One of the most significant international trade ramifications of the Houthi blockade through the Bab El Mandeb Strait has been the choking of the Suez Canal affecting the Red Sea economy, while also causing shifts in Africa's maritime landscape. We delve into how the Cape of Good Hope is beckoning a relook at the Cape’s ports’ untapped potential while the Red Sea ports in Somaliland and Egypt are experiencing a paradoxical rise in their geostrategic stakes, potentially reshaping the landscape of global trade.

China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched with ambitious global economic goals in 2013, now stands at a crossroads. Since 2013, China has poured over $1 trillion into the BRI, positioning it as a central pillar of engagement with emerging markets like Africa, Asia, and Latin America. However, concerns surrounding the initiative’s impact, especially in Africa, have prompted China to reassess its engagement on the continent. Reports of non-performing loans and financial distress among recipient countries have prompted Chinese policymakers to adopt a more cautious investment strategy, shifting away from solely state-backed loans. Subsequently, China is transitioning from infrastructure loans to fostering Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), a strategy that could potentially alleviate Africa's debt burden while diversifying China's regional involvement. This shift towards PPPs could redefine China-Africa economic relations, moving beyond the "debt-trap diplomacy" narrative.

Money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF) have long cast a shadow over the global financial landscape. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog against ML and TF, actively develops and advocates for policies that protect the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF achieves this by persuading countries to implement its recommended strategies, which may mean policy reforms, as seen in Kenya’s recent implementation of new policies in key sectors. However, the FATF's approach has not been without controversy, as accusations of disproportionate targeting raise questions about the fairness and efficacy of the global financial system.

AI has proven to be a powerful data synthesizer, churning through information at lightning speed. However, this brilliance has limitations. It lacks the human touch, and the ability to grasp context, build trust, and navigate the nuances of emotion. Where AI stumbles, humans excel, finding optimal solutions within the intricate dance of human interaction. But the landscape is shifting already. Big firms are building their AI to marry the speed of AI’s abilities with their consultant's experience. This raises certain questions: for boutique consultants, is open generative AI a friend (enabling faster delivery) or foe (weakening analytical capabilities)? What qualities will set human consultants apart in this AI-infused future? Botho’s Gulf Lead, Naam Chakravarty, delves deep into this here.

Imagine a world where people and goods are able to cross borders with ease, a world without customs agents and outsized tariffs, a world where all barriers to trade have vanished and a unified market leads to economic prosperity. To many, this would be the ideal, but unfortunately reality often diverges from the paragon. The Pan-Africanist concept propelled by the AfCFTA and its corresponding push towards seamless trade across borders is compelling, but what unfolds when geopolitical tumult shakes the very foundations of these aspirations? The continent’s complex geopolitical landscape cannot be ignored. Let’s explore this through the lens of the topic du jour, the mutual security pact between Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, commonly referred to as l'Alliance des États du Sahel (AES).

Displaced people make up over 1% of the world’s population and it is generally neighbouring countries, themselves struggling with development challenges, that bear the heavy burden of having to receive and support them.

Over the years, the elections in the Sahelian region have been marred with conflict, as incumbent leaders cling to power. In contrast, Liberia has been consistently upholding its commitment to peaceful democratic transitions, including the most recent election, when President George Weah gracefully accepted defeat, allowing President-elect Joseph Boakai to take office following a tightly contested race won by a mere 1.28% margin. This peaceful transition, reminiscent of the one in 2017, not only highlights Liberia's growing political stability, but also prompts a closer look at whether the nation's efforts to fortify its democracy might provide insights into what appears to be a year teeming with elections across neighboring countries.

As the dust settles after the long anticipated COP 28 held in the UAE late last year, there is a growing sense of optimism among developing nations, with African countries in particular looking forward to the implementation of the Climate Loss and Damage Fund (LDF). Initialized at COP 27, the LDF was officially endorsed and operationalized at COP 28 with the aim to support nations that contribute minimally to greenhouse gas emissions, yet bear the brunt of climate change effects.

In the complex mosaic of global trade, it is rare to encounter a technology which maintains mindshare across several years. Distributed Ledgers are one such technology, transcending geographies and institutions. Today, it is led by the increasing focus on Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). Several pilot programs have been launched to assess the viability of CBDCs for international trade, with economies of the Global South driving the momentum.

Botho, in partnership with African Business Magazine, the AfCFTA Secretariat, Afreximbank, AUDA-NEPAD, International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, and the International Trade Centre, is happy to announce the launch of the 2023 edition of the third annual PAFTRAC Africa CEO Trade Survey Report.

