With US President Donald Trump on a cost-cutting warpath since starting his second term, aid to Africa has been slashed and now defence spending is in his sights - but could these approaches cost more in the long run?

Regional hegemony on the African continent has long been contested as countries and regimes rise and fall. Over the decades, countries like Egypt and Algeria have emerged as leading military powers, each leveraging large defense budgets to modernize their forces.

Foreign investors have pulled $3.7 billion out of South African equities since October in the longest such streak of outflows in five years, a report showed, as the continent's biggest equity market struggles to attract international portfolio flows.

South Africa will lead the next refunding exercise for the Global Fund, raising money for the international partnership fighting AIDS after the US cut healthcare support to the continent.

South Africa have been nicknamed 'chokers' since the 1999 Cricket World Cup but won their first trophy for 27 years in winning the 2025 World Test Championship.

The first Black batter to make a century for South Africa has led them to World Test Championship glory – but wider issues within the format must be solved to save it

South Africa chased down the challenging 282-run target set by Australia at Lord’s to win the World Test Championship final and end a 27-year wait for another ICC title.

Across the African continent, rising defense budgets are potentially signaling a shifting landscape in military strategy and even regional influence. Countries like Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa are pushing billions towards expanding and modernizing their armed forces,