The United States has reopened its embassy in the Seychelles after a 27-year absence during which China and other U.S. rivals made significant inroads in the Indian Ocean islands. The U.S. State Department announced the move late Thursday, after having unveiled plans to open a diplomatic mission in northern Norway, which will be its only only such facility above…
Summary The decision was reached at talks attended by several heads of states, including DRC’s Felix Tshisekedi, his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan and ministers from the regional group Windhoek. Southern African countries on Monday agreed to deploy forces to help quell violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where armed groups have terrorised…
A diplomatic deal in the Middle East was notable as much for a breakthrough between Saudi Arabia and Iran as it was for the absence of American input. Story by Brendan Cole The March 10 agreement between the regional rivals to imminently reopen embassies after a seven-year hiatus was brokered in secret by China. It raised questions over whether…
By Susan T. Money is a leading cause of relationship tension and conflict because it is often emotionally charged. Those who grew up in disadvantaged circumstances tend to have a stronger focus on saving money than those who have always had financial security and are accustomed to spending freely. When such people get together in a relationship and eventually…
The presidents of South Africa and Kenya say they have resolved a longstanding visa dispute and Kenyans will be able to visit South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days in a calendar year. South Africans already get free visas on arrival in Kenya, while Kenyans were charged and required to provide proof of sufficient funds and return flight…
Dar Es Salaam — Peace talks between warring sides on Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict have been extended into Monday. An official familiar with the arrangements for the talks confirms that discussions continue in South Africa between Ethiopia’s federal government and representatives from the northern Tigray region. The African Union-led talks seek a cessation of hostilities in a war that the United…
Turkey’s policy on Africa is based on many different soft power elements such as trade relations, humanitarian aid, flight diplomacy, media, cultural diplomacy, education At the time of the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, the majority of African countries were under colonial rule. During this period, the newly established republic had domestic priorities such as economic development and…
EAC population will rise to 275 million from 183 million, which is the current total population of the existing six partner states. This will make EAC one of the largest trading blocs in Africa, opening a corridor from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic coast. While the EAC has a combined nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of $220 billion,…
South Africa is chairing the CSW at a time when the government has taken a deliberate policy decision to give highest priority to the thematic issues of women South Africa has assumed responsibility as the Chair of the 66th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66) that is taking place at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…