Explainer
What is ECOWAS and how does it work?
A clear guide to ECOWAS, its institutions, membership, decision-making, regional security role and economic integration in West Africa.
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Africa explainers
Evergreen guides maintained by the BriefingAfrica newsroom
Explainer
How the African Continental Free Trade Area works
An explainer on AfCFTA, tariffs, rules of origin, services, customs cooperation and what the continental trade agreement means for African businesses.
Explainer
How the African Union works
A guide to the African Union, its main organs, summits, commission, peace and security role and how continental decisions are implemented.
Explainer
Nigeria’s naira exchange rate explained
How the naira exchange rate works, what moves the currency, the role of the Central Bank of Nigeria and why official and market rates can change.
Explainer
Nigeria inflation explained: what it measures and why it matters
A practical guide to Nigeria’s inflation rate, the consumer price index, food inflation, base effects and how inflation affects households and businesses.
Explainer
What the Central Bank of Nigeria does
A guide to the Central Bank of Nigeria, monetary policy, interest rates, banking supervision, currency management and foreign-exchange policy.
Explainer
Nigeria’s security system explained
How Nigeria’s military, police and other security institutions divide responsibilities, and what to know when following terrorism, insurgency and internal-security news.
Explainer
How Africa’s largest economies are measured
Why rankings of Africa’s biggest economies differ, and how nominal GDP, purchasing power, population, exchange rates and GDP per person change the picture.
Explainer
African startup funding explained
How venture funding works for African startups, including seed rounds, Series A, debt, exits, valuations and why different funding trackers report different totals.
Explainer
How to follow African elections accurately
A non-partisan guide to election commissions, vote counting, turnout, results, court challenges and why procedures differ across African countries.