India Seeks Fertilizer Supplies From Africa as Gulf Routes Come Under Pressure
This has exposed vulnerabilities for India, the world’s most populous country, the second-largest fertilizer consumer, and a major agricultural producer. The shift toward diversifying fertilizer sources beyond the Gulf could create new commercial opportunities for African producers. On March 17, Reuters reported that the United States had also opened discussions with Morocco to secure fertilizer supplies. India is both the world’s largest exporter of rice and the main supplier to Africa, holding about 40% of global market share. As a result, fertilizer availability and pricing between June and August will directly influence rice prices toward the end of 2026.
Source:The North Africa Journal
April 01, 2026 17:32 UTC
Otto Addo: Kurt Okraku takes responsibility for sacking
Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku has taken responsibility for the sacking of coach Otto Addo. GFA President Kurt Okraku has spoken for the first time since Otto Addo was dismissed as Black Stars coach. In an exclusive interview with #3Sports, he tells @OtiAdjei why the FA parted ways with Otto Addo. When asked about how tough the decision to sack Otto Addo was, the University of Liverpool graduate had this to say. Ghana will play at its fifth FIFA World Cup in Canada, USA and Mexico where they are paired in Group L alongside Panama, England and Croatia.
Source:The North Africa Journal
April 01, 2026 17:25 UTC
Brand Africa launches inaugural Africa CMO 100 – Windhoek Observer
Staff WriterBrand Africa has announced the launch of the inaugural Africa CMO 100 (ACMO100), a new initiative recognising the 100 most impactful marketing, brand and reputation leaders shaping Africa’s global narrative, identity and economic progress. Namibia is represented on the list by marketing executive Tim Ekandjo, alongside a diverse group of leaders from across Southern Africa. The ACMO100 builds on over 15 years of research by Brand Africa, which shows a persistent gap between belief in the continent and the prominence of its brands. According to Brand Africa founder and chairman Thebe Ikalafeng, chief marketing officers and senior brand leaders play a pivotal role in shaping perceptions and influencing consumer trust across the continent. Regionally, Southern Africa leads with 39 honourees, largely driven by South Africa, which alone accounts for 31% of those recognised.
Source:The North Africa Journal
April 01, 2026 17:08 UTC
Ekpo Seeks Regional Action To Unlock Africa’s 600tcf Gas Reserves
Ekpo Seeks Regional Action to Unlock Africa’s 600tcf Gas ReservesThe Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has called for stronger regional coordination, infrastructure development, and collective action to unlock Africa’s more than 600 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves and tackle widespread energy poverty across the continent. These include the West African Gas Pipeline, Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline, Nigeria–Equatorial Guinea Gas Pipeline, and the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline. To unlock the full benefits of Africa’s gas resources, Ekpo identified four major areas requiring urgent cooperation. “The future of Africa’s energy lies not in isolated pipelines, but in connected systems, shared markets, and collective ambition,” he said.
Source:The North Africa Journal
April 01, 2026 16:59 UTC
Gulf War III sets up a multifaceted energy crisis
Issue 541 - 01 Apr 2026 | 9 minute readAfrican economies are feeling the impact of war in the Middle East, with importers of fuel, agricultural inputs and other goods blocked in the Strait of Hormuz already feeling pain that will likely get worse, and even oil and gas exporters under pressure, writes James Gavin.
Source:The North Africa Journal
April 01, 2026 16:00 UTC
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Malaga-based 'tunnel boss' manages drug-trafficking network 19 metres underground in Ceuta
The tunnel is far superior in technology and engineering when compared to the tunnel the Guardia Civil discovered in February 2025. If the Ceuta drug tunnel were a rope, the police currently only have one end in their grasp. Only the final section of the drug tunnel and its exit through Ceuta are known, hidden by a complex camouflage system that was almost impossible to find. In that second warehouse, also abandoned, the police found one of the entrances to the drug tunnel. The drug tunnel, unlike others discovered in recent years, was allegedly neither rented nor used by other organisations.
Source:The North Africa Journal
April 01, 2026 14:33 UTC
Insane Wall Of Dust Sweeps Across Africa
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Source:The North Africa Journal
April 01, 2026 14:32 UTC
How Police discovered a secret drug tunnel from Morocco to Spain
NewsSpanish police have discovered a complex underground tunnel used to smuggle large amounts of drugs from Morocco to Spain. Spanish police have discovered a complex underground tunnel used to smuggle large amounts of drugs from Morocco to Spain. Police said the tunnel had three levels and looked like a maze, similar to a mining tunnel. One of the leaders was arrested on March 26 in Morocco and is also linked to another tunnel discovered last year. Spain is a major entry point for drugs into Europe because it is close to Morocco, one of the world’s biggest producers of cannabis, and has strong connections with Latin America.
