Know Afrika

CAPE TOWN-South Africa's annual consumer inflation accelerated to 5.0% in June 2026, up from 4.5% in May, marking the highest reading since June 2024 . In my opinion, this number is a fairly clean illustration of how little control a country like South Africa actually has over its own cost of living. A woman uses a trolley as she shops at a Pick n Pay store at the Dobson Point Shopping Centre, in Soweto, South Africa, March 19, 2024.  Fuel Is Doing Most of the Damage Statistics South Africa said transport was by far the biggest driver of the increase, with the annual transport inflation rate accelerating to 12.7% in June from 9.4% in May. Fuel prices themselves climbed 34.3% over the past year, driven by a 50.8% jump in diesel prices and a 31.7% rise in petrol prices . From my perspective, that surge into passenger transport inflation, up 8.1% in June alone, is the part of this story that matters most, since minibus taxi fares jumped 11.5% and that's the mode of transport mos...

The geopolitical landscape of the Arabian Peninsula is undergoing a profound transformation driven by forward-looking diplomacy. According to analysis published by The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune and the Gatestone Institute , states are increasingly prioritizing long-term development over historic political rivalries. The UAE's approach links national security, innovation, global connectivity, and economic diversification into a single strategic vision. By positioning normalization with Israel as an active component of its national advancement strategy, the UAE has successfully created an operational blueprint that balances strict defense requirements with rapid economic evolution, paving the way for a highly integrated regional tech ecosystem . Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, Foreign Affairs Minister of Bahrain Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and Foreign Affairs Minister of the UAE Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan after the sig...

The promise of an inclusive "Rainbow Nation" is under severe threat as a new wave of xenophobic violence sweeps across South Africa. In May 2026, the rhetoric of anti-immigrant groups escalated into physical confrontation, with reports of xenophobic mobs actively chasing and assaulting Black African migrants. In my opinion, this surge is not a random outburst of anger but a coordinated effort by groups seeking to scapegoat the most vulnerable for deep-rooted economic challenges. A man waves a stick in front a burning piece of furniture during a riot in the Johannesburg suburb of Turffontein on A man waves a stick in front a burning piece of furniture during a riot in the Johannesburg suburb of Turffontein on How Does Forced Business Closure Affect Migrant Entrepreneurs? Recent reports from Johannesburg describe a harrowing environment where vigilante groups conduct "community clean-ups" that frequently devolve into violent witch hunts. These mobs have forcibly s...

In my opinion, the dramatic escalation on April 3, 2026, where Iranian missiles downed two US military aircraft, an F-15E and an A-10, is not just a Middle Eastern affair. While critics suggest Emperor Dan Ojowa should focus solely on continental African issues, I believe this ignores a fundamental reality: the United States has become a "diaspora state" for the Ojowa Empire. What happens in the skies over the Persian Gulf directly dictates the economic and political pulse of the African community worldwide. Emperor Dan Ojowa, a Kenyan politician and the leader of the Alternative Progressive (AP) Party.  How does the Iran-US war affect African businesses? I suspect the economic "blowback" is already reaching our shores. With oil prices skyrocketing and the Strait of Hormuz choked , the cost of doing business for the African diaspora has tripled. I believe that because the US is the primary economic engine for our global base, a military quagmire there effectivel...