| Welcome to Next Africa, a twice-weekly newsletter on where the continent stands now — and where it's headed. Sign up here to have it delivered to your email. Two major developments in Democratic Republic of Congo have been largely obscured as global attention focuses on conflict in the Middle East. On Saturday, authorities in the central African nation sent the cobalt price soaring when they announced a three-month extension of a ban on exports of the key battery mineral. The government is meanwhile on the verge of signing a US-brokered accord with Rwanda that aims to end decades of fighting and fire up the regional mining industry. President Felix Tshisekedi, who has held power through an occupation of mineral-rich eastern Congo by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, is banking on the shipments ban shoring up state coffers and the truce spurring an influx of foreign capital.  M23 rebels in Bukavu in eastern Congo. Photographer: Luis Tato/Getty Images The peace treaty is due to be signed in Washington on Friday at a ceremony overseen by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who envisions investment flowing into the region once the fighting ends. There's talk of joint mining deals and infrastructure projects that would benefit all three nations. Rwanda seems to be playing along for now, but distrust between the two long-standing foes runs deep and there's scant sign of animosity easing on the ground. While Tshisekedi hopes that giving US businesses skin in the game will keep the Trump administration engaged, convincing Western companies to pump money into one of the world's most-volatile zones will be a tough ask. There's also no guarantee Congo's bid to exert dominance over the cobalt market will pan out as planned. The government has yet to come up with a policy that will ensure it derives greater benefit from the nation's cobalt deposits once exports resume. There's also the risk that battery makers will stop using the mineral altogether if prices remain high. Congo may have indeed reached an inflection point, but a precarious path lies ahead. — Michael J. Kavanagh Key stories and opinion:
China Cobalt Prices and Shares Spike After Congo Extends Ban
Congo Gambles on Cobalt as the US-China Metals Fight Heats Up
The War in Congo That's Uprooted 7 Million People: QuickTake
US Says Rwanda and Congo Are Set to Sign Peace Agreement
Should Anyone Be Buying What Glencore Is Selling?: Javier Blas The collapse of Johannesburg's passenger-rail service has shifted more commuters than ever to costlier mini-bus taxis and into the crosshairs of deadly gun battles between rival driver groups. The largely unregulated industry has grown to become the backbone of South Africa's public transit system and despite government efforts alternatives remain limited in Africa's richest city.  Commuters in the Diepsloot township, north of Johannesburg. Photographer: Leon Sadiki/Bloomberg Tanzania's government is stepping up a crackdown on dissent ahead of October elections. The police last week arrested two men who posted political talk shows on their YouTube channel, accusing them of "improper use of social media." While President Samia Suluhu Hassan lifted a ban on rallies and some newspapers after succeeding the autocratic John Magufuli in 2021, her opponents accuse her of rowing back on promised democratic reforms. The main opposition Chadema party has been blocked from contesting the upcoming vote and its leader faces treason charges. Alassane Ouattara, Ivory Coast's president, is keeping the country guessing as to whether he will stand for another five-year term in October. "Concerning my candidacy for the presidential election, I will give an answer in some few days after a thorough reflection," Ouattara said at the end of a two-day ruling party congress on Sunday. The Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace had overwhelmingly endorsed the 83-year-old, who has been in power since 2011, to retain his post.  Alassane Ouattara. Photographer: Denis Balibouse/AFP/Getty Images Nigeria's anti-graft authorities arrested the state oil company's ex-CFO and a former head of a refinery. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is probing an alleged $7.2 billion diversion of funds meant for the maintenance of three refineries in Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt. The two men are facing possible charges of abuse of office, corruption, diversion of funds and kickbacks from contractors. Symbion Power unit Hydro-Link will sign a pact with Angola's government to build a $1.5 billion transmission line that will connect hydropower sites with mines in neighboring Congo. The 1,150-kilometer connection could deliver as much as 1.2 gigawatts of power from Angola's Lauca plant and other hydroelectric facilities to Congo's Kolwezi mining area. Meanwhile, the US International Development Finance Corp. is finalizing more than $500 million in funding for the Lobito corridor, a rail project that will be used to haul minerals from central Africa's copper belt to an Angolan port.  The Lobito port. Photographer: Zinyange Auntony/Bloomberg Mauritius is seeking bids to supply electricity from a barge using heavy fuel oil. The floating plant should have a generation capacity of between 90 and 110 megawatts, according to a request for proposal issued by the Central Electricity Board. The Indian Ocean island nation, which is struggling with aging power turbines, runs the risk of outages unless supply is increased, according to Public Utilities Minister Patrick Assirvaden. Thank you for your responses to our weekly Next Africa Quiz and congratulations to Altan Ari, who was first to correctly identify Ivory Coast as the African country where political parties led by two men who were barred from contesting presidential elections agreed to form an alliance. Support for the African National Congress, South Africa's biggest political party, rebounded after it scrapped plans to raise value-added tax, and now stands at 40% — the same as it garnered in elections last year, a Social Research Foundation poll found. The survey also showed the nation's coalition government enjoys widespread backing. The ANC governed South Africa outright for three decades after apartheid ended but lost its parliamentary majority 13 months ago. It then linked up with the business-friendly Democratic Alliance and eight smaller rivals to retain power. Thanks for reading. We'll be back in your inbox with the next edition on Friday. Send any feedback to mcohen21@bloomberg.net | 
