African Business English Edition – March 2026

Summary

Women in Leadership — African Business profiles 20 women whose visible success will influence the ambitions and opportunities of future generations in the March 2026 issue (60th Year, N 531). President Donald Trump signed a one-year AGOA extension to December 31, disappointing those who hoped for three years. South Africa's manganese queen Daphne Mashile-Nkosi is interviewed on the long road from Pilgrim's Rest. KOKO Networks entered administration on February 1 after Kenya refused carbon credit regulatory approval.

The cover story at P10 profiles 20 women in leadership whose success will influence future generations. The AGOA extension provides certainty to eligible African exporters through December 31, 2026, but the one-year term perpetuates uncertainty per Brookings senior fellow Landry Signe. The International Trade Centre estimates AGOA expiry would reduce exports by USD 189 million by 2029, with apparel and textiles declining 9.7%. KOKO Networks' collapse jeopardises over 700 jobs and affects more than 1 million households. France deepens relations with anglophone Africa through a Kenya defence treaty. Editor's View covers Russia's African military recruitment drive.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story

P10 · Women in Leadership in Africa
African Business profiles 20 women whose visible success will influence future generations. The profiles span industries from finance to manufacturing to technology, with each subject's career arc, board seats and measurable impact documented.

▸ Business Intelligence

Trump Extends AGOA by a Year — But Wants More US Benefits
The one-year extension to December 31, 2026 disappoints those hoping for three years. US Trade Representative Jameson Greer calls for "AGOA for the 21st century" demanding more access for US businesses. Landry Signe of Brookings calls it a missed opportunity. Exporters should plan for a post-AGOA scenario regardless of the extension's political trajectory.

Kenya and France to Sign Landmark Defence Pact
The agreement upgrades a defence cooperation agreement to a full treaty covering intelligence sharing, maritime security, peacekeeping and training. France is deepening relations in anglophone Africa after military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger expelled French troops.

KOKO Failure Brings Cookstove Carbon Credit Model Into Question
KOKO Networks entered administration on February 1 after the Kenyan government refused to provide the regulatory approval needed to sell carbon credits on compliance markets. Financed by Microsoft, Mirova and Rand Merchant Bank, its collapse jeopardises more than 700 jobs and affects more than 1 million households. Carbon-credit project developers should model the KOKO scenario into their own regulatory-risk assessments.

▸ Features

P24 · Interview: Daphne Mashile-Nkosi
South Africa's manganese queen on the long road from Pilgrim's Rest. The interview covers her career from mining-community origins to boardroom leadership.

P32 · From Cairo to Cape Town
Egypt's bid to anchor a north-south African trade corridor connecting the Mediterranean to the Cape.

P40 · US Makes Pitch for Africa's Critical Minerals
Washington's strategy to secure rare-earth and battery-metal supply chains through African partnerships.

P44 · Ethiopia Looks to Multi-Billion-Dollar Airport
The airport project aims to revolutionise aviation on the continent and establish Addis Ababa as a pan-African hub.

P48 · Qatar Airways Aims to Build on Kenya Airways Partnership
The Gulf carrier's Africa strategy deepens through codeshare and equity negotiations.

P52 · Private Investors Eye Electricity Transmission Opportunity
The transmission infrastructure gap is attracting institutional capital for the first time.

P54 · Morocco Sets Up Regional AI Hubs
Morocco positions itself as an AI gateway between Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

P60 · Ruto Goes All In on Privatisation
Kenya's president pushes privatisation ahead of the Kenya Pipeline IPO.

P62 · Interview: Equity Bank's James Mwangi
How the Equity Bank CEO turned financial exclusion into opportunity.

P70 · Nightlife Blossoms in Abuja's Garden Economy
A cultural-economic feature on Abuja's growing nightlife and entertainment sector.

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Editor's Take

The AGOA coverage is the most important piece — the one-year extension, Landry Signe's analysis and the USD 189 million export-loss estimate provide a complete picture of what is at stake. The KOKO Networks collapse story is a warning for the entire African carbon-credit sector. The women-in-leadership cover profiles are individually strong but 20 profiles in a single article means none gets the depth they deserve. The weakest element is the Qatar Airways-Kenya Airways piece, which is thin on new information. Best for African trade policy professionals, carbon-credit project developers and anyone tracking the continent's leadership pipeline.

Strengths
• AGOA coverage with specific data (USD 189M export loss, 9.7% textile decline)
• KOKO Networks collapse is a crucial carbon-market case study
• Women in leadership profiles cover diverse industries and geographies

Weaknesses
• 20 profiles in one article sacrifices depth for breadth
• Qatar Airways-Kenya Airways piece lacks new information

Verdict: Recommended — Buy for the AGOA analysis and KOKO carbon-credit post-mortem.