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South Africa to Withdraw Troops from UN Peacekeeping Mission in Congo, Impacting Regional Stability

South Africa to Withdraw Troops from UN Peacekeeping Mission in Congo, Impacting Regional Stability

South Africa has announced its decision to withdraw its troops from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This decision comes after 27 years of involvement in the mission, during which South Africa has deployed over 700 troops. The move is part of a broader strategy to realign the resources of South Africa's armed forces. The decision was communicated to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The withdrawal is set to be completed before the end of 2026. This development occurs amidst ongoing conflicts in the region, particularly involving the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who are seeking to establish control over parts of eastern Congo.
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South Africa to Withdraw Troops from UN Peacekeeping Mission in Congo by 2026

South Africa to Withdraw Troops from UN Peacekeeping Mission in Congo by 2026

South Africa has announced its decision to withdraw its troops from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This decision was communicated by President Cyril Ramaphosa to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The withdrawal is part of a strategic move to 'realign' the resources of South Africa's armed forces. South Africa has been a part of the U.N. peacekeeping efforts in Congo for 27 years, with over 700 soldiers currently deployed. The U.N. mission, which has nearly 11,000 troops and police, aims to counter various rebel groups in Congo's eastern regions. The withdrawal process is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with South Africa continuing to maintain bilateral ties with Congo and supporting multilateral peace efforts.
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South Africa to Withdraw Troops from UN Mission in Congo by 2026

South Africa to Withdraw Troops from UN Mission in Congo by 2026

South Africa has announced its decision to withdraw its troops from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This decision, communicated by President Cyril Ramaphosa's office, is part of a strategic move to realign the resources of South Africa's armed forces. South Africa has been a part of the UN peacekeeping efforts in the DRC for 27 years, with over 700 soldiers currently deployed. The UN mission, which has nearly 11,000 troops and police, aims to counter various rebel groups in the DRC's eastern region, an area plagued by conflict for decades. The withdrawal process is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with South Africa working closely with the UN to finalize the timelines and modalities.
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Orion Minerals Secures $250 Million Facility with Glencore for Prieska Development

Orion Minerals Secures $250 Million Facility with Glencore for Prieska Development

Orion Minerals Secures $250 Million Facility with Glencore for Prieska Development
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Angola Pursues 20%-30% Stake in De Beers Amid Declining Diamond Prices

Angola Pursues 20%-30% Stake in De Beers Amid Declining Diamond Prices

Angola is actively negotiating to acquire a 20%-30% interest in De Beers, the diamond unit of Anglo American. This move comes as part of broader discussions with other African diamond-producing nations. De Beers, a leading global diamond enterprise, operates in several countries, including Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, and Canada. The company is currently up for sale by Anglo American due to declining diamond prices and the rise of synthetic diamonds. Initially, in October 2025, Angola bid for a majority interest in De Beers but later adjusted its goal to seek a minority holding. Angola's National Director of Mineral Resources, Paulo Tanganha, highlighted the risks associated with taking a majority stake in luxury commodities, emphasizing the need for a sustainable portion for the economy. The acquisition will be managed by Angola's state-owned companies, Endiama and Sodiam.
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South Africa keen to utilise new ECB repo lines, central bank governor says

South Africa keen to utilise new ECB repo lines, central bank governor says

By Marc Jones COVENTRY, England, Feb 7 (Reuters) - South Africa would be keen to utilise new European Central Bank repo lines if available, the country's central bank head Lesetja Kganyago said on Saturday, adding that his country's interest-rate-cutting cycle still had some way to go.
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Paramount Group Expands into Ukraine's Armoured Vehicle Market

Paramount Group Expands into Ukraine's Armoured Vehicle Market

Paramount Group, Africa's largest private defence company, is expanding its presence in Ukraine's armoured vehicle market. The South African-based company, founded by Ivor Ichikowitz, is leveraging its European subsidiary, Paramount Greece, to enter the market amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The company showcased a locally adapted Mbombe 4 vehicle to Ukrainian defence stakeholders, marking a significant engagement with a conflict-zone customer. This move comes as South Africa navigates complex diplomatic ties with Russia while maintaining a policy of non-alignment.
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South Africa Launches First Locally Produced FMD Vaccine in 20 Years to Combat Livestock Disease

South Africa Launches First Locally Produced FMD Vaccine in 20 Years to Combat Livestock Disease

South Africa has achieved a significant milestone in animal health with the release of its first locally produced foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine in two decades. The initial batch of 12,900 doses is set for distribution across six provinces, including North West, Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and the Eastern Cape. This development follows the decommissioning of local production facilities in 2005. The initiative, led by Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), aims to rebuild the country's vaccine production capacity and enhance its response to FMD outbreaks. The vaccine is expected to bolster biosecurity, protect livestock, and support agricultural trade. Industry leaders, including Dewald Olivier of Red Meat Industry Services, have praised the local production as a critical step forward, emphasizing its role in maintaining market access and farmer productivity.
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China Grants South Africa Duty-Free Market Access Amid U.S. Tariff Tensions

China Grants South Africa Duty-Free Market Access Amid U.S. Tariff Tensions

China has agreed to allow duty-free imports of selected products from South Africa, as part of a trade agreement currently being finalized. This development comes as South Africa seeks to diversify its markets and expand exports, amid strained relations with the United States. The U.S. had imposed 30% tariffs on certain South African products, raising concerns about potential job losses. South Africa's Trade Minister, Parks Tau, is set to travel to China to sign the agreement, which aims to provide South African exports with preferential access to the Chinese market and attract Chinese investment. China has become South Africa's largest single-country trading partner, surpassing the European Union in 2023. The agreement is expected to benefit sectors such as minerals and agriculture, which dominate South African exports to China.
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South Africa and China Sign Trade Agreement to Boost Economic Ties

South Africa and China Sign Trade Agreement to Boost Economic Ties

South Africa and China have signed a framework trade and investment agreement aimed at enhancing economic relations between the two countries. The China-Africa Economic Partnership Agreement (CAEPA) was signed in Beijing by South Africa’s Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau and China's Minister Wang Wentao. The agreement seeks to provide duty-free access for more South African products to the Chinese market and facilitate Chinese investment in South Africa. It covers trade, investment, and multilateral cooperation, with a focus on new energy. The agreement is expected to deepen bilateral trade relations and protect South Africa's industrial capacity. An 'Early Harvest Agreement' is anticipated by the end of March 2026.
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South Africa's New Data Portal Reveals Power Generation Project Pipeline

South Africa's New Data Portal Reveals Power Generation Project Pipeline

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has launched a new data portal, the 'Generation Customer Connection Data Dashboard,' providing insights into the country's power generation projects. The dashboard includes projects that have received or applied for grid connection budget quotes, indicating serious development activity. It shows 204 projects with a combined capacity of nearly 24 GW, including operational, in-execution, and planned projects. Solar PV dominates the technology mix, with significant capacity in the Free State province. The dashboard highlights ongoing investor interest despite grid constraints and structural uncertainties in the electricity supply industry.
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Frontier Rare Earths Secures IDC Investment and Partners with Carester for South African Project

Frontier Rare Earths Secures IDC Investment and Partners with Carester for South African Project

Frontier Rare Earths Secures IDC Investment and Partners with Carester for South African Project