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 stake, and what role other players like China and the EU have if the US steps back from Africa.

For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 investment in Africa. Plus, Bloomberg’s Ray Ndlovu joins from Bulawayo to explain why Zimbabwe’s gold backed currency just isn’t keeping pace with the rising price.

For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Munshi - and columnist and political commentator Justice Malala.

For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 and Ebola as well as a recent outbreak of lethal Marburg virus at risk

For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Zabasajja, to explain who the miners were, why the government was so keen to crack down on illegal mining - and how the operation ended in such tragic circumstances.

For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'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 Jennifer Zabasajja why some locals aren't sharing in the jubilation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 for West Africa diplomacy

For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.