Africa Rising: Leadership, Health, and Economic Reforms Across the Continent

Welcome back to The Vault! Here’s our bulletin on recent policy developments.

Angola

  • Angola Pioneers Early Identity Access for Every Child
  • Pioneering Malaria Vaccine Rollout in 2026

Kenya

  • Kenya’s Phoebe Okowa Elected to the International Court of Justice
  • Kenya Pushes Forward Inclusive Development for All Regions
  • Kenya Legalizes Assisted Reproductive Technology to Expand Fertility Care
  • Cabinet Backs Bill to Streamline County Fund Disbursements
  • Safaricom Democratizes Stock Market Access with Ziidi Trader on M-Pesa

South Africa

  • Treasury Axes 9,000 Ghost Workers in Payroll Purge
  • South Africa Launches Trials for Continent’s First Homegrown Cholera Vaccine
  • South Africa Delays Traffic Law Implementation to Ensure Nationwide Readiness
  • President Ramaphosa Assumes Interim Leadership of SADC to Steer Regional Unity

Malawi

  • Malawi Tightens Diplomatic Passport Controls to Curb Abuse
  • Malawi Faces Rights Backlash Over Reversal on LGBTQ+ Commitments
  • Malawi Launches Poultry Sector Delivery Lab to Drive Nutrition and Job Growth

Ghana

  • Ghana Approves 9% Pay Rise for Public Workers Amid Economic Recovery
  • Ghana Fortifies Defenses Against Money Laundering and Terror Financing

Nigeria

  • Nigeria to Ban Sachet Alcohol by 2026 in Public Health Drive
  • NAFDAC Unveils New Women and Child Health Initiatives Nationwide
  • United Nigeria Airlines Soars into Accra with Historic Direct Flights

Feel free to share your thoughts with us and  If you need insight into any key legislation, please tell us.

 

ANGOLA

Angola Pioneers Early Identity Access for Every Child

Zaire province in Angola on November 12, 2025,launched the innovative ‘Born With a Birth Certificate’ program, directly issuing birth certificates in maternity wards. This initiative streamlines civil registration by facilitating immediate documentation of newborns, enhancing legal identity access from birth. Its timely implementation addresses long-standing challenges of under-registration and delays in obtaining official records, crucial for protecting children’s rights and ensuring eligibility for healthcare and education. By embedding this process within maternity services, Angola strengthens vital statistics accuracy and social inclusion. The program’s success in Zaire sets a precedent for nationwide adoption, potentially transforming Angola’s civil registration system. Stakeholders highlight its importance in boosting governance transparency and supporting developmental planning.

Pioneering Malaria Vaccine Rollout in 2026

Angola is set to introduce a malaria vaccine in 2026 as a crucial measure in its fight against the disease, according to Health Minister Sílvia Lutucuta. The government is preparing to deploy one of the two WHO-approved vaccines, RTS,S (Mosquirix) or R21/Matrix-M, both designed for children and administered in four doses. This initiative is part of a broader national strategy contributing to a significant reduction in malaria cases from nearly 10 million in 2024 to 6.9 million in mid-2025, primarily through improved detection and treatment. The vaccine introduction aims to reinforce Angola’s health system and is complemented by efforts to enhance epidemiological surveillance, laboratory capacity, and the establishment of Public Health Emergency Operations Centers by mid-2026. This multisectoral approach, coordinated at the highest government levels, underscores Angola’s commitment to reducing malaria mortality and improving public health outcomes comprehensively.

KENYA

Kenya’s Phoebe Okowa Elected to the International Court of Justice

Kenyan legal scholar Professor Phoebe Okowa was elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on November 12, 2025, filling the vacancy left by the resignation of Somalia’s Abdulqawi Yusuf. Her election followed a rigorous multi-round voting process in both the UN Security Council and General Assembly, reflecting strong international confidence in her judicial competence. As a professor of public international law at Queen Mary University of London and a member of the UN International Law Commission since 2023, Okowa brings extensive expertise to the Hague-based court. Her term will run until February 5, 2027, marking a significant diplomatic achievement for Kenya and bolstering African representation on the world’s highest judicial body. This milestone highlights Kenya’s rising influence in global legal governance and strengthens the ICJ’s mandate to resolve international disputes.

