The Horn — that comprises Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea — is a highly strategic spot on one of the world’s busiest trade routes between the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean and lies just across the Red Sea from the Middle East. … The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has the most visible — and most criticised — presence in eastern Africa. Its support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries in Sudan is widely documented, albeit officially denied. … The competition is forging new alliances. There are rumours of a military agreement in the works between Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Somalia in order to counter Emirati influence. Somalia already cancelled all existing agreements with the UAE last month. Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous country with some 130 million people, is also being drawn into the power plays. … The mega-rich Gulf monarchies have a dangerous amount of influence over the poor, conflict-ridden countries of east Africa, said Ethiopian researcher Biraanu Gammachu. “It’s an asymmetric relation between emerging middle power countries and donor-dependent states… The Gulf countries’ influence in the Red Sea sustains the instability in the region,” he said. AFP

A bond ladder is a portfolio of fixed-income securities in which each security has a significantly different maturity date. The purpose of purchasing several smaller bonds with varying dates of maturity rather than one large bond with a single maturity date is to minimize interest-rate risk, increase liquidity, and diversify credit risk.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in partnership with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), announces the publication of the 12th edition of the Africa Sovereign Credit Rating Outlook. This edition provides a comprehensive review of rating actions by Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s (S&P), and Fitch Ratings across African economies, outlining how global financial conditions, fiscal pressures, and governance reforms shaped sovereign credit trajectories throughout the year.

According to the report, during the second half of 2025, several African countries experienced sovereign credit rating upgrades driven by improved macroeconomic performance, fiscal consolidation, and progress in debt restructuring. As an example, Côte d’Ivoire was upgraded by Fitch based on strong political stability, sustained growth above 6%, and proactive debt management strategies, including Eurobond buybacks and diversification into Samurai bonds. On the contrary, Botswana’s rating was downgraded both by Moody’s and S&P, following a sharp fall in diamond revenues, which weakened fiscal balances and exposed vulnerabilities linked to limited economic diversification. However, the country has maintained its investment grade status. Outlook changes across the continent were mixed, signalling evolving risks and opportunities. For instance, Cape Verde, has received a positive outlook revision by S&P, indicating the potential for future upgrades if current improvements are sustained. 

UNAIDS welcomes the signing into law of a bipartisan US$ 5.88 billion spending package that reinforces the continued commitment and leadership of the United States in the global response to HIV.

US President Donald Trump signed the consolidated spending package into law on 3 February 2026 which allocates US$ 4.6 billion to bilateral HIV support through the America First Global Health Strategy, US$ 1.25 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and US$ 45 million to UNAIDS. 

“I thank President Trump and the US Congress for their continued commitment to HIV and global health,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “This US investment will provide life-saving support for millions of people in partner countries and help to ensure that the global HIV response remains efficient, data-driven and delivers results.”

The law advances the America First Global Health Strategy, which emphasizes the achievement of UNAIDS’ 95-95-95 targets as an integral part of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and accelerates the strategic shift towards country ownership and self-reliant HIV responses.