2025 was a year of contrasts for Africa’s fragile democracies, resilient economies, devastating conflicts, and geopolitical milestones. While East and West Africa emerge as growth hotspots, debt distress, geopolitical tensions, and contested elections present ongoing risks. The digital economy is expanding, trade regimes are shifting, and competition for critical minerals is intensifying—all reshaping how and where business gets done.
In the report below, prepared by Alafarika for Studies and Consultancy, you will find some of the important events that shaped the continent in 2025 in the areas of politics, diplomacy, economics and development, regional security and stability, as well as geopolitical developments and international cooperation. The report concludes with forecasts for 2026, including youth activism, the electoral and political landscape, the risks of coups and governance, economic prospects, the changing business environment, security and regional crises, and shifts in international diplomacy.
The report indicates that African countries in 2026 may adopt a new principle that strengthens the continent’s position in the emerging global order. This principle will provide an opportunity to develop a clear strategy for effective engagement with international powers, taking into account the opportunities and constraints imposed by the new world order, despite the difficulty of coordinating among the continent’s diverse nations.