Breaking News Today - Tuesday 8 September 2026

African Start-up News Headlines:

Nigerian payments startup Nomba has secured a US$3 million debt facility to scale its cross-border business from US$480 million to US$1 billion monthly. The payments platform is set to target expansion into new territories, starting with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), followed by Zambia and Uganda. Nomba now processes more than US$480 million a month, and it is aiming to scale that to US$1 billion and beyond after securing further capital.
Nigerian startups Trade Lenda and AirSmat have raised a combined US$450,000 from the Africa Ecosystem Catalysts Facility, a US$4 million pilot investment facility aimed at identifying founders often overlooked by traditional investors, which is making its first investments in the country. Managed by Village Capital with funding from the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency , the Africa Ecosystem Catalysts Facility aims to provide early-stage capital for startups in Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania

Headline News Today

Major Data Centre Development Opened in Kenya

Digital Reality, has announced the opening of the 6.4-megawatt (MW) Nairobi Two Data Center (NBO2), expanding its Nairobi campus. The opening coincides with iColo’s transition to be rebranded as Digital Realty in Kenya and Mozambique and expands the company’s capacity and interconnection footprint in one of East Africa’s key digital infrastructure markets.

Built alongside the Nairobi One (NBO1) data centre, NBO2 strengthens a campus that has been designed and built for cloud, interconnection and data-driven growth in East Africa. Customers are now able to connect to more than 100 networks, two internet exchange points and a satellite teleport, creating a dense ecosystem for content delivery, cross-border connectivity, data sovereignty strategies and resilient digital services. The satellite teleport provides an additional route for connecting remote locations where terrestrial infrastructure is limited.

Democratic Republic of Congo sees Copper Exports Grow

Copper cathode deliveries from the DRC, who are the world’s second-biggest copper-producing nation, has hit a record 53,290 metric tons in July, according to the latest U.S. trade data. That volume gives the country, a not-insignificant 23.9% share of overall imports to the US market. The new milestone has also exceeded 220,000 tons for the first time as traders have pushed to ramp-up metal imports, ahead of a potential new tariff implementation in the US.

The numbers highlight the rise in popularity and importance of the DRC’s copper in the United ⁠States, which imported less than 32,000 tons of copper from the country in the whole of 2024. With hostilities in the country ended, the Congo now has a lot more to sell due to higher production volumes. The tightening supply of copper globally, driven by US import surges is also driving copper futures higher into record territory. The additional income is set to be a boost for African copper producers such as DRC.

Constrained Economic Growth in South Africa Expected to Continue

The South African rand is trading just below 16 per USD, holding close to its strongest level since the Iran war began in late February, amid growing expectations of rate hikes and economic data releases due today. Quarter 2 GDP numbers are due to be released this morning with analysts expecting GDP contraction. Growth in African large economy has all but stalled with Q1 growth a mere 0.5% and with Q4 of 2025 closing at only 0.4%.

Key economic data released recently showed most major sectors of the economy such as mining, manufacturing, automotive and construction, all dipping into negative territory with the overall PPI number for the second quarter hitting -1%

Breaking Business and Market News Shorts:

MultiChoice has cut the price of its DStv Premium package in South Africa to R799, with the access fee included. It has also reduced the price of its stand-alone sports packages in an attempt to revive subscription levels of the flagging entertainment platform. Canal+ acquired Multichoice, at the end of 2025 in a deal valued at over R50 billion.

China’s imports jumped 28.2% year-on-year to USD 282.4 billion in August 2026, accelerating from a 27.5% increase in the prior month and extending double-digit growth for an eighth consecutive month. However, the latest reading fell short of market expectations for a 30% rise. In January–August

Copper futures have climbed to above $6.7 per pound this morning nearing fresh record highs as expectations of new US import tariffs on the metal continued to encourage traders to redirect shipments toward US warehouses, tightening supplies elsewhere.
Brent crude has lifted more than 1.2% to above $98 per barrel this morning, hitting at its highest level in six weeks, after Iran said it's possible agreement with Oman, to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was nearing completion, fuelling concerns over Tehran’s growing control of the key waterway.

South African agricultural exports rose 10% in the second quarter from the same period a year ago, lifted by higher volumes and better prices. The total shipments of R65.4 billion were a record for the second quarter, according to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa.

Markets by Numbers

Currencies:

Currency markets indicate the US dollar losing momentum today. The Greenback is trading against the Euro at 1.16352 while trading against the Pound at 1.35525. The Yen is currently trading at 153.27 to the dollar. The rand (ZAR), is currently losing steam, and above the key R16.00 mark, trading at the 16.01 mark against the US dollar this morning.

Commodities:

Gold futures have gained around 0.2% this morning, and currently trading at around $4414.52 per ounce.
Copper prices are 0.63% higher today, with prices currently around $6.6864 per pound
Silver futures are up around 0.16% today, and currently trading at around $66.248 per ounce.
Platinum futures are down around -0.46% this morning, and currently trading at $1834.00, While Palladium is around -0.6% lower today, and currently trading around $1403.50 per ounce.
Lithium is trading -0.5% lower today and currently at CNY/T 146 750
Brent crude oil prices are trending higher today, up over 1.2%, and currently trading around $98.37, with WTI trading at $93.69 currently
Cocoa futures have lost around -0.21% today, and currently trading at $6175 per ton.
Coffee futures are -0.92% lower today, and currently trading at around $2.9298 per pound

Crypto Currencies:

Bitcoin prices are -0.69% lower today, and trading at around $78 533 per coin currently
Ether prices are -0.67 lower this morning, and currently trading around $2474.03

(All prices quoted at approximately 08H15 Central African Time)

African General News Briefs:

Kenya's government has offered temporary amnesty to undocumented East African nationals, after hundreds of Burundians flocked ‌to the Burundian embassy in Nairobi yesterday seeking travel documents. The illegal immigrants now fear a crackdown on small-scale traders from abroad. Kenyan President William Ruto last week called on authorities to close down all small-scale businesses operated by foreign traders, starting on Monday, following a meeting with Kenyan traders
The husband of Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, passed away yesterday while undergoing treatment in a hospital in Zanzibar, according to a statement from the country’s vice president. Hafidh Ameir Hassan became Tanzania’s first gentleman in 2021, when his wife took office as the country's first female president following the death of President John Magufuli. Hassan had been receiving treatment for a heart condition.