Kidan Araya

Belgian Museum Blocks US Firm's Access To DRC Mining Files Belgium's AfricaMuseum is the country's biggest dedicated to the Congo, displaying millions of colonial-era objects and zoological specimens.

The race to access critical minerals heats up: A Belgian museum is refusing to share 1960's/70's DRC mining maps, stating that it would be unethical to share such information with companies that want to monetize the data and use for commercial interests. #Africa
www.barrons.com/news/belgian...

I gave a briefing three years ago on my analysis & predictions of how the energy transition + focus on rare earths / critical minerals would benefit African people and economies. Looking over my presentation now and realizing I'd been too optimistic.

Bad Bunny including power lines in his Super Bowl performance is a great example of accessible + engaging storytelling that the climate + clean energy community SHOULD do. Countless folks are now going to social media to ask questions/educate themselves on Puerto Rico's power crisis. Impact 💥

On Bad Bunny showing power lines in his Superbowl halftime performance: "Customers in Puerto Rico experienced on average 27 hours of power grid interruptions per year between 2021 and 2024" while U.S. mainland customers only experience two. Energy justice is needed. www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...

Power system problems persist two years after launch of stabilization plan By THE STAR STAFFTwo years after the launch of the Electrical System Stabilization Plan, the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) reported that the island’s power system continues to operate with signific...

For anyone wondering why Bad Bunny would include power lines in his Halftime Super Bowl show, here's a recent article from San Juan on how "the island’s power system continues to operate with significant limitations in both generation and transmission."
www.sanjuandailystar.com/post/power-s...

Creative vision went crazy for this performance, like have we ever seen an entire little town set up for a halftime performance at the Super Bowl 😭 kudos to Bad Bunny 🙌🏽 #Superbowl

I'm kind of surprised they let them play American Idiot for the Super Bowl but Green Day is gonna Green Day 😂

Sustainable #AI is a hot topic at #Davos this week. In our latest #Substack post, we outline a series of key questions for experts to ask to determine whether AI for Good + AI for Nature programs can contribute to conservation in #Africa. africaclimatexnaturesalon.substack.com/p/aiforclima...

Solar Power Eclipses Fintech as Africa’s New Investment Magnet Solar and renewables are vying with fintech and payments as the top draws for African venture capital, with investors viewing energy projects as the most attractive on the continent’s startup scene, a...

You would never know this based on what gets discussed on social media the most, but #solar power and #renewables are apparently outpacing fintech in where VC's want to invest in #Africa. #energytransition #energy #venturecapital www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Saudi Arabia opens new gold market in Africa, ending Dubai’s long-standing dominance Saudi Arabia has moved to position itself as a major player in Africa’s gold trade, announcing readiness to begin immediate purchases of bullion from Sudan

Saudi Arabia will enter into their gold market "to provide Sudan with a more transparent and profitable channel for its mineral wealth, diverting from reliance on Dubai" and to curb gold smuggling. Fascinating...

#Africa #trade #naturalresources #MENA
africa.businessinsider.com/local/market...

A flood-plagued African city sets out to reengineer its wetlands Kigali, Rwanda's capital, is embracing nature-based solutions, but there are challenges.

Interesting lessons being learned in Rwanda on Kigali's quest to both reforest the city and restore the city's wetlands to help protect against deadly flooding, with implications for Africa’s other cities facing increased flooding amidst climate change. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

“Ten thousand fools proclaim themselves into obscurity, while one wise man forgets himself into immortality.” - MLK

Timely reminder with the state of geopolitics, AI, and social media: focus on the good work in service of humanity, not to the ego or algorithms.

Thank you for Martin Luther King jr.

The photo of MLK and Nkrumah of Ghana always circulates this time of year, but it's also important to acknowledge MLK met and was friends with many African leaders in the 60's. Here's a photo with him and former President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia. Leaders with integrity and aura 🔥 #africa #mlkday

So many crises of leadership across different spheres of the world right now. Supporting smart, ethical, and intentional leaders who can innovatively and effectively solve challenges that people face should be a top priority for any institution of influence right now.

World's largest maker of new energy vehicles eyes Africa's untapped market BYD, the world’s largest maker of electric vehicles, is set to transform South Africas EV landscape with hundreds of charging stations and solar-powered infrastructure, boosting its African footprint

BYD has been expanding across Africa for the past year or so with the most affordable EV models hitting the African market. I’ll be curious which models and at which price points enter Canada with the new trade deal in place between them and China.

africa.businessinsider.com/local/market...

