Transformative Shifts in Power, Policy, and Progress Across Key Nations 

Welcome back to The Vault! Here’s our bulletin on recent policy developments.

Ethiopia

  • Ethiopia Inaugurates Africa’s Largest Hydropower Dam
  • Ethiopia Bolsters Global Climate Action with Innovative Solutions
  • Central Bank Governor Departs Amid Major Forex Reforms

Kenya

  • Kenya to Sign Power Purchase Agreement with Ethiopia Post-GERD Launch
  • Kenya Cracks Down on Rogue Tour Operators with License Revocations

Malawi

  • Malawi’s Coding Clubs Launch to Empower Youth for a Digital Future
  • Poll Shows Chakwera Leading Mutharika Ahead of 2025 Elections

Ghana

  • Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority to Launch Personal Number Reservation Platform in 2026

Nigeria

  • Qatar Imposes New Visa Restrictions on Nigerian Male Travelers
  • Tinubu Mandates Health Insurance to Advance Universal Health Coverage
  • Nigeria Launches N2.9bn Maternal and Neonatal Health Initiative

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ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia Inaugurates Africa’s Largest Hydropower Dam

Ethiopia officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), on September 9, 2025, Africa’s largest hydropower project, located on the Blue Nile. This $5 billion, 5,150 MW dam aims to double Ethiopia’s electricity capacity, powering millions of homes and supporting industrial growth while enabling energy exports to neighboring countries like Kenya and Djibouti. The project, funded primarily through domestic bonds and donations, symbolizes national pride and energy independence. However, it has sparked tensions with downstream Egypt and Sudan, who fear reduced Nile water flows, potentially threatening their water security. Ethiopia insists the dam, with its 74 billion cubic meter reservoir, will not harm downstream nations and could reduce flooding.

Ethiopia Bolsters Global Climate Action with Innovative Solutions

Ethiopia on September 5, 2025, showcased its leadership in global climate efforts by hosting Climate Week 2025 in Addis Ababa, uniting global and African leaders to advance climate solutions. The country is implementing its Climate Resilient Green Economy strategy and the Green Legacy Initiative, planting over 47.5 billion trees to combat deforestation and enhance resilience. These efforts align with Ethiopia’s 2024-2030 NDC Implementation Plan, targeting a 68.8% emissions reduction by 2030. The initiatives are critical for addressing Ethiopia’s vulnerability to droughts and floods, which threaten food security and livelihoods. By promoting renewable energy and reforestation, Ethiopia aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Central Bank Governor Departs Amid Major Forex Reforms

Ethiopia’s Central Bank Governor, Mamo Esmelealem Mihretu, unexpectedly resigned on September 3, 2025, after more than two and a half years of leading major monetary reforms during a turbulent economic period. His tenure included introducing a new monetary policy framework, securing a vital $3.4 billion IMF loan, and overseeing the critical floating of the birr currency in July 2024, aimed at liberalizing the foreign exchange market. Mihretu’s departure comes at a sensitive time amid ongoing forex market reforms and high inflation, raising questions about the future direction of Ethiopia’s economic policy and its relationship with international creditors. Known as a technocrat and a close ally of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, his exit has stirred speculation about internal political dynamics and the challenges of balancing reform with domestic pressures.

KENYA

Kenya to Sign Power Purchase Agreement with Ethiopia Post-GERD Launch

President William Ruto announced Kenya’s readiness to sign a new power purchase agreement with Ethiopia on September 9, 2025, following the inauguration of the $5 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa’s largest hydropower project. Ruto highlighted the dam’s role in bolstering Kenya’s energy security, with plans to increase imports from Ethiopia’s 5,150 MW capacity to meet rising demand exceeding 2,300 MW. Kenya, already importing 265 MW via the Ethiopia-Kenya interconnector, aims to double this to enhance grid stability during droughts. The agreement supports Kenya’s goal of a 100% clean energy mix by 2030, powering industrial parks and ICT hubs.

Kenya Cracks Down on Rogue Tour Operators with License Revocations

 

Kenya’s government revoked the licenses of four tour operators on September 6, 2025, in a sweeping crackdown targeting rogue and non-compliant firms in the multibillion-shilling tourism industry. The enforcement exercise, led by the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) and supported by a multi-agency team, began in Maasai Mara. The affected companies, Kenmara Tour Operators, Thinkscenes Services Ltd, Twinkle Star Tours and Safaris, and Dosasha Tour and Safaris, will remain barred until they meet compliance requirements such as proper licensing and use of authorized drivers. TRA officials emphasized the necessity of booking only through licensed operators to safeguard Kenya’s reputation as a top global destination. The crackdown aims to create a level playing field, improve safety, and enhance service quality, reflecting tourism’s critical role as a leading foreign exchange earner.

