Mombasa’s throughput nearly tripled and dwell time fell sharply. Yet trucks still face seven to ten stops to Kampala – proof the corridor’s bottleneck moved inland, it did not disappear.
Section
Economics
Kenya’s railway dream: national ambition meets the arithmetic of a loan
A modern railway was Kenya’s first since independence, a statement of arrival. It also became the country’s biggest debt, where the politics of ambition collides with the politics of repayment.
Botswana competitiveness test
As South African assets drew fresh buyers and stagflation fears faded, the region’s reformers moved at once – putting Botswana’s competitiveness to the test next door.
2026/27 Budget: Gaolathe Pivots Botswana from Diamonds to Enterprise
Botswana’s 2026/27 budget pivots the economy from diamond dependence to private-sector enterprise. What the shift means for firms, capital and diversification.
Business-cycle planning
The World Bank cut its global growth outlook to 2.5 percent and warned of a drop to 1.3 percent if war fallout spreads – a reminder Botswana plans inside a cycle it does not control.
Diamond-to-energy transition
In the same year diamonds pressured Botswana’s ratings, the country signed solar and mineral exploration deals with Oman – a quiet pivot from one mineral story to several.
SADC trade logic
As global trade routes grew less predictable, regional cooperation stopped being optional. For landlocked Botswana, SADC is not sentiment – it is logistics.
Investment geography shift
Capital moved toward mining, energy and resilient African assets. The map of global investment is being redrawn – and Botswana has to argue its way onto it.
Energy import risk
A fuel disruption in the Middle East showed how fast an oil shock can reach African inflation. Botswana, importing every litre it burns, has no buffer except policy.