Kenya Pushes Forward Inclusive Development for All Regions

Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, on November 12, 2025, emphasized the government’s commitment to a non-discriminative development agenda aimed at uplifting the lives of all Kenyans regardless of their regional, political, or religious backgrounds. Speaking during a tour with President William Ruto in the Lower Eastern counties, Kindiki highlighted major infrastructure projects such as road construction, electricity expansion, and water development in Makueni and Ukambani regions. The government has allocated significant funds toward affordable housing, modern markets, and school hostels, reinforcing inclusive growth. Kindiki challenged opposition parties to present constructive alternatives instead of tribal divisions. This agenda promotes national unity and equitable access to development, aligning with Kenya’s broader vision of sustained economic growth and social cohesion. The rollout of these projects also aims to bridge regional disparities, fostering stability and prosperity.

Kenya Legalizes Assisted Reproductive Technology to Expand Fertility Care

Kenya’s National Assembly on November 11, 2025,passed the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Bill, 2022, establishing the country’s first comprehensive legal framework regulating fertility treatments, surrogacy, and reproductive health services. The law ensures safe and ethical access to assisted reproductive technologies such as in-vitro fertilization, gamete and embryo donation, and intrauterine insemination for all Kenyans, regardless of gender or marital status. It protects the rights of parents, surrogate mothers, and children; prohibits exploitative commercial surrogacy; and bans unethical practices like human cloning and sex selection. An ART Committee under the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council will license clinics, regulate practitioners, and maintain a confidential national register. This legislation marks a significant advancement for childless couples, expanding access to fertility care and aligning with Kenya’s constitutional right to health. The bill’s passage heralds improved reproductive health governance and social inclusion, empowering families and setting regional precedence in assisted reproduction regulation.

Cabinet Backs Bill to Streamline County Fund Disbursements

The Kenyan Cabinet on November 11, 2025, approved the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, a critical reform aimed at ending persistent delays in the disbursement of funds to county governments. The legislation introduces a split of the County Governments’ Additional Allocations Bill into two distinct bills, one addressing allocations from the national government’s revenue share and another for funds derived from loans and grants. This separation simplifies parliamentary approval processes and ensures timely fund releases, even when external financing arrangements are pending. The reform addresses long-standing challenges that have hindered county development projects and essential service delivery, including healthcare and infrastructure. Backed by President William Ruto’s administration, this bill aims to strengthen fiscal discipline, boost devolution, and enhance coordination between national and county treasuries.

Safaricom Democratizes Stock Market Access with Ziidi Trader on M-Pesa

Safaricom launched Ziidi Trader, a pioneering feature integrated within its widely used M-PESA app, enabling users to buy and sell stocks directly on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) on November 12, 2025.  This innovation aims to democratize stock market participation by simplifying access and removing barriers related to brokerage accounts and fees, addressing the low active trading rate of just 4.3% among NSE investors. Building on the success of the Ziidi Money Market Fund launched earlier in January 2025, which attracted over 450,000 users, Ziidi Trader seeks to expand retail investment by leveraging M-PESA’s massive user base. The move positions Safaricom as a fintech leader advancing Kenya’s financial inclusion and capital market growth.

SOUTH AFRICA

Treasury Axes 9,000 Ghost Workers in Payroll Purge

South Africa’s National Treasury announced on November 13, 2025,the initiation of a significant campaign to cut nearly 9,000 “ghost workers” off the government’s payroll, as revealed in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. These ghost workers are individuals who continue to receive salaries despite being inactive due to resignation, retirement, dismissal, or even death, with many cases involving multiple payments across departments. The Treasury is collaborating with the South African Revenue Service and other agencies using tax and administrative data to verify cases and root out payroll fraud, including social grant fraud and unauthorized payments. This initiative aims to enhance efficiency, reduce government waste, and secure public funds. Part of a broader savings drive to strengthen fiscal discipline amid economic challenges. While the exact financial losses remain under verification, the removal of ghost workers is expected to improve budget management and service delivery.