MALAWI

Malawi’s Coding Clubs Launch to Empower Youth for a Digital Future

Computers for Enhanced Education (CEE) launched its Coding Clubs project on September 11, 2025, at Edge View Water Court Hotel in Lilongwe, targeting 80 schools across Malawi to equip students with critical 21st-century skills like coding, problem-solving, and digital innovation. The initiative, starting with 30 schools in the Central Region, 25 in the Northern, and 25 in the Southern, builds on The Turing Trust’s work by providing ICT equipment and teacher training. CEE’s CEO, Sylvestre Mtumbuka, emphasized coding’s importance as a core skill, akin to reading and writing, for Malawi’s youth. Supported by Raspberry Pi and The Turing Trust, the program aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in both rural and urban areas.  It positions students as future leaders in Malawi’s growing digital economy, enhancing job creation and technological advancement.

Poll Shows Chakwera Leading Mutharika Ahead of 2025 Elections

A Shyley Kondowe Election Report, conducted from September 1-8, 2025, revealed that 55% of 3,664 registered voters across Malawi’s 28 districts favor President Lazarus Chakwera, while 34.8% support former President Peter Mutharika ahead of the September 16, 2025, elections. The survey, using face-to-face interviews with a gender-balanced sample, highlights Chakwera’s dominance in the Central (81.5%) and Northern (46.8%) regions, with Mutharika leading in the Southern region (63.7%). Chakwera’s lead suggests public confidence in his leadership despite economic challenges, while Mutharika’s support indicates regional loyalty. The results, with only 10.2% undecided, point to a competitive race that could shape Malawi’s political landscape. The Malawi Congress Party is projected to dominate parliamentary seats in the Central and Northern regions, while the Democratic Progressive Party retains strength in the South.

GHANA

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority to Launch Personal Number Reservation Platform in 2026

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) on September 9, 2025, announced the introduction of DVLA Select, a personal number reservation platform set to launch in January 2026, allowing vehicle owners to reserve preferred registration numbers online before completing registration at DVLA offices. This initiative, part of broader vehicle registration reforms, aims to enhance convenience, transparency, and modernization in Ghana’s transport system. The platform aligns with the DVLA’s shift to new number plates featuring regional and zonal codes, replacing the year of registration. The system is expected to streamline processes, boost public confidence, and support Ghana’s digital governance goals.

NIGERIA

Qatar Imposes New Visa Restrictions on Nigerian Male Travelers

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior introduced visa regulations on September 5, 2025, barring Nigerian men from obtaining tourist or transit visas unless accompanied by family, citing frequent overstays by Nigerian travelers. Applicants must now provide proof of return tickets and five-star hotel bookings, effective immediately for new and pending applications.  It underscores ongoing regional tensions, as seen in past appeals by Nigerian officials for fairer visa systems. Critics argue the restrictions risk straining Nigeria-Qatar relations and may deter tourism and business exchanges. The policy highlights global mobility challenges for Nigerians and calls for diplomatic resolution.

Tinubu Mandates Health Insurance to Advance Universal Health Coverage

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu issued a directive on September 9, 2025, mandating all Nigerian Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to enroll employees in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) scheme, marking a pivotal step toward universal health coverage (UHC). The NHIA Act of 2022, which made health insurance mandatory, is now enforced through measures linking compliance to government contracts and licenses, supported by a digital verification platform. This addresses Nigeria’s low insurance penetration, with less than 10% of the population covered and over 70% relying on out-of-pocket payments. The directive is crucial for reducing financial barriers to healthcare, especially for the poor, via the Vulnerable Group Fund. It aims to enhance trust in the healthcare system, though challenges like the informal sector’s low adoption remain.

Nigeria Launches N2.9bn Maternal and Neonatal Health Initiative

Nigeria’s federal government began distributing free Maternal and Neonatal Health (MNH) commodities worth N2.9 billion on September 8, 2025, to 10 high-burden states, targeting 80 local government areas to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. Led by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the initiative includes delivery packs, antenatal drugs, and family planning materials, etc.  Nigeria accounts for 20% of global maternal deaths, with a mortality ratio exceeding 800 per 100,000 live births. The program, supported by WHO, UNICEF, and the Gates Foundation, enhances primary healthcare through infrastructure upgrades and training. It prioritizes the Northwest (60%) and Northeast (34%) regions, addressing preventable deaths.

 

 

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