One of President Trump’s first actions after beginning his second term in office, was to take aim at USAID, which doled out $40 billion in foreign assistance each year. Last week the administration cancelled 90% of its funding awards - the bulk of which are focused on projects in Africa such as tackling HIV and tuberculosis as well as responding to poverty and famine. In this special episode of the Next Africa Podcast we go across the continent as Jennifer Zabasajja speaks to Bloomberg rep...
Mar 06, 2025•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Nigeria’s Central Bank is allowing banks to increase the amount they charge for withdrawals at ATMs in a bid to tackle cash scarcity at lenders in the country. Nigerians are increasingly turning to cash agents who use card terminals to provide cash, for a high commission. On this week’s episode, Bloomberg’s Nduka Orjinmo joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain why these cash agents are so popular and whether the moves by the Central Bank will actually make any difference on the gro...
Feb 27, 2025•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast The first G20 summit on African soil has started in Johannesburg this weekend, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio refusing to attend the foreign ministers meeting. With President Trump’s new administration picking fights with allies and bringing Russia back in from the diplomatic cold, is multilaterialism still alive and will the G20 presidency meet South Africa’s ambitious goals? Bloomberg senior reporter Antony Sguazzin joins Jennifer Zabasajja to outline what’s at ...
Feb 20, 2025•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast With global tensions high amid a growing trade war, investors have been continuing to push gold to record high prices, pushing towards the $3,000 mark. With Africa producing a quarter of the world’s supply, will the demand for the precious metal see some of that wealth reach the continent? In this episode, Jennifer Zabasajja speaks to Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristow at the South Africa Mining Indaba, and he explains why he thinks the only way is up for gold - and what that means for investme...
Feb 13, 2025•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he won’t attend a G20 summit in Johannesburg later this month, after Donald Trump slammed South Africa over a new land law. The president's top ally Elon Musk has long trafficked in conspiracy theories about the Black-majority government seizing White farmers' land and committing a "genocide" against them. To discuss how Pretoria found itself in Trump's sights, Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by Bloomberg’s Deputy Managing Editor for Africa Neil Mu...
Feb 06, 2025•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast A Rwanda-backed rebel group effectively captured the vital eastern DRC city of Goma, after a lightning offensive this week that reportedly included support from Rwandan troops. On this week's episode, Bloomberg reporters Simon Marks and Michael Kavanagh, who’s covered the region for 20 years , join Jennifer Zabasajja to explain who the key players in the conflict are, what chance there is for a ceasefire and the risk this could spread into a wider regional conflict. For more stories from t...
Jan 30, 2025•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast The World Health Organization called on the US to reconsider President Donald Trump’s decision to exit the agency, suggesting the move could undermine global health security. On this week’s episode, Bloomberg’s health and consumer reporter Janice Kew joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain how planned departure would leave the WHO scrambling to replace its top donor, and how losing that funding could put the work that the WHO carries out on containing diseases such as HIV, polio an...
Jan 23, 2025•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast South African rescue workers retrieved 78 bodies from a disused gold mine in Stilfontein where hundreds of illegal extractors have been involved in a months-long standoff with the authorities. Civil rights groups said at least 100 people died from starvation after the mine was sealed off by the security forces to deny those underground access to food to force them to the surface. Bloomberg’s S’thembile Cele has been on the ground at the Buffelsfontein mine and joins Jennifer Za...
Jan 16, 2025•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast 'Detty December' is a phrase which refers to the annual pilgrimage of tourists and diasporans to Nigeria and Ghana during the festive period. It's a movement which has attracted global attention this year as thousands, including international celebrities, flocked to the region to soak up the sun and celebrations. 2024's revelry though has been set against a difficult economic backdrop of rising inflation and depreciating currency. Bloomberg's Tiwa Adebayo who recently returned from Lagos tells J...
Jan 10, 2025•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast West African leaders gave Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso six months to reconsider a withdrawal from the regional economic bloc in a final attempt to avoid its fracture. But with the military-led, Russia-aligned countries setting up their own bloc - the Alliance of Sahel States - is the future of West Africa more one of disunity than unity? Bloomberg’s West Africa Reporter Katarina Hoije joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain why the countries want to leave ECOWAS and what the future looks like ...
