DUBAI, 28th February, 2022 (WAM) — The African Union celebrated the wealth of culture, heritage and vision across the continent, with dance, spoken word and music, as it marks its Expo 2020 Dubai Honour Day on Sunday. Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai, and Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan…
Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Tanzania was built and funded to the tune of US$40 million by the Chinese Communist Party African party officials have been learning from Chinese counterparts for decades, but the school could advance Beijing’s ‘party-to-party diplomacy’ China’s former leader Mao Zedong supported some African parties with ideological and military training during their liberation struggles….
Newly elected PSC members must balance their countries’ interests with continental imperatives for the good of Africa. Fifteen members were elected to the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) at its recent summit in Addis Ababa. Five will serve for three years, while 10 will be on the Council for two years. North Africa members are Morocco…
A young African working hard to earn his pay Business Insider Africa presents 10 African countries where workers earn the highest average monthly salaries, according to Salary Explorer. These average salaries were calculated using feedbacks provided by some respondents, and as such can only serve as indicators. Is your country among the top ten countries where workers can earn…
It’s impossible to have a conversation about the pan-African podcast space without mentioning Melissa Mbugua and Josephine Karianjahi. As the co-directors of Africa Podcast Day, these two women are breaking barriers and creating a space for African podcasters to be celebrated. On Saturday, 12 February 2022, the annual Africa Podcast Day took place. The hybrid, virtual and in-person, celebrations…
Mbeya, Tanzania: February 16, 2022 – Boosting production of strategic crops, such as soybean, for local and international markets, as well as industrial raw materials, is the way forward for Tanzania’s agriculture, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E. Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, has said. H.E Kikwete, who is a member of the Board of AGRA (the…
Iringa, Tanzania: February 15, 2022 – Alliance for a Green Revolution (AGRA) lead Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA) initiatives in Tanzania has increased agro-led industrialization-drive momentum. Agro-dealers, farmers organizations, aggregators and processors have increased uptake of their respective activities and production along the agriculture value chain, according to testimonies shared to former President of the United…
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania: February 14, 2022 – Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has embarked on a week-long field tour of agriculture projects that are supported by AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) and partners in the country. During the tour, Dr Kikwete, who is also an AGRA board member,…
The last batch of Uganda soldiers withdrawing from DRC’s embattled Ituri region on May 19, 2003. The UN’s top court on February 9, 2022 ordered Uganda to pay the Democratic Republic of Congo USD325 million in reparations over a brutal war two decades ago. Summary It must also pay $60 million for damage to natural resources, including the looting…
On the last day of a five-day trip to Ethiopia, the Deputy Secretary-General said the East African nation is in “a much better place” to resolve the conflict that erupted 15 months ago in Tigray. “There is much more conversation and dialogue and talk around the national dialogue itself and the way to peace”, Amina Mohammed told journalists attending…
Nearly two decades since the launch of the India Development Initiative, India-Africa relations have evolved. This book by Rajiv Bhatia, a former high-ranking IFS officer, takes a deep dive into Indo-African engagement. Bhatia outlines the history and presents concise yet informative capsules of India’s relationship with individual African countries. It is a useful roadmap for companies looking to do…
Stallion Nissan Motors Nigeria Ltd has promised to start assembling no fewer than 500 units of the pickup in the country to ensure accessibility at an affordable price. Stallion Nissan Motors Nigeria Ltd is the Nissan’s exclusive manufacturer and product distributor in Nigeria. It has recently launched Nissan Navara into the Nigerian market. Addressing journalists at the launch, the…
A record number of eight African countries competed at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. At the 2022 Winter Games, currently underway, Africa is represented by six athletes from five countries: Eritrea, Ghana, Madagascar, Morocco and Nigeria. Five are competing in Alpine (downhill) skiing and one in cross-country skiing. These athletes are not touted to win…
PAN African music streaming service, Mdundo, has announced a 22 percent growth in its user base in the last quarter of 2021. The platform recorded 20 million users at the end of further quarter, up from 16.3m/-, in the third quarter and that is driven by strong demand for an easy-to-use music service coupled with aggressive expansion into new…
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), along with its partners, Google and Africa 24 successfully held the annual flagship initiative, the Africa Business Forum, on Monday 7th of February on the margins of African Union summit in Addis Ababa via hybrid format. Bringing together heads of state with CEOs and other stakeholders, the focus of the Forum this year was…
By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) – China’s development banks provided $23 billion in financing for infrastructure projects in sub-Saharan Africa from 2007 to 2020, more than double the amount lent by such banks in the United States, Germany, Japan and France combined, a new study showed. The Center for Global Development think tank said a review of 535 public-private…