South Africa Launches Trials for Continent’s First Homegrown Cholera Vaccine

South Africa marked a historic milestone on November 12, 2025,with the launch of clinical trials for its first locally developed oral cholera vaccine, produced entirely by the Cape Town-based pharmaceutical firm Biovac. This vaccine represents the first fully South African–manufactured vaccine in over 50 years, signaling a breakthrough in Africa’s vaccine self-reliance and public health capacity. The trials focus initially on safety in adults and, if successful, will progress to efficacy studies comparing it with existing WHO-prequalified vaccines. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi emphasized the vaccine’s potential to strengthen rapid response to cholera outbreaks, which are common in South Africa due to factors like inadequate access to clean water. Approval and wider use are anticipated by 2028, which could significantly alleviate the continent’s cholera burden, responsible for over 80% of global cases and deaths. This development aligns with the African Union’s target to boost continental vaccine production and reduce dependence on imports.

South Africa Delays Traffic Law Implementation to Ensure Nationwide Readiness

South Africa’s Department of Transport announced on November 10, 2025, that the implementation of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act has been postponed to July 1, 2026, from the initially planned December 1, 2025, date. This delay comes after a readiness assessment revealed gaps in training law enforcement and back-office personnel, as well as the need to harmonize existing law enforcement systems across various municipalities and secure adequate funding. The AARTO Act introduces a demerit points system aimed at promoting safer roads by holding drivers accountable for traffic violations, with demerit points allocated according to infringement severity. The phased national rollout will begin with 69 municipalities, advancing to others later in 2026. Authorities emphasize that this postponement allows for a more efficient, coordinated implementation, ensuring that no municipality or stakeholder is left behind.

President Ramaphosa Assumes Interim Leadership of SADC to Steer Regional Unity

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was elected interim chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) during a virtual Extraordinary Summit on November 7, 2025. This followed Madagascar’s decision to relinquish its chairmanship due to political instability, with South Africa, the deputy chair, stepping in to ensure continuity until August 2026. President Ramaphosa emphasized regional solidarity, peace, and pragmatic solutions to socio-economic challenges, reaffirming SADC’s commitment to advancing industrialization, agricultural transformation, and energy transition under the 2025 theme. His leadership comes at a critical time as SADC navigates political transitions and economic integration across member states. The interim chairmanship highlights South Africa’s influential role in Southern Africa and its dedication to fostering regional stability and sustainable development.

MALAWI

Malawi Tightens Diplomatic Passport Controls to Curb Abuse

The Government of Malawi announced on November 5, 2025,the reversion of the mandate for approving diplomatic passport applications from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. This policy shift aims to tighten control over the issuance of diplomatic passports, ensuring that only eligible individuals receive these privileges. The Department of Immigration has been directed to conduct a thorough verification of all diplomatic passports issued between June 2020 and October 2025 to confirm rightful holders. The change responds to public concerns over potential abuse and mismanagement of diplomatic travel documents. By centralizing approval in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Malawi seeks to restore integrity, enhance accountability, and prevent future misuse of diplomatic passports. This move is expected to strengthen governance and oversight of official travel documentation processes crucial for Malawi’s international diplomacy.

Malawi Faces Rights Backlash Over Reversal on LGBTQ+ Commitments

In a controversial move on November 10, 2025, the Malawi government reversed its earlier commitment to In a controversial move on November 10, 2025,the Malawi government reversed its earlier commitment to promote and protect LGBTQ+ rights, declaring that same-sex relationships “do not exist” in Malawi. This stark U-turn followed government assurances at the United Nations Human Rights Council that steps were being taken to safeguard sexual minorities. The Ministry of Gender dismissed those commitments as “false and malicious,” reaffirming the stance that laws criminalizing same-sex relations remain unchanged, with no plans to repeal them. The reversal sparked widespread outrage among human rights activists and civil society, who accuse the government of double-speaking and undermining accountability toward its international obligations. This development perpetuates the criminalization and marginalization of LGBTQ+ persons in Malawi, adversely affecting their access to healthcare, social services, and protection against discrimination. The government’s position contrasts sharply with regional moves toward inclusivity, keeping Malawi isolated on this human rights issue.

Malawi Launches Poultry Sector Delivery Lab to Drive Nutrition and Job Growth

Malawi, in collaboration with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), launched a transformative Delivery Lab for the poultry sector on November 12, 2025. Held in Lilongwe, this two-day initiative brings together government, private sector, and international partners to create a practical roadmap to boost poultry production from 83,000 tonnes to nearly 130,000 tonnes by 2030. The sector aims to enhance nutrition, create jobs, and stimulate inclusive economic growth, addressing Malawi’s low per capita chicken consumption and high feed costs. Key reforms include reviewing VAT on soybean cake and streamlining export processes to capture missed regional markets like Mozambique. The Delivery Lab seeks concrete outcomes, including a shared vision, an accountability framework, and policy commitments designed to commercialize and climate-proof poultry farming. This initiative promises to uplift nearly half a million Malawians by integrating smallholder farmers into value chains, contributing to Malawi’s 2063 vision of a prosperous, self-reliant nation.

