Libya has been designated a high priority for the current U.S. administration, according to senior officials from the U.S. Embassy. Speaking at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit 2026 in Tripoli, Mike LaRocque, Economic and Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy to Libya, said the country holds elevated strategic importance for the U.S., citing both the scale of American corporate activity on the ground and the level of attention Libya is receiving within the administration. “You can see that not just in the number of companies operating here, but in the high visibility within the current administration. “We have had great support from the authorities in Libya and I encourage U.S. companies to come in,” shared Dag Sanner, President and General Manager for Libya, ConocoPhillips. “Libya is a high priority to the administration – and that engagement is only going to deepen,” LaRocque concluded.

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The Libyan Council for Oil, Gas and Renewable Energy (LCOGRE) and Business France have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration between French and Libyan companies. The agreement was signed by Philippe Garcia, Director for North Africa at Business France and Dr. Khaled Ben Othman, Chairman of LCOGRE, during a France-Libya Roundtable held at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit 2026. Sponsored by Business France, the roundtable brought together public and private-sector stakeholders to advance bilateral dialogue and identify new opportunities for cooperation in oil, gas and renewable energy. The agreement comes as bilateral trade between Libya and France continues to rise. Dr. Othman added, “I hope that in the future we will make renewable energy and gas projects in the Libyan market together.”

Historically, the country’s militarized immigration enforcement practices have played out closer to the U.S.-Mexico border. And for decades, agents with Customs and Border Protection have carried out most deportations near the border, not ICE. But Trump during his second presidency has greatly shifted immigration enforcement north into the interior of the U.S. And ICE has played a central role. The full impact of the deportationsThe Trump administration in early 2025 set a goal of deporting 1 million people during its first year. Roughly $67 billion goes toward immigration enforcement at the border, including border wall construction.

Jonathan Miller, Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Channel 4 News, London, UK"Since the demise of reporting on Africa in Western newspapers, and especially in the UK, in recent years, Africa Confidential has become ever more indispensable to anyone trying to make sense of the continent. Karl Maier, Africa & Middle East Editor, Bloomberg News"We regard Africa Confidential as one of our best and most reliable sources of information and analysis." Intelligence Assessment Service, Privy Council Office, Government of Canada"You are the best reporter on Africa alive. Also well organised and easy to browse through and access to the different articles." Lt. Col. Daniel Martella, Military Planning Service, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations

South Africa’s Nedbank to acquire 66% stake in Kenya’s NCBA GroupNCBA Group (NSE:NCBA) has announced that it has received a strategic investment proposal from Nedbank, relating to the acquisition of approximately 66% of its share capital through a tender offer. If completed, the transaction would result in NCBA becoming a subsidiary of Nedbank, while the remaining 34% of the shares would continue to be listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Operating across several East and West African markets, NCBA has established itself as a leading banking group, serving more than 60 million customers through a network of 122 branches. To date, Nedbank has maintained only a representative office in the region, limiting operational integration complexities following the transaction. Completion of the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals from the relevant authorities, including central banks across the jurisdictions involved.

In previous Ramadans, Muslims living in parts of northern Russia, Greenland and Iceland have faced unique challenges, with fasting times stretching well beyond 16 hours or, in rare cases, shortening dramatically due to polar day or night. In such circumstances, many follow religious guidance to fast according to the nearest moderate city or the timings of Mecca.

Pharmaceuticals topped Greece’s industrial exports in the third quarter of 2025, with 78% destined for European countries, the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) reported. Exports of pharmaceuticals, including medicines and consumables, reached €675 million, up 6.3% from the same period last year. Canned fruits and vegetables exports totaled €470 million, and oils and fats reached €263 million. Pharmaceutical exports in 2024 totaled €2.8 billion, stable compared with 2023 but slightly below 2021 levels of €2.9 billion, when exports surged during the pandemic. Imports of pharmaceuticals fell 1.8% to €4.3 billion in 2024, keeping the trade deficit at €1.5 billion, down from €1.6 billion the previous year.

