Talking Africa

We hear a lot about the East Asian Development Experience - But what is the African Development Experience?A new book book by Carlos Lopes tries to fill in the gap. It is called Africa in Transformation – Economic Development in the Age of Doubt.We talk structural transformation, how to rewire the states left behind after colonisation, and how ethno-nationalism can derail everything.

Cyril Ramaphosa had a tough task; to deliver a State of the Nation speech that lifts South Africans in these difficult economic times. And it didn't help that ANC Secretary General Ace 'Oops I did it again' Magashule re-inforced the sense that the President is not 100% in charge of the ship... With Southern Africa Editor Crystal Orderson, Editor in Chief Patrick Smith, and Managing Editor Nicholas Norbrook

Imagine you had spent blood, sweat and tears to build up a company, only to find out some corporate hijackers were trying to pinch it from under your very nose?In a preview of our Women who Lead podcast, we hear from the executive chair of Kalagadi Manganese, Daphne Mashile-Nkosi.

Nigerian fintech Carbon raised $5m in March, bought Amplify in April, and rebranded in May.How did you spend your last quarter?We ask Carbon CEO Ngozi Dozie if the fintech sector is reaching bubble status in Nigeria.For more visit www.theafricareport.com

After the 'budget of continuity', will it be more of the same from a new administration?And what are they up against?Serious challenges remain; dwindling oil production, the need to reward political loyalists, and no end in sight to the ethnic tension stoked by opportunistic leaders.

For Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, the recent clashes with Rwanda is small beer. The real prize, some believe, is political and economic influence in the DRC, across the border.Our editor-in-chief Patrick Smith recently caught up with President Museveni in Kampala.For more head to www.theafricareport.com

As Sudan's goes through wrenching political turbulence, a new generation of revolutionaries is driving change.Dalia El Roubi is an activist, and a member of the Sudan Congress Party.She was just ten years old when Omer al-Bashir seized power, and has been jailed for her resistance against the regime.Her father was a businessman, who created Africa's first battery factory with his brothers. But her real luck, she says, is the strong women in her family.For more, head to www.theafricareport.com

As South Africa enters the closing straits of the elections, we ask will President Ramaphosa get his majority? Are we looking at an era of coalitions in South Africa? Has the fight against corruption been progressing? And who might be in a Ramaphosa 2.0 cabinet?We speak to our South Africa Editor Crystal Orderson to find out.

The spate of informal mining has moved from the 'romantic image' of the lone miner with his mule, to the semi-industrial criminally-syndicated mining of today.So says the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo.And an increasing array of experts agree.Now, a new investigation by Reuters shows the UAE's gold imports are exploding -- much of which is unregistered. Read the report here => http://tiny.cc/b96w5yThat means the continent is missing out on billions of dollars of tax revenue: the schools, farms, power stations and ports that should be supporting Africa's future is instead being leaked out through corrupt means.We spoke to David Lewis of Reuters -- @DG_Lewis -- and Gregory Mthembu-Salter, a consultant at Phuzumoya -- @gmsalter -- to find out more.

How the CEO of Kenya's biggest bank built his empire, and where he is headed next.You can say hello on twitter @joshuaoigara.We met at our annual event, The Africa CEO Forum, held this year in Kigali.We talk about everything from:-today's protectionism,-how you build for scale,-the new Nairobi-Mombasa railway, fighting back against the idea that Kenya is drowning in debt.And Oigara explains what he intends to do next: after two terms in the CEO seat, his time at KCB is drawing to a close.But we started talking about the opportunity that KCB sees in Somalia => where some $10bn transits through the payments system each year.You can join the conversation @theafricareport or on our Facebook page, and say hi to Nick @nicknorbrook

How much power is the Sudanese military prepared to cede?Who are the Sudan Professionals Association?What was the impact of Sudan's decision to switch allegiance from Iran to the Gulf and Saudi Arabia?We don't know... but we spoke to a man who does: Ahmed Soliman from Chatham House.

On the pod this week: the advance of General Haftar's forces on the Libyan capital Tripoli.With Russia backing Haftar, and with 80% of arms sold by Russia in Africa going to Algeria, Moscow is becoming a strategic player in the region.We also talk about the fracturing security situation in Nigeria, the stepping down of the supreme court judge, and the age of austerity hitting Nigeria's diplomatic representations.With our West Africa editor Eromo Egbejule, Editor-in-chief Patrick Smith, and Managing Editor Nicholas Norbrook

How do you make a continent great? Integrate, of course. And with great difficulty, as it happens. We speak to three leaders from business and politics about the possible ways and means, from President Kagame of Rwanda, to the CEO of Kenya's largest bank, Joshua Oigara.

Everywhere the lament goes up: African economies are not integrated. We meet the man making it happen deal by deal, Amir Ben Yahmed, the force behind The Africa CEO Forum, which opens its door this Monday 25th March.And we talk about the devastating Cyclone Idai, which ripped through Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi earlier this month: what does the response say about the state decay in these countries, and how can the continent better plug into the green power revolution.

We talk:-latest results in Nigeria's elections leave us – with results from 6 states still delayed after what has been dubbed inconclusive results.-the wide disparity between the Governor and Presidential elections results,-the court cases to come; might they set precedents, as in Ghana, which while they may not help Atiku today, may help contenders in the future?But we also lose our cool about Brexit, and rally round the Algerian uprising.Featuring West Africa editor Eromo Egbejule, managing editor Nicholas Norbrook and our editor-in-chief Patrick Smith.

It's a sign of the times: popular pressure on creaking political structures across Africa. Cyril Ramaphosa is walking a tightrope act: radical demands from the grassroots, and the concerns of international investors on the other.And popular anger is already changing the face of Sudan and possibly Algeria — students, lawyers, familes and even elements of the military are starting to coalesce against aging regimes.A conversation with The Africa Report Southern Africa editor Crystal Orderson, Editor in Chief Patrick Smith, and Managing Editor Nicholas Norbrook.

What might Atiku's lawyers be cooking up?What would a second term for Buhari look like?When will The Africa Report ever recieve a gift package from the APC or PDP?Join West Africa editor Eromo Egbejule, Editor in chief Patrick Smith and Managing editor Nicholas Norbrook as they live in hopewww.theafricareport.com

As Nigeria heads to the polls tomorrow, Patrick Smith and Nick Norbrook discuss the big concerns; security, voter cards, turnout, and how any dispute will be mediated.And we look at the economic background, too: Shell has just signed off a huge investment in Bongo SW, just as Nigeria hits the oil companies for back payments.Sign up to our newsletter here: www.theafricareportcom

“Just ten years ago, the smallest bank in South Africa was bigger than the total of the top five Nigerian banks – that has changed”.So says Nigeria's Herbert Wigwe, CEO of Access Bank, who recently orchestrated the takeover of ailing Diamond Bank, creating Africa's largest bank by customer base.We talk about the deal, and we about the broader dynamics of the sector as it recovers from a rough patch after the oil price crash.Follow Herbert Wigwe on twitter @HerbertOWigwe, and join the conversation @theafricareportwww.theafricareport.com

Atiku Abubakar has been around for a long time in Nigerian politics; he even financed the campaign for Nigeria's first civilian president after military rule, Olusegun Obasanjo, becoming his vice president.Now he is the flag-bearer for the opposition PDP.As elections approach on February 16, we share this interview made late last year.For the very latest news and analysis, head to www.theafricareport.com and sign up to our newsletter.