Africa: Government, Public Sector

Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity and digital sovereignty have fundamentally changed the way governments think about data. Around the world, policymakers are increasingly asking where data should be stored, who should have access to it and under what circumstances it should leave national borders. These questions are no longer confined to technology policy, they have become matters of economic policy, national security, industrial development and international trade.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has concluded its Commercial Bid Conference for the 2025 Upstream Licensing Round, announcing Preferred and Reserve Bidders while establishing critical evaluation criteria and post-award obligations. This development signals Nigeria's commitment to transparent acreage allocation and enforcement of the Petroleum Industry Act's drill-or-drop principle, with implications for current bidders and future licensing opportunities.

The Court of Appeal's decision in Rothmans of Pall Mall v. Kasmal International Services Ltd. addresses a fundamental question of procedural fairness: what happens when a trial court enters judgment without properly notifying the defendant of hearing dates?

South Africa's Financial Intelligence Centre has released an updated sector risk assessment for legal practitioners ahead of the 2027 FATF mutual evaluation, identifying the profession as highly vulnerable to money laundering and terrorist financing abuse. The draft report highlights significant concerns about low regulatory reporting despite high transaction values, widespread cash use, and questions whether legal practitioners are accurately assessing their own compliance risks. With comments due by 14 Ju

South Africa's removal from the FATF grey list marked a significant achievement, but the country now faces a more demanding phase of scrutiny focused on effective enforcement rather than legislative compliance. The Madlanga Commission's findings on alleged corruption within the criminal justice system present both a stark challenge and an opportunity to demonstrate that the country's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks can hold powerful individuals accountable.

Understanding the regulatory framework surrounding Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) is crucial for companies operating in Nigeria's financial and business sectors. This publication examines the legal definition of PEPs under Nigerian law, identifies who qualifies for this designation, and outlines the enhanced due diligence obligations that financial institutions and businesses must implement when dealing with these high-risk individuals.

Nigeria's solid minerals sector has reached a pivotal moment with the inauguration of West Africa's largest lithium processing plant and the discovery of major mineral deposits in Kaduna State, alongside billions in committed investments. Minister Dele Alake's seven-point reform agenda is driving regulatory tightening, revenue growth, and a shift from raw exports to local processing, yet the question remains whether these developments represent genuine transformation or another fleeting opportunity constrai

Nigeria's Blue Economy holds the potential to generate over ₦3 trillion annually through strategic development of its 853-kilometer coastline, vast inland waterways, and maritime resources.

Since the passing of Nigeria's Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act in 2003, it has been hailed as a transformational policy intended to reserve domestic coastal trade for Nigerian-owned, -crewed and -flagged vessels.

The South African Human Rights Commission has called for public submissions on data centres and human rights, prompting urgent questions about whether the country can anticipate tomorrow's infrastructure pressures early enough to avoid a resource crisis. While Africa accounts for less than 1% of global data centre capacity and modern facilities use remarkably low water through closed-loop cooling systems, critical uncertainties remain about environmental impacts, job creation, and the unknown lifespan of th

The European Commission has failed to meet its June 14, 2026 deadline to publish essential compliance resources for the EU's Forced Labor Regulation, raising questions about accountability and whether the regulation's December 2027 enforcement date should be postponed. Despite this regulatory gap, businesses must still ensure their products sold into, within, or exported from the EU are not made with forced labor as defined by ILO Conventions.

Individuals, communities, and governments worldwide are increasingly turning to litigation to demand accountability for greenhouse gas emissions and environmental harm.