Speaking at the Engage Africa 2026 Conference in Cape Town, Political Economy Analyst and Political Futures Consultancy Director Daniel Silke said food insecurity remained deeply rooted in conflict and historical vulnerabilities. “There’s always been a food security issue, particularly in the Horn of Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia,” Silke said.
Silke said civil wars and military coups across the Sahel had undermined economic development and weakened food security. “The food-security issue is partially a legacy issue, which is well before the current issue of geopolitical risk,” Silke said.
However, geopolitical instability and rising commodity prices had created additional risks for agricultural production. “There’s no doubt in my mind that issues relating to high fertiliser prices are going to impact crops into the next year or two,” Silke said.
The warning highlights the vulnerability of African economies dependent on imported fertilisers and other agricultural inputs. Persistent insecurity could further disrupt production, investment and regional trade.
Delegates also examined how AI was transforming accounting, finance and wider business operations.
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants President and Chief Executive Mark Koziel said the accounting profession had traditionally been trusted to provide accurate financial information.
AI was expanding that responsibility to include the accuracy of non-financial information and data used across organisations. “Now we have to be trusted in providing accurate non-financial information and seeing that information that is provided and used inside our businesses is accurate,” Koziel said.
Koziel said finance and accounting professionals already had experience managing internal controls, data quality and corporate governance.
Those responsibilities should now be extended into AI systems. “We have owned internal controls, controls over data and controls over governance in ways that we need to take and move into the AI environment as well,” Koziel said.
The Conference heard that intelligence-driven business operations could improve client services, expand advisory work and change how organisations make decisions.
–Nhlanhla Mahlangu/ChannelAfrica–
