The Best and Worst in Africa 2025, Q3 Report: Solar Surges, Fragile States & Climate Shocks

From record-breaking solar imports reshaping Africa’s energy future—with Algeria’s solar panel imports surging by 3,200%—to Sudan’s war-torn frontlines, Niger’s military standoffs, and Ethiopia’s internal fractures, the continent stands at a crossroads of rebellion and renewal.

Across the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, climate disasters have claimed thousands of lives—the deadliest in over a decade—leaving millions displaced from Libya’s floods, Somalia’s droughts, and Mozambique’s cyclones. Meanwhile, nations like Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa are racing to secure a stake in the booming renewable energy transition, vying for influence in a world increasingly defined by clean power and resource scarcity.

In this sweeping third-quarter review, we trace how energy, conflict, and climate are redrawing Africa’s political and economic map—a story of raw power, fragile disruption, and sheer survival in the face of global shifts.