Dec 19, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast The swift collapse of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in Syria threatens a key Russian airbase in the country that Moscow has depended on to project influence throughout Africa. On this week’s episode, Bloomberg’s Simon Marks and Katarina Hoije join Jennifer Zabasajja to explain why these bases are so crucial to operations in Africa - and whether the regimes they are supporting have a plan B, if russia leaves them behind For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa n...
Dec 13, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Each year, up to 12 million young Africans enter the workforce, but only about three million formal jobs are available. So many Nigerians have left Africa's most populous country in recent years, the Yoruba term "japa" -- or escape -- has become shorthand for young people desperate to put their skills to use. After President Biden’s visit to Angola celebrating infrastructure investment - could the west be doing more to help Africa make the most of it’s talent rather than losing it to places like...
Dec 05, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast 2024 has seen elections all across the continent of Africa, but incumbents lost or saw their majorities shrink -- as in Botswana, Mauritius, Senegal and South Africa -- in a sign of growing disillusionment with leaders around the continent. Political commentator, author and Bloomberg columnist Justice Malala described this year of elections as ‘hard to watch’ . On this episode he joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain why he found it so hard, and if there’s any signs of hope for Democracy on the co...
Nov 28, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Resolute Mining CEO Terry Holohan and two other employees have been released from detention in Mali, just days after the gold mining company agreed to pay about $160 million to resolve a tax dispute with the government. On this week’s episode, our West Africa reporter Katarina Höije, and our Africa mining and metals reporter William Clowes join Jennifer Zabasajja with the story Subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Nov 21, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bitcoin notched another record high this week, climbing above $93,000 for the first time, with traders exuberant over President-elect Donald Trump’s rhetorical support for crypto. In Africa governments are looking nervously at the growing numbers of young people trading and investing in the token. Bloomberg reporters Bella Genga in Nairobi and Emele Onu in Lagos join Jennifer Zabasajja to discuss how Bitcoin is being used across the continent, and why regulators want more control. You can follow...
Nov 15, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast What would YOU like to hear about on Bloomberg? Help make shows like ours even better by taking our Bloomberg audience survey . Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes. Donald Trump has been elected president of the United States for the second time -- but with an American First agenda, and trade wars on the horizon, what could his presidency mean for US/Africa relations, a continent already far from the top of the US’s strategic priorities? Deputy Managing Editor fo...
Nov 08, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast What would YOU like to hear about on Bloomberg? Help make shows like ours even better by taking our Bloomberg audience survey . Gautam Adani, the indian billionaire, is investing billions in East African infrastructure projects, from powerlines and ports to to airports - but in Kenya, his deals have been suspended by a court, as protesters are worried about what the takeovers might mean for jobs. So? P R Sanjai, a senior Bloomberg reporter in Mumbai, and Helen Nyambura, our East Africa bureau ch...
Oct 31, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast What would YOU like to hear about on Bloomberg? Help make shows like ours even better by taking our Bloomberg audience survey . As Russia’s BRICS summit in Kazan comes to end, the Kremlin was keen to demonstrate that attempts to isolate Putin after the invasion of Ukraine have failed. On this week’s episode, Senior Reporter Henry Meyer, and Government Reporter S’thembile Cele join Jennifer Zabasajja to discuss the summit and Russia’s relationship with Africa - and what Russia and African leaders...
Oct 24, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast The worlds youngest country, South Sudan, depends on its oil revenue to fund the country, but a blocked pipeline in war torn Sudan to it’s north - has stopped the flow oil and the ability of much of the country to function. Simon Marks joins Jennifer Zabasajja to talk through his reporting from the region, and the despair from South Sudanese citizens feeling abandoned when’s the worlds attention is elsewhere, You can catch up on all the latest stories in the region in the Next Africa newsletter....
Oct 17, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Three months after deadly protests on the streets of Kenya, the country is facing more political instability. Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua faces being removed from office by lawmakers, after being accused of violating the constitution and formenting division in the country. East Africa Bureau chief Helen Nyambura joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain how Kenyans are reacting to this latest crisis, and why the country continues to face instability You can catch up on all the latest stories in ...
