Mapping China’s Strategic Port Development in Africa
March 12th, 2025
Via the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, a look at how Chinese firms are present in over a quarter of all African port developments, some of which could be used for expanded Chinese naval presence on the continent: Chinese state-owned firms are active stakeholders in an estimated 78 ports across 32 African countries as builders, […]
Read more »Turkey’s Return To Africa
March 11th, 2025
Via Foreign Policy Research Institute, a look at Turkey’s return to Africa: What Does Turkey Want in Africa? Turkey is not the largest power interested in Africa. Its economic engagement, arms sales, and foreign aid are dwarfed by one or more of the major powers. However, its position as a minor player is often a […]
Read more »U.S.-Backed Miner TechMet Seeks To Develop Ukraine Lithium Site
March 11th, 2025
Courtesy of The Financial Times, a look at one US miners plans to develop a Ukrainian lithium deposit: US-backed mining company TechMet wants to develop a major lithium project in Ukraine, in what could be one of the first projects built under the US-Ukraine minerals deal that is close to being finalised. TechMet chief executive […]
Read more »Mali to Resume Mining Permits Suspended More Than Two Years Ago
March 11th, 2025
Via Bloomberg, a report that Mali plans to resume mining permits that have been suspended for more than two years: Mali will resume granting permits for mineral exploration as of March 15 after the process was suspended more than two years ago. The West African nation will also start issuing approvals for exploitation and ownership […]
Read more »How One Controversial African Pipeline Reveals the State of the Global Fight Over Oil
March 11th, 2025
Via The Washington Post, an article on who gets to decide whether African countries can exploit their natural resources? For its first 88 completed miles, the world’s most controversial oil pipeline system runs in a bulldozed path through the Ugandan countryside. The pipeline runs past elementary schools lacking electricity. It cuts through the banana groves […]
Read more »Syria Needs Debt Restructuring, But That Will Be Difficult
March 8th, 2025
Via the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a report on Syria’s debt: Syria is in dire economic straits. The brutal civil war that lasted from 2011 to 2024 ended with the fall of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. The country was effectively divided into several parts, each run by different rebel groups. The civil […]
Read more »Focusing primarily on The New Seven Sisters - the largely state owned petroleum companies from the emerging world that have become key players in the oil & gas industry as identified by Carola Hoyos, Chief Energy Correspondent for The Financial Times - but spanning other nascent opportunities around the globe that may hold potential in the years ahead, Wildcats & Black Sheep is a place for the adventurous to contemplate & evaluate the emerging markets of tomorrow.