Sad to see deadly flooding in Southern Africa. Seeing they also had to evacuate safari tourists, it reminds me of how much climate change will influence tourism. Before you go on your next trip, can you afford evacuation insurance in case of an extreme weather event?
www.nbcnews.com/world/africa...

This is a really good time to reevaluate your relationship to social media. In a time of painfully obvious algorithms prioritizing negativity, reactive clickbait, and other forms of shallow entertainment, I think it's valid to step back if participating is not giving you joy or paying your bills.

IShowSpeed: YouTube star touches hearts in Africa during first tour "I love the love in Africa. The energy here is crazy," he says on his maiden tour of the continent.

IShowSpeed in Africa has been a great watch. There's something magical about seeing someone for the first time travel to new places and meaningfully learn and connect with the cultures and environment. The spirit of global community and collaboration ✨

#Africa #travel

www.bbc.com/news/article...

As the Africa tour goes on, it's clear to see which countries put more thought + creative vision into iShowSpeed's visit vs countries who just put a bunch of random activities together. I'll be curious if there's a tourism boost for the countries who've been more strategic.

So much of the "AI for good" and "AI for Nature" conversation consists of us hearing from companies or developers on how this area is promising, versus actually seeing results and hearing from people using AI to successfully solve real world challenges. More of the latter please.

If only all world leaders were required to read books about environmental justice and indigenous rights...!

Africa in the Age of Environmental Intelligence: What the Frontlines Teaches Us About Using AI For Nature to Protect Climate and Nature Futures Notes on the Africa Climate x Nature Salon's Innovating Conservation: AI and Environmental Futures Series

AI for Nature is attracting funding + growing attention from private, public, and philanthropic investors, but is the investment producing societal + environmental benefits for the communities living in project sites? #Africa #conservation #AI
africaclimatexnaturesalon.substack.com/p/aiforclima...

Africa in the Age of Environmental Intelligence: What the Frontlines Teaches Us About Using AI For Nature to Protect Climate and Nature Futures Notes on the Africa Climate x Nature Salon's Innovating Conservation: AI and Environmental Futures Series

What are the possibilities for using emerging technology like AI to build climate and nature futures that nourish communities and nature in Africa? Read what we uncovered in our first #Substack post.

#ai #aiforgood #africa #climatechange
africaclimatexnaturesalon.substack.com/p/aiforclima...

Kenyan court suspends US health aid deal over data privacy concerns The landmark $2.5bn Kenya-US deal has been stopped until the court hears the case over data privacy.

Touched on this at the Africa Climate x Nature Salon in our AI series, but there seems to be a preconceived notion that Africa is a "free for all" when it comes to data capture when in actuality there's a few strong, model data privacy laws on record to protect consumers.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Is a New $3,500-a-Night Safari Camp Blocking a Wildlife Corridor?

Ritz-Carlton sued in Kenya for blocking wildlife on their $3,500/night safari 👀 this is one of many projects in Kenya by a U.S. company where the local community says they never approved. Whoever is being hired to do stakeholder engagement clearly failed. #Africa
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/t...

Recently met someone from Arizona who vacationed in Zanzibar this year and was so relieved there wasn't much sargassum as they felt their usual vacations to the Caribbean part of Mexico were getting soured by the smell. Tourism in less tropical, coastal East Africa will likely rise. #climatechange

Yes I liked it! I think a lot of the complaints are from people mad that the second part isn't as bubbly as the first, it goes into deeper themes.

wore pink to see #wickedforgood and someone said I looked like Glinda from the Wiz 😭🤣 like that is the biggest compliment to be compared to THE Lena Horne. #wicked

#COP30 has two more days left, but clearly it's becoming increasingly unrealistic (and unwise) to expect COP-style processes to deliver in an era of rising energy and economic nationalism.

MTN Zambia and Huawei Launch Africa’s First AI-Powered Network Backup - TechAfrica News This development establishes a new benchmark for sustainable and resilient digital networks in Africa and demonstrates the potential of AI-driven solutions to enhance energy management and ensure unin...

Africa’s first AI-powered adaptive power backup system can extend network uptime by up to six hours without the need for additional batteries or generators. #AI #Africa

Much needed in Zambia where many suffer with 20+ hours of no power daily due to load-shedding.
techafricanews.com/2025/11/13/m...