Oct 10, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Catastrophic weather events from floods and storms to extreme heat are becoming more common as the climate continues to change, but the impacts are being felt worse among disadvantaged communities. A new report from the World Bank has shown that South Africa's townships are on average 6 to 8 degrees celcius hotter than wealthier suburbs in the same cities. Ntando Thukwana joins Jennifer Zabasajja to talk about her reporting on this story - and what the South African government needs to do to try...
Oct 04, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast As his new refinery begins gasoline production in Nigeria, Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote spoke exclusively to Bloomberg news. On this week’s podcast, Nduka Orjinmo joins Jennefier Zabasajja to look at who Dangote is, how he built his wealth - and why he thinks his gigantic refinery could help end the country's reliance on fuel subsidies. You can watch the full interview here and read more of Nduka’s Nigeria coverage here. - and you can subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter for even mo...
Sep 27, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Coffee prices are continuing to rise as weather events continue to hit supply. In Uganda farmers are receiving as much as 7000 shillings ($1.89) per kilo - but the windfall is also attracting an unprecedented crime wave. On this episode of the Next Africa podcast, Soft Commodities reporter Mumbi Gitau joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain what’s behind the rising prices, and why it’s not all good news for the region’s farmers. You can read more on the rise in crime on Uganda’s coffee farms here - ...
Sep 19, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast As Bloomberg revealed this week, the Turkish government is in talks with Somalia over a potential rocket launch site in East Africa. So why is Africa attractive to the Space Industry and what’s holding the continent back from making the most of the space sector to boost its economies? Jennifer Zabasajja is joined by Bloomberg reporter Bruce Einhorn, from the Business of Space newsletter , and our Johannesburg based technology reporter Loni Prinsloo to find out whether the African space economy i...
Sep 12, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast As the 9th Forum on China and Africa gets underway in Beijing, African leaders could find a partner that's less willing to open the checkbook than before. Bloomberg's Neil Munshi and Peter Martin join Jennifer Zabasajja to explain what China wants from African investment and how a struggling economy at home means it wants bigger returns on investment - which may end up saddling countries on the continent with more unaffordable debt. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 04, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Two weeks since the Mpox outbreak was declared a global health emergency, cases have already been seen far beyond Africa. Scientists and public health officials are now asking whether this could have been avoided - and why we need to look again at how we treat tropical disease in Africa. Janice Kew joins Jennifer Zabasajja to give the latest on the response, what’s happening with vaccines and why children, who account for most of the deaths, will have to wait longer for a vaccine. Read all the l...
Aug 29, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast The price of gold has hit another record high, partly driven by demand from central banks that see it as a way of protecting themselves from economic and geopolitical turbulence. Africa's central bankers have been among the buyers, as they see the precious metal as a valuable shield in an uncertain world. Bloomberg’s Ray Ndlovu joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain the renewed interest in gold, and how long the trend might last. Read Ray's reporting on Bloomberg here See omnystudio.com/listener fo...
Aug 22, 2024•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast A mutated strain of Mpox in Central Africa has been declared a public health emergency of international by the World Health Organisation. About 15,000 cases have been reported so far in the DRC - but at least 6 other African countries have reported cases - and Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have reported their first ever Mpox cases. Bloomberg Healthcare reporter Janice Kew joins Jennifer Zabasajja with the latest updates, and whether the international community is doing enough to support Afri...
Aug 15, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast The ability to prove your ID for a bank account or for public services may be taken for granted in much of the world - but many countries still lack this basic infrastructure. It’s seen as so important - that it’s part of the UN’s sustainable development goals - but this push for biometric ID systems has also opened the door to corruption. An investigation by Lighthouse Reports in partnership with Bloomberg has shown how money intended to create ID cards in the Democratic Republic of Congo may h...
Aug 09, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast It should be Africa’s powerhouse, with major oil reserves and the continent's largest population. But Nigeria is facing the worse economic crisis in a generation. President Bola Tinubu has responded with radical reforms but, whilst seen by economists as the right thing to do, the measures are for now exacerbating the pain from the economic crisis and, one year into his term, Tinubu faces growing protests. So what’s gone wrong in Nigeria and does the government have the political will to fix it? ...
Aug 01, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
