Africa is trying to move past decades of economic strain by strengthening cooperation between neighbors, with Zimbabwe and Botswana now planning to allow passport-free travel using only national ID cards.

With the official launch of Syria’s new currency at the start of 2026, the country is embarking on a shift in monetary policy that goes well beyond design and denomination, touching deeper economic and financial realities.

Japan is pivoting from aid to strategic investment in Africa to compete with China and Russia while boosting development and Japanese business engagement.

Saudi Arabia officially entered the investment scene in Syria after months of waiting, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a move analysts see as a significant push from Riyadh to accelerate the recovery of Syria’s collapsed economy.

After a travel ban that had been in place since 2021, the UAE’s decision to allow its citizens to visit Lebanon signals a possible return of Emirati investment to a country whose political landscape is starting to shift.