Africa Matters

Africa’s Growing Push for BRICS Membership

Elizabeth Antidius Shumbusho | Africa Guardian An increasing number of African nations are seeking to join the BRICS group, signaling a strategic shift to bolster their global influence and unlock new economic opportunities, experts say. Ethiopia and Egypt have recently joined the group, and Kenya’s President William Ruto has also expressed interest in becoming a member. Analysts suggest that…

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Unified Currency for South Africa, China, and India Lacks Justification, Says Think Tank

By Edson Baraukwa | Africa Guardian The Free Market Foundation (FMF) argues that South Africa has little in common with its BRICS partners, deeming discussions of a unified currency impractical. The idea of a “BRICS currency” has gained traction in recent years amid broader efforts to promote “de-dollarisation” and reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar. This push has been…

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Transnet Secures R5 Billion Loan from BRICS New Development Bank

Our Correspondent | Africa Guardian South Africa’s state-owned logistics company, Transnet, has secured a R5 billion ($283.53 million) loan from the New Development Bank, established by the BRICS group of emerging economies. The South African government will guarantee this loan, which is aimed at supporting Transnet’s ambitious turnaround plan. The loan is intended to address the years of underinvestment…

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Samia’s message on strengthened Brics-Africa links

She said Tanzania envisioned a Brics-Africa partnership that supports the continent’s endeavour to promote and strengthen regional value chains and help African producers to gain access to global export markets. Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan said yesterday the Brics-Africa partnership needs to focus on unlocking the continent’s potential towards realisation of Agenda 2063, Sustainable Development Goals and…

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 South African president to announce new BRICS members on Thursday

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce the names of countries that will be invited to join the BRICS group of nations as full-fledged members after BRICS leaders complete their discussion on the issue on Thursday morning. South Africa’s BRICS Sherpa Anil Sooklal told TASS on Wednesday that the leaders “will tomorrow morning have a further meeting to finalize…

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Extra BRICS Shouldn’t Be Used to Build a Wall Against the West

Analysis By Peter Fabricius As interest in joining BRICS soars, an expansion must be about more than the ‘West versus the Rest’. This year’s Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) summit will have a distinctive African flavour. Hosted by its only African member, the meeting has an African theme and will be attended by many African leaders as part of an outreach…

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Putin will not attend summit in South Africa amid arrest warrant

Story by Dominic Waghorn, international affairs editor | Sky News Vladimir Putin will not be attending the BRICS trade summit in South Africa thereby avoiding the risk of arrest. The South African government broke the news with the following statement: “By mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will not attend the Summit, but the Russian Federation…

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Why African nations are keen to join the expanding BRICS club

When the BRICS summit gets under way in South Africa next month, much of the international attention will be on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin, with an International Criminal Court warrant out for his arrest, will attend. But for many African countries, the summit is an opportunity for something much bigger. Various African countries, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Algeria,…

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US bullying South Africa for being neutral

South Africa is now increasingly coming under growing pressure from the United States, which is its second largest trading partner after China, for seemingly supporting Russia in the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, although it says it is neutral. Washington and Pretoria recently faced-off in a diplomatic tiff after the US accused SA of supplying arms to Russia. Even if Pretoria…

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‘Brazil is Back!’ Lula Says During State Visit to China

Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva promised Thursday that “Brazil is back!” during a state visit to China aimed at strengthening trade ties and winning support for his push for peace in Ukraine. The veteran leftist, who arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday night, is seeking to reposition Brazil as a key global player after four years of relative…

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