Source:The North Africa Journal
April 01, 2026 13:30 UTC
Three more airlines to boost Malaysia’s global connectivity, expanding reach into Asia, Africa — MAHB
SEPANG (March 31): Three additional airlines are expected to enhance Malaysia’s global air connectivity and provide access to new growth markets in Asia and Africa. Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani said the additions are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s aviation ecosystem. “Operating three times weekly, the route opens a new North African corridor with no direct competition and complements existing African connectivity via Ethiopian Airlines and Air Mauritius. The route was secured through MAHB’s partnership with the airline via Routes, a global aviation forum where airports and airlines meet to develop new air services. Meanwhile, Qingdao Airlines, which operates three weekly flights, has become the ninth Chinese carrier operating at the Penang International Airport, expanding access to secondary Chinese cities.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 31, 2026 19:05 UTC
Why this North African city’s UNESCO status makes it 2026’s top destination for bookworms
Or, in the case of UNESCO’s World Book Capitals, making a beeline for cities dedicated to fostering literacy, lifelong learning, copyright protection and freedom of expression. Since 2021, UNESCO has designated one city around the world, each year, as its World Book Capital. Rabat is the UNESCO World Book Capital for 2026 saiko3pSo, where are bibliophiles headed in 2026? A year of celebrations across the city begins on 23 April 2026, on World Book and Copyright Day. The Moroccan city’s claim to this year’s UNESCO World Book Capital follows the likes of Rio de Janeiro in 2025, Strasbourg in 2024 and Accra in 2023.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 31, 2026 13:05 UTC
Resilient by design: How Africa is rethinking energy security and infrastructure
In an exclusive studio interview with Energy Connects at EGYPES 2026, Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) explores how ongoing global disruptions are reinforcing the need for resilient energy systems across Africa. From strengthening downstream infrastructure and harmonising fuel standards to unlocking investment and developing human capital, the discussion highlights a growing push towards intra-African energy collaboration. With energy security now firmly in focus, the episode examines how Africa can build integrated, self-sustaining supply chains to meet rising demand and future-proof its energy landscape.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 31, 2026 13:00 UTC
VaulFi, Noah roll out stablecoin bridge for North Africa payments
VaulFi, a stablecoin-powered neobank operating in North Africa, and Noah, a global payments infrastructure provider, have announced a partnership to offer freelancers and remote workers in the region direct access to international payments through virtual bank accounts that settle in stablecoins. Under the traditional SWIFT system, settlement delays can extend to 21 days, with receiving fees ranging from USD 40 to USD 80 per transfer. VaulFi accepts local documentation for KYC, designed to ensure access for workers who may not hold internationally recognised identification. Commenting on the news, Safa Korti, Co-Founder of VaulFi, said the partnership is aimed at giving people access to global financial tools and ensuring financial access regardless of geographic location. Shah Ramezani, Founder and CEO of Noah, said the partnership gives a freelancer in North Africa the same financial access as a developer in Paris or New York, making the complexity of cross-border finance invisible.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 31, 2026 12:59 UTC
More drilling in North Sea ‘not the answer’ for UK energy security, say former military leaders
More drilling in the North Sea would do nothing to improve the UK’s energy security, former military leaders have said, as a new analysis finds no fossil fuel importer is safe from chokepoints in the global supply chain. They made the comments as the Conservative party leader, Kemi Badenoch, launched a “get Britain drilling in the North Sea” campaign on Monday. “It will not bring down the price for consumers, nor will it deliver long-term energy security. He argued that the UK needed an energy strategy that was “focused on greater energy efficiency to reduce demand”. Tessa Khan, the executive director of Uplift, said this underlined the irrelevance of calls to “max out” the North Sea, describing them as “vapid, political game-playing at the expense of ordinary people”.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 31, 2026 12:51 UTC
BBC Studios, CosmoBlue extend partnership into Turkey and MENA
BBC Studios and CosmoBlue Media have widened their strategic partnership with the launch of the COSMO EN channel and BBC Player in Turkey. COSMO EN is now available on D-Smart, Tivibu, beIN and Kablo TV, while BBC Player has gone live on the COSMO GO app. COSMO EN will carry a curated line-up of BBC Studios programming, spanning drama, factual entertainment, natural history and children’s content. BBC Studios said the offer will expand further in later phases of the rollout. Alongside COSMO EN and BBC Player, CosmoBlue Media will also support the regional distribution of BBC Studios channels including BBC First, BBC Earth and CBeebies across Türkiye and MENA.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 31, 2026 11:32 UTC
What are the potential implications of Houthi Attacks?
While the direct effect of renewed strikes on shipping in the Red Sea on aggregate world trade is likely to be limited, the impact on Asian economies that rely more heavily on oil imports from Saudi Arabia would be more significant. Pakistan, the Philippines and Japan are particularly vulnerable. The bigger threat to the global economy would be via higher oil prices. An effective closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait would push us closer to our “adverse” macro scenario for the war, in which the slowdown in global GDP growth is sufficient to meet most definitions of a global recession.
Source:The North Africa Journal
March 31, 2026 10:51 UTC