GHANA

Ghana Approves 9% Pay Rise for Public Workers Amid Economic Recovery

Ghana’s government approved a 9 percent salary increase for all public sector workers under the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) for the 2026 fiscal year, effective from January 1 to December 31, 2026. This decision, announced on November 9, 2025, followed negotiations between the government, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and organized labor. Alongside the salary boost, the national daily minimum wage was raised from Gh¢19.97 to Gh¢21.77. Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson highlighted this adjustment as a key part of Ghana’s economic recovery efforts amid declining inflation and interest rates. The pay rise aims to ease the financial burden on workers facing rising living costs, while labor leaders urged the government to avoid new taxes or tariffs that could negate the benefits. The agreement signifies a commitment to maintaining labor peace and enhancing public sector welfare during challenging economic times.

Ghana Fortifies Defenses Against Money Laundering and Terror Financing

Ghana announced on November 10, 2025, a suite of strengthened anti-money laundering (AML) measures aimed at disrupting illicit financial flows and combating terrorism financing in West Africa. The deputy finance minister highlighted key reforms, including the passage of the new Anti-Money Laundering Act, empowerment of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), and rollout of the National AML/CFT/CPF Policy (2025-2029). The government also established a unified national response mechanism integrating the Ministry of Finance, Bank of Ghana, FIC, Ghana Revenue Authority, and security agencies to enhance intelligence sharing and joint operations. The measures address growing concerns over destabilizing criminal networks exploiting financial system vulnerabilities. This robust policy response is designed to safeguard economic development, boost investor confidence, and align Ghana with international AML standards, reinforcing its role as a regional financial integrity leader.

NIGERIA

Nigeria to Ban Sachet Alcohol by 2026 in Public Health Drive

Nigeria’s Federal Government, through the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), formally announced the ban on the production, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small bottles under 200 milliliters, effective January 1, 2026. This decisive enforcement follows several deadline extensions, with the final moratorium ending December 2025 to give manufacturers time to transition. Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye stated that the ban targets spirit drinks packaged in small, cheap, and easily concealed containers, which have been linked to increased alcohol abuse, especially among youth and commercial drivers. The policy aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol, aiming to curb addiction, associated violence, and health risks. NAFDAC, together with the Ministry of Health and other agencies, will intensify public awareness campaigns on the dangers of alcohol misuse. The ban is expected to promote public health, protect vulnerable populations, and foster safer communities across Nigeria.

NAFDAC Unveils New Women and Child Health Initiatives Nationwide

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on November 11, 2025, launched three landmark public health initiatives aimed at protecting women and children’s health. These include the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health + Nutrition (MNCH+N) Initiative, the NAFDAC Office of Women and Children’s Health (NOWCH), and the National Action Plan on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products (2023–2027). Together, these initiatives address critical issues such as reducing maternal and child mortality, combating malnutrition, and ensuring the safety and efficacy of medical and nutrition products. They promote safe motherhood, rational medicine use, breastfeeding, and local production of pediatric medicines and menstrual hygiene products in partnership with ministries, NGOs, and the private sector. The programs signify a major step in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, ensuring vulnerable populations have access to quality, safe medicines and nutrition, and advancing public health outcomes nationwide.

United Nigeria Airlines Soars into Accra with Historic Direct Flights

United Nigeria Airlines marked a significant milestone on November 10, 2025,by launching its first international operations with direct flights to Accra, Ghana, from Abuja and Lagos. The airline, operating daily flights between Abuja and Accra and four weekly flights from Lagos to Accra, aims to enhance regional connectivity and promote economic integration within West Africa. This expansion complements Nigeria’s broader strategy to boost infrastructure and lift trade through improved aviation links. Ghana Airports Company pledged full support to maintain high on-time performance and operational excellence, underscoring the importance of this route in strengthening Nigeria-Ghana ties. United Nigeria Airlines intends for this route to increase travel options for business and leisure, driving commerce and cultural exchange.

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