected Africa - bridging the digital divide.
Innovation in media and entertainment.
There will be a lot of good news out of this event - so stay tuned.
Real Estate 🏦 🏘️
We know AI is coming - well no - it's already here. There will be no areas of industry that will not be affected by its advancement. One area that caught our eye, is the use of AI in architectural design. AI can already create great artwork - so designing buildings should be no surprise. Check out the three images below - the first is an actual building in Lagos (Cathedral Church of Christ). The following two are AI-inspired interpretations of this church (fascinating!), what do you guys think?
Which version do you like the best?
Small Chop 🗞️🍲
What's going on in Equatorial Guinea? This case could make PDiddy look like an angel! A government official was recently arrested for allegedly recording over 400 incidents of indecent sexual activity ( on official property) that included many wives of high-ranking officials - including the president's sister and many prominent officials. The man - Bello Engonga- is the Director General for Financial Investigation and has now entered serious wahala!
Dish of the Week 🥘🍛
Ok, since we are in Equatorial Guinea, we may as well see what they like to chop there. We asked around and the locals told us that the most popular dish is - Succotash. The dish has roots in North America where Indigenous peoples ate this widely. How did it come to be the national dish of an African country you ask? Well, they say freed slaves that came back to Africa brought this dish back. Succotash is a medley of corn, beans, tomatoes, and other vegetables. It wasn’t my fave, but I ate it.