What you need to know: In an interview with AFP ahead of a visit to Senegal, Von der Leyen said she will use the trip to unveil the first African scheme in a new investment scheme dubbed Global Gateway. As China and Russia court impoverished and fragile African states with offers of security or loans, EU chief Ursula von…
Following military takeovers in five different African countries in the past year, some have suggested that democracy may not be the best form of government on the continent. But here, Leonard Mbulle-Nziege and Nic Cheeseman argue that – despite these set-backs – democracy is the way forward for Africa.© AFP Soldiers received a rapturous welcome after they seized power in…
African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government have approved Kiswahili as one of the bloc’s official working languages following a request from Vice-President Dr. Phillip Mpango. Dr. Mpango had suggested that Kiswahili is one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa with about 100 million people within and outside the continent. “Kiswahili is already in use in…
World Health Organisation (WHO) regional director For Africa, Dr Matshido Moeti, says the continent records 1.1 million cases of cancer with 700, 000 deaths every year. In a report he released to mark the World Cancer Day, which LEADERSHIP in Maiduguri, Borno State, Moeti said, “Every year, Africa records around 1.1 million new cases of cancer, resulting in up…
Madagascar’s disaster management agency said that Cyclone Batsirai had left 20 people dead and forced 55,000 from their homes. INTERNATIONAL NEWS – Cyclone Batsirai swept out of Madagascar on Monday after killing 20 people, displacing 55,000 and devastating the drought-hit island’s agricultural heartland, leading the UN to warn of a worsening humanitarian crisis. Madagascar was already reeling from a…
African Development Bank, AfDB, President, Akinwumi Adesina, has revealed that Africa’s public debt, currently estimated at $546 billion, represents one-quarter of the continent’s GDP and is higher than the combined total annual government revenues of $501 billion. Speaking , weekend at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Adesina said the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional…
Demonstrators gather in Ouagadougou to show support to the military while holding and waiving a Russian flag and an anti France banner on January 25, 2022. (Photo by OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT/AFP via Getty Images) The recent coup in Burkina Faso that deposed Roch Marc Kaboré may be a consequence of the president’s many failures. But it also reflects the…
The African Union concluded its annual summit on Sunday, condemning a recent wave of military coups on the continent. An unprecedented number of member states have been suspended from the bloc amid fears of democratic “backpedalling”. The recent spate of coups d’état on the continent was among the main issues raised at the two-day gathering in Addis Ababa, although…
As the 6th EU-Africa Summit approaches, few are questioning the need for a fundamental reset of relations – in particular after the turbulent events of the past few years. But what precisely does that entail? The path ahead is by no means clear, when long-standing challenges in Africa such as food security and migration are compounded by today’s immediate…
The African Mixed Martial Arts Confederation (AMMAC), a Member of the Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA), has joined the Association of African Sports Confederation (AASC-UCSA) as an affiliate member. In a letter sent to GAMMA, AASC-UCSA President Major General Ahmed Nasser Mohamed confirmed the news, which is expected to result in the rapid growth of the sport…
Presidents and delegates at the African Union headquarters during the 35th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, on February 5, 2022. Uganda and Tanzania have been elected as a member of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council. PHOTO | TONY KARUMBA | AFP Summary The AU’s Peace and Security Council is a 15-member…
Can disruption be both devastating and inventive. Harvard professor Clayton Christensen believed so. And it makes sense. It begins when a firm targets overlooked – typically low-profitability – segments of a market, or creates a new market where none existed, and offers low-cost solutions. The entrant gains a foothold, eventually moves up-market and soon co-opts mainstream customers: the entire…
The 650,000bpd Dangote Petroleum Refinery, is expected to bring about a 36 per cent reduction in the importation of petroleum productions into the continent. Nigeria is the largest oil and gas producer in Africa. Nigeria’s economy and budget has been largely supported from income and revenues generated from the petroleum industry since 1960 and statistics as of February 2021…
Cassava Technologies (CassavaTechnologies.com) is proud to announce that it has appointed Tesh Durvasula as the new Chief Executive Officer of Africa Data Centres (ADC) effective 7 February 2022. He will be responsible for driving growth, innovation and strategy of Cassava Technologies’ data centres to meet Africa’s accelerating demand for data and digital infrastructure. Durvasula is an experienced technology and…
The streets of Senegal erupted in celebration after the Lions of Teranga beat Egypt 4-1 on post-match penalties in the Africa Cup of Nations final. Liverpool star Mane stole the show last night as Senegal washed away their AFCON final hoodoo to win a first-ever trophy at the Paul Biya Olembe Stadium. Mane, had fluffed his lines earlier in the game…
Kampala, Uganda. With 1.5million refugees, Uganda is the top refugee-hosting country on the African continent and one of the top five hosting countries in the world. Although the country has a relaxed policy which allows refugees to live outside camps, the country also has 48 refugee settlements, most of which are in areas experiencing the worst forms of environmental…
While Europe gets back on track from COVID-19, the recovery of African countries is undermined by vaccine inequality. The S&D Group’s ‘Africa Week’ initiative seeks to address this. We are neighbors, but we don’t know each other enough. We share borders, we share a sea, we share challenges, but our communication is still full of stereotypes, misconceptions and a…