The report, based on a survey of more than 1000 CEOs from across the continent, reveals the effects of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the current and future trends of African trade flows, and the trade-related ambitions and obstacles of the respondents. It also highlights the need for more cooperation and dialogue between the private sector and policymakers to boost trade facilitation and innovation.

The power of storytelling to engage people emotionally and connect them to a cause can create change. With this vision in mind, Botho Emerging Markets Group, in collaboration with Asphalt & Ink, conducted a study commissioned by the Luminate Group to identify the barriers to collaboration between strategic communications firms, donors, and change agents in Kenya.

Our research found that collaboration between these actors can amplify change agents' work and influence policy. This study looked at commonplace practices within the operations of communications firms and change agents to identify opportunities for collaboration and recommend ways both parties can overcome barriers that hinder effective cooperation.

Every year, between US$ 250 billion to US$ 1 trillion is deployed in Zakat and Sadaqa in and from Muslim-majority countries. Estimated to run into tens of billions of dollars annually, Saudi Arabia collects 2.5% of net Zakat-taxable earnings, while Kuwait gathers 1% of earnings from public companies. Nevertheless, the Gulf’s considerable philanthropic contributions remain relatively unrecognised on the global stage. A sizeable portion of these contributions has been directed to Africa- a region that has attracted growing Gulf attention when it comes to investments and cultural exchange in the past decade.

When examining trade in Africa, it is impossible to overlook the significance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to establish a unified market for goods across the continent. Moreover, it's compelling to assert that AfCFTA through its advocacy plans for regional integration as well as its unique trade partnerships programs has acted as a catalyst for bolstering refugee enterprises in Africa.

Africa is one of the most susceptible regions in the world to climate change. This is due to its high dependence on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture and limited access to resources and technology for coping with adverse climate change effects. Amidst the array of solutions available to tackle the devastating effects of climate change in Africa, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a potential game changer for incorporating tools like predictive analytics and machine learning in the fields of agriculture, water, weather modeling, and wildlife conservation to combat the effects of climate change.

Françafrique, the popular expression used to define France’s contemporary relationship with Africa, was first coined in the aftermath of World War II. The expression has been more en vogue recently, commonly used to describe the European nation’s interest networks, commercial activities, and lasting influence in parts of the continent. France’s preeminence in its previous colonies is, unfortunately, not always positive. The country has been accused of complicity in several of the coups which have taken place in the continent over the past decades, trying to maintain economic control of its former colonies through the CFA franc currencies, and providing military support to uphold the political status quo. Considering the scale of its past influence, Françafrique in the 2020s is beginning to show cracks.

The worsening extent of state fragility observed in certain West African nations is a potential hindrance to regional economic advancement. The slew of recent coups in the region, particularly in Niger, demonstrate the state of political turbulence that threatens to tear apart the country’s social fabric, sending shockwaves through an economy already grappling with instability, trade disruptions, and an escalating humanitarian crisis.

The expansion of the BRICS coalition heralds the dawn of a new age, with the bloc poised to better represent the interests of the Global South on the world stage. Over 40 countries expressed a desire to join BRICS in the buildup to its summit in August 2023, demonstrating the growing desire for collaboration between emerging global powers. The new additions to BRICS are all important players in their respective regions, and their accession to the bloc could have significant geo-economic implications. One of the most interesting developments to emerge from BRICS’ evolution is the unified desire to trade in local currencies.

In the vast and diverse continent of Africa, a transformational idea is taking root. The concept of e-mobility, with its promise of cleaner transportation and reduced dependence on fossil fuels, has captured the imaginations of individuals, governments, and organizations alike. However, the rapid adoption of e-mobility in Africa faces substantial obstacles due to limited local production capabilities, which leads to a fragmented supply chain. Hence, establishing local battery manufacturing facilities that develop a robust, sustainable delivery network is a key factor in paving the way for the broader adoption of electric vehicles in Africa.

The Middle East, long a focal point of energy geopolitics, has traditionally seen Iran and Qatar as dominant players in gas, while Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq and Kuwait have primarily focused on crude oil. However, a transformative shift is now on the horizon, as Gulf nations venture into gas production.

In recent years, Africa has witnessed a remarkable surge in efforts to foster regional integration and economic growth. Recognizing the potential benefits of enhanced trade relations among African countries, policymakers and stakeholders have taken proactive measures to develop and implement tech-driven policies that facilitate cross-border trade among countries in the continent and beyond.