This configuration supports compliance with European fuel standards but leaves the system structurally exposed to transportation fuel demand trends. Contrary to expectations of a steady contraction, gasoline demand across the Iberian Peninsula has not been declining. Based on data from January-November 2025, this year’s annual rate of growth in Spanish gasoline demand jumped to 8%. Across Europe, stricter climate policy targets are becoming a central determinant of downstream strategy, pressing refiners to adapt even if near-term fuel demand remains resilient. For Moeve, the transaction consolidates control over a more diversified Iberian downstream system and provides access to a stable crude supply through Galp’s overseas portfolio.

Inetum Espana has been selected to deliver Entry/Exit System (EES) infrastructure for passenger terminals at the ports of Algeciras and Tarifa, according to local reporting tied to the Autoridad Portuaria de la Bahia de Algeciras. The deployment supports the European Union’s EES program for non-EU travelers and will equip the ports with biometric capture and verification workflows linked to Spain’s national border control systems. Reports note that the procurement includes auxiliary staff training and operational support to help border officers manage the new equipment during the transition. Inetum’s role reinforces its position as a systems integrator in European biometric border initiatives, which include broader efforts around biometric enrollment and coordinated modernization across member states. The reports expect the new controls to be operational before the summer 2026 travel season, adding two high-volume ports to Spain’s network of EES-ready border points.

A Golden Moment With ConstraintsDuring this transformative time for health tech in MENA, countries across the income spectrum are seeking cost-effective, sustainable solutions to long-term healthcare challenges. In health tech, safety and reliability must always take priority over rapid traction. Initially motivated by clinical impact, founders soon find that the majority of their time is consumed by marketing, finances, hiring, business development, and constant pitching. Design for heterogeneous systems: MENA healthcare systems span public, private, and out-of-pocket dominant models. Raghda Rashad, MBBS, MSc, is an Egyptian physician and the founder of Nawara Health, a health tech startup advancing women’s health literacy across the MENA region.

The global data centre map tells a blunt and uncomfortable story. Compute power is concentrated in the Global North while Africa sits at the edge of a digital world it increasingly depends on. More than 70% of global data centre capacity is concentrated in North America Europe and East Asia. As a result, most African data is stored processed and governed outside the continent. Who owns African data who sets the rules for its use and who benefits from the intelligence derived from it?

Indian manufacturer Tata Sons’ defense arm is stepping up its overseas ambitions as India pushes to expand its militaryindustrial base and boost arms exports in Africa from its Morocco factory. The conglomerate is in talks to supply military hardware to several African and European countries, senior executives told the Financial Times. In September, Tata took a major step abroad by opening a defense factory near Casablanca, its first ever overseas military production site operated by an Indian private company. “All platforms are already being proposed to countries abroad,” said Sukaran Singh, chief executive and managing director of Tata Advanced Systems. Describing the Moroccan site as an “entry point into Africa,” Singh said the company is in “deep discussions” with potential buyers across the continent and Europe.

Our nowcast highlights the strength of France's growth performance, with an estimate of 0.3% q/q for Q4 after a strong figure in Q3 (+0.5% q/q). In Q4, growth would once again be supported by industry, with another strong performance in aeronautics and an improvement in capital goods. GermanyWe estimate that German growth reached 0.3% quarter-on-quarter in Q4 (based on the annual figure published at 0.3% and the figures already published for the first three quarters). This growth marks an acceleration, following stagnation in Q3. The German economy is benefiting from a rebound in industrial production, driven by capital goods, linked to an increase in public spending.

The resurgence comes alongside sustained performance from non-agricultural activities, bolstered by strong domestic demand and price stability, according to recent data from the High Commission for Planning (HCP). The primary sector overall is forecast to expand 10% in 2026 compared to 3.7% in 2025, contributing 1.1 percentage points to national economic growth versus 0.4 points in 2025. Secondary activities registered remarkable 4.8% growth in 2025 and should advance nearly 4.2% in 2026, maintaining their contribution to national growth around 1.1 percentage points for both years. The tertiary sector confirms its resilience with projected 4.3% growth in 2026 after 4.5% in 2025, contributing 2.3 points to GDP growth. Tourism and hospitality continued their strong recovery with nearly 9.7% growth in 2025, supported by increased tourist arrivals, solid travel receipts, and enhanced destination promotion.