China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched with ambitious global economic goals in 2013, now stands at a crossroads. Since 2013, China has poured over $1 trillion into the BRI, positioning it as a central pillar of engagement with emerging markets like Africa, Asia, and Latin America. However, concerns surrounding the initiative’s impact, especially in Africa, have prompted China to reassess its engagement on the continent. Reports of non-performing loans and financial distress among recipient countries have prompted Chinese policymakers to adopt a more cautious investment strategy, shifting away from solely state-backed loans. Subsequently, China is transitioning from infrastructure loans to fostering Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), a strategy that could potentially alleviate Africa's debt burden while diversifying China's regional involvement. This shift towards PPPs could redefine China-Africa economic relations, moving beyond the "debt-trap diplomacy" narrative.

Money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF) have long cast a shadow over the global financial landscape. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog against ML and TF, actively develops and advocates for policies that protect the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF achieves this by persuading countries to implement its recommended strategies, which may mean policy reforms, as seen in Kenya’s recent implementation of new policies in key sectors. However, the FATF's approach has not been without controversy, as accusations of disproportionate targeting raise questions about the fairness and efficacy of the global financial system.

AI has proven to be a powerful data synthesizer, churning through information at lightning speed. However, this brilliance has limitations. It lacks the human touch, and the ability to grasp context, build trust, and navigate the nuances of emotion. Where AI stumbles, humans excel, finding optimal solutions within the intricate dance of human interaction. But the landscape is shifting already. Big firms are building their AI to marry the speed of AI’s abilities with their consultant's experience. This raises certain questions: for boutique consultants, is open generative AI a friend (enabling faster delivery) or foe (weakening analytical capabilities)? What qualities will set human consultants apart in this AI-infused future? Botho’s Gulf Lead, Naam Chakravarty, delves deep into this here.

Imagine a world where people and goods are able to cross borders with ease, a world without customs agents and outsized tariffs, a world where all barriers to trade have vanished and a unified market leads to economic prosperity. To many, this would be the ideal, but unfortunately reality often diverges from the paragon. The Pan-Africanist concept propelled by the AfCFTA and its corresponding push towards seamless trade across borders is compelling, but what unfolds when geopolitical tumult shakes the very foundations of these aspirations? The continent’s complex geopolitical landscape cannot be ignored. Let’s explore this through the lens of the topic du jour, the mutual security pact between Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, commonly referred to as l'Alliance des États du Sahel (AES).

Displaced people make up over 1% of the world’s population and it is generally neighbouring countries, themselves struggling with development challenges, that bear the heavy burden of having to receive and support them.

Over the years, the elections in the Sahelian region have been marred with conflict, as incumbent leaders cling to power. In contrast, Liberia has been consistently upholding its commitment to peaceful democratic transitions, including the most recent election, when President George Weah gracefully accepted defeat, allowing President-elect Joseph Boakai to take office following a tightly contested race won by a mere 1.28% margin. This peaceful transition, reminiscent of the one in 2017, not only highlights Liberia's growing political stability, but also prompts a closer look at whether the nation's efforts to fortify its democracy might provide insights into what appears to be a year teeming with elections across neighboring countries.