Good morning.

🇮🇷 Iran’s Uranium Buried, Not Destroyed

A senior Israeli official said intelligence indicates much of Iran's enriched uranium is buried at Isfahan and could potentially be recovered, though any attempt would likely be detected and prompt renewed Israeli strikes. The assessment contradicts Trump's repeated claims that US strikes "totally obliterated" Iran's nuclear facilities, while IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said parts of the targeted sites are "still standing." Iran's President Pezeshkian confirmed the facilities were "severely damaged" with no current access, though Israel believes the nuclear program was set back two years overall. More - BBC

🛢️Saudis Breach OPEC+ Quota

Saudi Arabia raised crude output by 700,000 barrels daily to 9.8 million barrels in June, far exceeding its OPEC+ quota in a rare breach as Gulf producers rushed to export oil during the Israel-Iran conflict. Iraq, Kuwait and UAE also exceeded quotas while Iran's production fell 400,000 barrels daily, according to the International Energy Agency. The surge comes as global oil markets face substantial surplus with demand growing at the slowest pace in 16 years, while non-OPEC production from the US, Guyana, Brazil and Canada expands twice as fast as global consumption. More - Bloomberg

Africa Stability Ratings and News Summary

More Unstable

🇩🇿 Algeria, 🇦🇴 Angola, 🇧🇯 Benin, 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso, 🇧🇮 Burundi, 🇨🇲 Cameroon, 🇨🇫 Central African Republic, 🇹🇩 Chad, 🇰🇲 Comoros, 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic Of The Congo, 🇩🇯 Djibouti, 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea, 🇪🇷 Eritrea, 🇸🇿 Eswatini, 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, 🇬🇦 Gabon, 🇬🇳 Guinea, 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau, 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇱🇸 Lesotho, 🇱🇷 Liberia, 🇲🇬 Madagascar, 🇲🇼 Malawi, 🇲🇱 Mali, 🇲🇷 Mauritania, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇲🇿 Mozambique, 🇳🇪 Niger, 🇳🇬 Nigeria, 🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo, 🇷🇼 Rwanda, 🇸🇳 Senegal, 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone, 🇸🇴 Somalia, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇸🇸 South Sudan, 🇸🇩 Sudan, 🇬🇲 The Gambia, 🇹🇬 Togo, 🇺🇬 Uganda, 🇪🇭 Western Sahara, 🇿🇲 Zambia, 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

More Stable

No countries were more stable over this period

Unchanged

🇧🇼 Botswana, 🇨🇻 Cape Verde, 🇬🇭 Ghana, 🇲🇺 Mauritius, 🇳🇦 Namibia, 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe, 🇹🇿 Tanzania

Regional News Summary

Tensions are escalating in the Great Lakes region of Africa, particularly between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). UN experts have reported that Rwanda has been supporting rebel groups in the DRC and engaging in unprecedented levels of mineral smuggling, jeopardizing the fragile peace agreement between the two nations [SOURCE - Winnipeg Free Press]. This situation is compounded by China's growing influence in the region, raising concerns about potential conflicts over valuable resources [SOURCE - RT].

In the DRC, the global demand for copper is also causing disruptions in the mining industry, with a report indicating that a third of chip production could face supply issues by 2035 due to copper shortages [SOURCE - Economic Times]. This could have significant implications for the global tech industry, highlighting the interconnectedness of resource management and technological advancement.

Meanwhile, Algeria is making strides in the energy sector, with OPEC+ members, including Algeria, agreeing to increase oil production by 548,000 barrels per day in August [SOURCE - Winnipeg Free Press]. This shift in focus from price stability to market share reflects the changing dynamics within the global oil market. Additionally, Italian energy company Eni has solidified Algeria's position in the energy landscape by signing a $1.35 billion deal [SOURCE - ANSA].

In South Africa, the economic landscape is fraught with challenges, including a 30% tariff hike imposed by the US, which President Ramaphosa is contesting [SOURCE - SABC News]. The country is also grappling with illicit cigarette trade losses amounting to $1.6 billion [SOURCE - LiveMint]. However, there is a glimmer of hope with plans for a $5.8 billion hydrogen plant, which could bolster the economy [SOURCE - Financial Post].

In Kenya, anti-government protests have turned violent, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. The unrest, sparked by dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the economy and corruption, has led to widespread destruction, including vandalism of hospitals [SOURCE - SABC News]. The UN has expressed deep concern over the situation, urging restraint from both the government and protesters [SOURCE - The Sun].

In Nigeria, the security situation remains precarious, with recent attacks in Benue and Plateau states following a massacre that left many dead [SOURCE - Morning Star News]. Additionally, the US has restricted temporary visas for Nigerians, impacting many who rely on these for business and education [SOURCE - The Sun].

Sudan continues to face a humanitarian crisis, with reports of mass atrocities and attacks on health facilities [SOURCE - Jurist]. The situation is dire, with calls for the release of unjustly detained journalists highlighting the ongoing struggles for press freedom [SOURCE - Jurist].

Weekend Diversions

Unfortunately, this has been quite a week, and I wasn’t able to put together the weekend diversions in full, but here are a couple of articles that caught my eye.

• A Pro-Russia Disinformation Campaign Is Using Free AI Tools to Fuel a ‘Content Explosion’ - Wired

• Cybersecurity’s global alarm system is breaking down - MIT Technology Review

Have a great weekend!

Carpe tomorrow!