Senegal dispatched Egypt on penalties in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday to bring to a thrilling conclusion the 33rd edition of the biennial continental competition as the Teranga Lions clinched their first-ever African title. Player of the Tournament Sadio Mane was the hero as he overcame a fourth-minute penalty miss to net the decisive spot kick in the shootout following a 0-0…
Across Africa, a digital revolution is happening, with the fast adoption of emerging technologies, such as drones, robots and smart cities. This revolution is touching several sectors, including agriculture and banking. Although Africa currently trails other regions in terms of digital adoption and maturity, the pace of adoption and infrastructure buildout is happening faster on the continent than any other region in the world. Blockchain technology is another…
COTE D’LVOIRE, West Africa – African Development Bank Group (ADB) President Dr Akinwumi Adesina has said that the most important lesson of the Covid-19 pandemic for Africa is the need to build a defense mechanism against external shocks, especially in healthcare and financial security. The bank chief said the continent needed $484 billion over the next three years to…
ADDIS ABABA – Liberia’s Foreign Minister H.E. Amb. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., has frowned on the hijacking of power through unconstitutional means, noting that the State of Peace and Security on the Continent, his delegation has observed with dismay the rise in terrorism and violent extremism. Minister Kemayah intoned that in the midst of these unfolding developments, the Government of…
In an effort to tackle plastic pollution, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has called on African governments to support the establishment of a negotiating mandate for a legally binding global treaty on marine plastic pollution at the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (Unea) scheduled to take place from 28 February to 2 March 2022. Hosted by the…
Arusha, Tanzania. Governments need to tighten laws that protect wetlands to stem rising loss of lives and property due to floods. In a statement issued on the World Wetland Day, Dr. Mithika Mwenda, the Executive Director of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) said it is the encroachment of the wetlands that has led to the suffering communities…
Emirates has resumed passenger operations between Dubai and five African countries starting from 29 January 2022, offering customers more choice, superior value and enhanced connectivity to and through Dubai. UAE writes Hadi Sirika over NCAA’s action against Emirates Airline. The significant restoration of services will include Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Nairobi, Kenya; Harare, Zimbabwe; Emirates’ three…
A Masai wedding ceremony at Mara Bushtops Luxury Camp in Kenya. Photo Credit: African Travel Inc. African Travel Inc. is launching a new series of romantic safaris and experiences Curated for weddings, anniversaries, honeymoons and other romantic getaways, African Travel’s romantic and honeymoon safari series will feature journeys to some of the continent’s most popular destinations, including Kenya, South…
National Geographic Wild’s 11th annual Big Cat Month takes place this February with a month of television programming dedicated to the fiercest felines, creatures of magnificent strength, ferocity and beauty. With visually impressive and powerful stories from around the world, from lions, tigers, cheetahs and leopards to the most unknown and forgotten such as the serval, the African wildcat or the…
Plans have been announced for an international maglev network operating across Africa. Afrailways is developing Afrail Express as a high-speed passenger rail system to connect the entire African continent, from South Africa to Morocco, and Nigeria to Egypt. Afrail Express is seeking to appoint a main contractor for the construction of the infrastructure. The first phase for the Afrail…
The African Union has suspended Burkina Faso from all its activities in response to last week’s military coup, effective until constitutional order is restored, the AU said on Monday. Burkina Faso had already been suspended from the West African regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, though ECOWAS stopped short of imposing sanctions after the Jan. 24 coup that deposed President…
We mostly hear about how the COVID-19 pandemic has crushed businesses, big and small, across the world. Almost every industry has taken hard knocks, what with supply-chain challenges across the board. The fashion and sports apparel industry has also suffered, being forced to rely on expensive air freight rather than container ships to complete the supply chain. There have…
The South African Cabinet has approved changes to the Adjusted Alert Level 1 COVID-19 regulations as South Africa has exited the fourth wave nationally. Based on the trajectory of the pandemic and the levels of vaccination in the country, Cabinet has decided to make changes to Adjusted Alert Level 1 with immediate effect. With the new changes, those who test positive…
Summary No tolls will be imposed for using the bridge which is open to all motorists. With a 180-tonnage Capacity, the bridge is expected to ferry 55,000 vehicles or thereabouts per day, and this is expected to significantly reduce congestion along the overwhelmed independence-time Selander Bridge. By Bethsheba Wambura Dar es Salaam. Construction of the new Tanzanite Bridge in…
The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, today commenced with its oversight visit to schools in the Western Cape to assess their readiness for the 2022 academic year. The committee visited seven schools in the Cape Metropolitan area. The schools visited include special needs schools, primary schools and high schools. The committee Chairperson, Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, said the committee commends the…