TRUMP IMPOSES TRAVEL BAN ON AFRICAN STATES
In early June, President Trump signed a new travel ban impacting several African nations. The order bars citizens from Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia and Sudan, and restricts travel from Burundi, Sierra Leone and Togo. Critics have called the move discriminatory and harmful to African communities. The White House, for its part, has cited concern over visa stays and vetting procedures as justification for the measure. In response, Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby announced an immediate suspension of visas for U.S. citizens. The African Union also spoke out against the move, raising concerns about the humanitarian and diplomatic consequences for the targeted African nations. (New York Times, June 4, 2025; Horn Observer, June 6, 2025)
NIGERIA EYES BORDER FENCING TO COMBAT MILITANTS
Nigeria’s defense chief has proposed fencing the country’s borders with Chad, Niger, Cameroon, and Benin to address regional insecurity. The countries in question face growing threats from militant groups, while Nigeria itself continues to grapple with both the al-Qaeda-affiliated Boko Haram and Islamic State-aligned insurgents. The move reflects growing frustration in Lagos with porous borders and cross-border violence. The country’s Defence Chief of Staff, General Christopher Musa, has emphasized the importance of better border management, noting that Nigeria is a target due to its perceived wealth. Nigeria’s longest border is with Cameroon, and that boundary is a hotspot for the Boko Haram terrorist group. (Reuters, June 4, 2025)
CHINA DEEPENS CONTINENTAL TIES AMID RECORD TRADE
China's trade with Africa hit a record high of 963.21 billion yuan ($134 billion) in the period of January-May 2025, a 12.4% increase from a year earlier, the PRC’s General Administration of Customs reported. Exports increased 20.2% and imports increased 1.6%, making China-Africa trade 5.4% of China's total foreign trade.
The economic growth is a consequence of Beijing strengthening diplomatic ties with a number of powerful African states. South Africa is one of them. During a recent visit to Beijing by South African Defense Chief General Rudzani Maphwanya, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun pledged support for South Africa amid a U.S. decision to fast-track asylum for 59 white South Africans – claims of racial persecution that Pretoria has denied. Dong condemned "hegemony and bullying" and reaffirmed the history of China-South Africa relations, emphasizing a shared vision. Maphwanya, in turn, commended China for its long-standing support for the South African military, calling the Chinese military a “sincere friend and partner.” (China Daily, June 9, 2025; South China Morning Post, June 23, 2025)
NIGER EYES FRENCH-OPERATED URANIUM MINE
Niger plans to nationalize an Orano uranium mine, a predominantly French-owned nuclear company, following a recent wave of state mine nationalizations across the region. The Nigerien government says the decision was due to Orano’s “irresponsible, illegal, and unfair behaviour,” along with its relationship to the French government. The decision reflects broader shifts away from the former colonial power, which began after the 2023 coup that brought the current Nigerien junta to power. Mine workers have thrown their support behind the West African government and said output will continue despite the tensions. Orano, which has already lost operational control over its other major sites in Niger, is now pursuing legal remedies and demanding compensation. (Al Jazeera, June 20, 2025; Reuters, June 23, 2025 )
NIGERIA, BRAZIL INK $1 BILLION DEAL TO MODERNIZE AGRICULTURE
Nigeria and Brazil have signed a $1 billion agreement to modernize the African state’s agriculture sector and deepen cooperation in energy and defense. Announced during a visit to Abuja by Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, the deal will fund mechanized farming equipment, training programs, and service centers across the country. Nigerian Vice President Kasim Shettima framed the agreement as a pivotal step toward shifting from subsistence farming to large-scale production, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s broader economic reform agenda. With a population of over 200 million and ongoing reliance on food imports, Nigeria is aiming to boost food security and attract foreign investment as it targets a $1 trillion economy by 2030. (Reuters, June 24, 2025)
DEADLY CLASHES ERUPT IN KENYA ON ANNIVERSARY OF TAX PROTESTS
On the year anniversary of deadly demonstrations over Kenya’s controversial tax plan, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Nairobi to decry rising economic hardship, police brutality, and corruption on the part of the government of President William Ruto. The protests turned violent, with security forces using tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons and live rounds to try and control the crowd, ultimately killing at least 8 citizens. Rights groups accused authorities of using excessive force and detaining protesters without due process, reviving concerns over last year’s deadly crackdown that left over 60 dead. Demonstrators, many of them young and mobilized via social media, chanted “Ruto must go,” as critics warned the unrest signals a deepening crisis in public trust. (New York Times, June 25, 2025)