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Initial projections from the African Union’s Continental Power System Master Plan show what an interconnected power market might look like, driven predominantly by renewable energy – but the plan also sets out in stark relief the vast gap between current levels of supply and what is needed for universal electricity access to help raise economies out of poverty, write John Hamilton and Jon Marks in Nairobi.

The abrupt end to the Bongo family’s decades-long rule seems to have caused barely a ripple among Gabon’s international and commercial partners – in contrast to the impact of the spate of coups d’état further north – as General Brice Oligui Nguema’s takeover is seen as an inside job that is generally supported across the population. While Gabon’s elite jockeys for position, the critical oil sector appears to have been largely unaffected – for now.

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been sworn in for a second five-year term after an election widely condemned as flawed. The fallout could stifle efforts to put the economy back on track and undermine his plans to reengage with the world, writes Nicholas Makombe.

Sorely-needed investments in the power, mining and energy sectors have been hampered by the putsch in July. With the government heavily dependent on foreign funding, Niamey’s new prime minister will likely struggle to balance the books as sanctions bite, writes Marc Howard.

The prospect of military intervention by other countries in the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) to reverse Niger’s July coup seems to be receding. The bloc’s commissioner for political affairs, peace and security Abdel-Fatau Musah said on 6 September it had set no deadline for military action and was emphasising diplomacy.

A $3bn emergency loan secured by Nigerian National Petroleum Company from Cairo-based Afreximbank has reinforced Nigeria’s tight relationship with one of the few multilateral lenders still willing to support oil and gas spending, and underlined Abuja’s urgent need for financial support to underwrite President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda.

After months of speculation that President Macky Sall would bid for a constitutionally-prohibited third term, his announcement in July that he wouldn’t run was greeted with relief. Yet continued political violence and a fear Sall may seek to install a proxy candidate underline wider governance concerns, not least over hydrocarbon revenues, writes Waly Dione Faye.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan appointed Doto Mashaka Bitek as her energy minister, along with a promotion to deputy prime minister, in a 30 August cabinet reshuffle that moved January Makamba to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Co-operation.

The coup d’état in Niger appears to be undermining oil and gas sector ambitions in neighbouring Benin, with London Stock Exchange-listed independent Zenith Energy citing regional political instability as a reason for pulling out of talks for a production-sharing contract to resume output from Block 1 and potential delays anticipated to the $7bn Niger-Benin export pipeline (NBEP), which was due to be completed this year.

Russia has strongly backed the anti-western, populist regimes in Mali and Burkina Faso through its mercenary Wagner Group, which has also established itself as a force in Central African Republic (CAR) and Sudan.

Strategically important Niger is at a crossroads after the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, with events quickly deteriorating to the extent that Ecowas has threatened force to reinstate democratic rule, while France and the US are anxious to ensure their key regional military base doesn’t follow other Sahel states by falling into the Russian camp, writes Marc Howard.

Meetings in July between United Arab Emirates state minister for foreign affairs Sheikh Shakhbut Bin Nahyan Al-Nahyan and leaders from around the continent gave further public expression to the UAE’s interest in promoting mining and other economic opportunities in Africa – along with promoting wider political ties and its hosting of the COP28 climate talks in November.

On 26 July, nine military officers made a televised address to say they had ousted the democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum. The announcement was made on state television by Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane – who has since been named as the putschist’ Conseil National pour la Sauvegarde de la Patrie (CNSP)’s spokesman – but no coup leader was immediately specified.

President Bola Tinubu’s first two months in office have been marked by rapid moves to reform the poorly performing economy. However, his government faces daunting challenges which may not be eased by many senior posts going to ‘political’ appointees, as the new president returns pre-election favours. As inflation spikes, continued protests against ‘anti-poor policies’ are adding to pressures on Nigeria’s new leader, writes Jon Marks.

Nigerien military officers have sought to oust key western ally President Mohamed Bazoum in a 26 July putsch that has implications for regional stability and the fight against jihadism in the Sahel. In the West, Bazoum has been seen to be leading a reforming administration that is intent on fighting the regional Islamist insurgency and pushing back against malign Russian influence.