Next Africa

Prinesha Naidoo, a Bloomberg reporter specializing in Africa's luxury hospitality market, joins to discuss the ultra-luxury tourism boom. She highlights exclusive offerings like a $50,000-per-night private villa in Tanzania and the surge of elite safari experiences. Naidoo also examines the substantial investments fueling this growth, the economic benefits for local communities, and the delicate balance between profit and environmental concerns. The conversation navigates the challenges of infrastructure and the emerging demands from Africa's rising middle class.

Opposition parties are protesting in Abidjan after court rulings blocked key opposition figures from standing in October’s presidential election. The decisions paved the way for 83 year-old President Alassane Ouattara to seek a controversial fourth term. On this week’s episode, Bloomberg’s Abidjan-based reporter Kamailoudini Tagba joins Jennifer Zabasajja and talks about what’s behind the process, how President Ouattara is regarded in Ivory Coast and what hopes there are for fair and peaceful elections in October.For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Somaliland, which proclaimed independence from Somalia in 1991, is willing to offer the US a military base at the entrance to the Red Sea and critical-minerals deals in its quest for international recognition as a sovereign state. On this week’s episode - Bloomberg’s Simon Marks joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain the history behind Somaliland and its independence claim, and whether this new plan to try and get US recognition will succeed.For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

African development banks are locked in a dispute with African nations like Ghana and Zambia over deals to restructure their debts.  As the countries finalize debt relief agreements with foreign lenders under the G20’s Common Framework, banks like Afreximbank and TDB are pushing back against deals forcing them to take losses saying it puts the future of African investment at risk.  Bloomberg Reporter Matthew Hill joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain what’s behind the dispute, what the bank’s leaders have been saying and whether a deal will eventually be doneFor more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

G20 finance ministers met in Zimbali in South Africa this week, but even with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent skipping the event - Donald Trump's trade policy dominated discussions at the expense of President Ramphosa’s agenda. In this episode Jennifer Zabasajja speaks to South Africa Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago about the impact of the global trade war, and Bloomberg Economist Yvonne Mhango joins Jennifer to explain how the latest moves on tariffs are affecting countries in Africa.For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Demand for coffee is growing globally - but despite much of it being grown on the continent, very little is roasted locally to be sold and drunk there. West African Entrepreneur Hadi Beydoun wants to change that.  In this week’s special episode of the Next Africa Podcast, Jennifer Zabasajja heads to Abidjan in the Ivory Coast to meet Hadi, the founder of Café Continent, to find out how he’s planning to bring homegrown, home-roasted coffee to the African market. Then Bloomberg’s Soft Commodities reporter Mumbi Gitau gives her analysis of the state of the global coffee market and Africa’s place in it. For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have agreed to bring an end to conflict in eastern Congo, where millions of people have died and multitudes have been displaced over the past three decades. But fighting continues and scores of armed groups continue to control parts of the region. In this week’s episode, Bloomberg’s Congo reporter Michael Kavanagh joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain how this deal came about now, what role the US and access to minerals played in the talks and what hope this deal has of leading to a lasting peace For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS, has told Bloomberg that US cuts to foreign aid have left the global fight against HIV in crisis.  Bloomberg healthcare reporter Janice Kew joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain what the reality is on the ground for HIV treatment in Africa, a continent that is home to 75% of all people living with the virus, and where alternative sources of funding could come from. You can read Winnie Byanyima’s interview with Mishal Hussain here, and for more stories from the region you can sign up to the Next Africa newsletter here  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Helen Nyambura, East Africa Bureau Chief, dives into the heart of Kenya's turmoil as protests erupt once more over police brutality and corruption. She analyzes the tragic death of an activist in custody that reignited public outrage and scrutinizes President Ruto's promises to combat corruption. The discussion also touches on the vital role of the IMF's involvement in reshaping Kenya's economy amidst diminishing trust in the government. Listeners gain insights into the youth's fight for justice and the broader implications for governance in the nation.

US President Donald Trump is proposing a 3.5% tax on remittances by non-citizens as part of the Republican tax bill currently working through the Senate.   On today’s episode of the Next Africa podcast we look at why this proposal could have major repercussions for African economies, particularly Nigeria, one of the world’s biggest recipients of remittances.  Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by  Dr Lydiah Kemunto Bosire, the founder of New York based 8B Education Investments, and hears how this makes America less attractive to Africa’s brightest students, and Nigeria Bureau Chief Anthony Osae Brown explains how reliant Nigeria is on remittances especially ofF the back of USAID cuts.  For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.