In whirlwind tour, Qatari royal commits $70bn to southern Africa

Qatari investment firm Al Mansour Holding has pledged $70 billion in investments across four southern Africa countries in a 10-day tour, a move analysts call strategic as US funding retreats from the continent.

Group leader and royal family member Sheikh Mansour bin Jabor bin Jassim Al Thani has met the leaders of Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe to sign commitments of major financing for projects spanning energy, agriculture, tourism and mining.

In Maputo this week, he signed a $20…