Latest Stories

looking for perfection

ICC: Member states unimpressed with candidates shortlisted to replace Bensouda

The four candidates officially shortlisted for the position of Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) had to undergo a full-fledged ... job interview, a first for the Court.

Catch 22

Zambia: Fiscal consolidation needed to end debt spiral

Zambia risks losing access to international debt markets unless it can offer a convincing programme of fiscal reforms. ...

shop gone

Nigeria: Shoprite to discontinue all or some of its operations

Shoprite is the latest company to announce plans to exit Nigeria. ...

amplifying public discourse

Zimbabwe: Mobile phone apps are changing talk radio

In Africa, radio still has wider geographical reach and higher audiences than any other information and communication technology, including television ... and newspapers.

ETHIOPIA’S ENTANGLEMENTS

Ethiopia: Who and what is behind the Oromia crisis – a view from Abiy’s camp

In Ethiopia, opposition activists accuse Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government of trying to reassert central control over Oromia and dismissing ... their campaign for cultural rights and linguistic rights – at stake is the future of country’s proclaimed system of ethnic federalism.

talking africa

Africa and the US: ‘In Africa, people don’t take us seriously’

Will political change and the pandemic force a reset of US diplomatic and security priorities – and where will Africa figure in the new order? ...

reappropriation of history

France entrusts historian to highlight truth of Algerian war

The French president officially entrusted Benjamin Stora with a mission on "the memory of colonisation and the Algerian war", with a view to ... promoting "reconciliation between the French and Algerian peoples."

flying high

Rwanda and Kenya reopen its skies in time for peak tourism

Nairobi and Kigali are set to resume international flights on 1 August, as the region begins reopening its skies in time for the end-year tourism ... peak season.

Nigerian protectionism

Nigeria: Stop shooting yourself in the foot!

Once the founding fathers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), today they are slowing down regional integration. ...

new skin

Islamic State’s great ‘capacity to regenerate’ itself

The Islamic State armed group has been largely weakened in recent years, but under its new leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, the terrorist ... organisation is regrouping and once again sowing its seeds of violence.

Slow Lane

Nigeria must jump start automotive strategy, says Volkswagen

When German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited West Africa in August 2018, Volkswagen signed two memorandums of understanding, one with Ghana and ... one with Nigeria.

RETAIL ANGST  

South Africa: ‘Retail is in for a tough period’ as consumers pinch pennies

South African retail trade sales declined 12% in May 2020 compared to the same period last year, signalling a trend that is going to be the new ... normal.  

peace maker

Tanzania’s Benjamin Mkapa: Peacemaker and true East African

The former Tanzanian president Benjamin William Mkapa, who died on 24 July, was the country’s third president. He was in office from 1995 to ... 2005.

ZIMBABWE PROTESTS

Zimbabwe: Joint statement on arrest of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono

The arrest and detention by the Zimbabwean authorities of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and activist Jacob Ngarivhume on charges of inciting ... violence against Emmerson Mnangagwa’s presidency have ratcheted up tensions in the country ahead of a planned demonstration against government corruption on 31 July. 

top five

AfDB: Breaking down Adesina’s actual record as president

Running to succeed himself, Akinwumi Adesina’s re-election standing for the presidency of the pan-African institution has nevertheless been ... weakened over the last few months by internal allegations. Read on for an overview of the main projects he has initiated since joining the institution in 2015.

SHOPPING A BARGAIN        

Steinhoff extends billion-euro olive branch to litigants  

Disgraced retail group Steinhoff plans to settle R136bn (about €7bn) in litigation claims instituted against the company in South Africa, Germany ... and the Netherlands.

seismic shift

Africa’s mobile banking will be redefined by social media

The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated a race among African Banks to become fully digital as consumers increasingly demand more personalised ... service across multiple channels.

silver lining

Coronavirus: Technology borne at a time of health crisis

Health crises are often the impetus to unlocking innovation. ...

forgotten cape

Mozambique: Can Cabo Delgado’s Islamist insurgency be stopped?

“The world still has no idea what is happening because of indifference, and because it seems that we have already become accustomed to wars. ... There is war in Iraq, there is war in Syria and there is also now a war in Mozambique.”

economic positivity

BCEAO governor Koné: Unfazed by controversy and quick to innovate

The governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) focuses his efforts on “serving the region’s economies” and is unmoved ... by controversy. In the first part of our series on the governors running the Central Banks of West Africa during a time of crisis, we take a look at Tiémoko Meyliet Koné.

Article 1/2 of "The governors of West Africa’s Central Banks"