Latest Stories

Taking a seat

The networks and allies of Cameroon’s Alain Nkontchou, Ecobank’s new chairman

Since he was appointed chairman of the board of directors of Ecobank at the end of June, the way Alain Francis Nkontchou, 57, speaks has not ... changed in substance. The former investment banker, co-founder of asset manager Enko Capital, expects the financial sector to support African economies better.

Best of Talking Africa

Replay: Zimbabwe on the brink: Inflation, currency, clashes – what next?

In this week's pick of some our favourite podcasts, we take a hard look at the growing instability in Zimbabwe. ...

Class action

Jumia whips out cheque book to calm Wall Street

In the United States, the pursuit of financial compensation is sometimes more important than the pursuit of truth, as proven by the settlement ... of several class action lawsuits that had pitted several groups of buyers against the e-commerce platform Jumia since May 2019.

Solar strength

AIIM bets on solar power growth with further investment in Bboxx

African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) plans to invest more money into clean-energy utility platform Bboxx to fund the company’s ... growth, AIIM chief investment officer Romain Py tells The Africa Report.

Oil disaster

Mauritius is reeling from an oil spill – and people are angry with how it has been handled

On the evening of Saturday July 25, the MV (Merchant Vessel) Wakashio grounded on coral reefs in the south-east of the Indian Ocean tropical ... island of Mauritius. The ship, a Japanese-owned but Panama-registered bulk carrier designed to transport unpackaged goods such as coal or grain, was empty of cargo but had an estimated 200 tons of diesel and 3,800 tons of heavy fuel oil onboard. The ship sat for over a week before cracks emerged in its hull.

Blame the bank

Nigeria’s central bank tries to do too much and fails to meet its core responsibilities

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and sharp fall in crude oil prices, economies around the world slowed down, with recessions expected almost everywhere. ... The year 2020 has been unprecedented. But the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and invariably the federal government did not plan for any shocks in the economy.

Liquidity crunch

Algerians increasingly nervous over their country’s cash shortage

Endless queues, withdrawal limits and rows between customers: the liquidity crisis is causing tension in Algeria, despite measures introduced ... by Abdelaziz Djerad’s government to remedy the situation.

Horn of plenty

Somaliland plays up its geopolitical role, courting China and Taiwan

As the Horn of Africa nears its elections seasons, Somaliland’s quest for statehood takes regional and international angles. ...

Lifeline Cut

Covid-19 shows Africa must reduce dependence on personal remittances

Personal remittances to Africa, which far outstrip foreign direct investment, have plummeted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, severely undermining ... food security for the continent’s poor.

Farmer squeeze

What can be done about the damage Covid-19 is causing to South African agri-SMEs

Covid-19 has prompted widespread discussion of the resilience of food systems and how efficiency and competitiveness have been previously understood. ... Recent decades have seen the growth of increasingly complex food value chains. These are underpinned by just-in-time delivery systems, a growing share of food products sold through supermarkets, and increasing concentration of ownership among powerful, large food manufacturers.

Shake it up

The top 50 African disruptors (31-35)

The Africa Report’s inaugural ranking of the top Africans who are disrupting the status quo in politics, business and the arts: from investigative ... journalists to world-class athletes and Nobel Peace Prize winners.

Article 4/4 of "The top 50 African disruptors"

Rebel reach

Niger: Why did terrorists choose to strike in Kouré?

In an attack which left two Nigeriens and six French nationals dead on 9 August in Kouré, the terrorists targeted a symbol: the country’s ... decision to prioritise developing tourism over investing in a full-fledged security apparatus.

Network boost

“COVID-19 is fast-tracking digital transformation” and fuelling growth – Telkom CEO

Listed telco Telkom expects growth in ICT driven by the rise in remote work, despite a dire economic outlook, says group CEO Sipho Maseko. ... />

Clicks and Mortar

Fintech is key to Zimbabwe’s banking digitalisation, Nedbank says

The Covid-19 pandemic is speeding up the pace of digitalisation of financial services, Nedbank Zimbabwe managing director Sibongile Moyo tells ... The Africa Report.

What works?

Public anger seems to deter Somalia’s Al-Shabaab more than counter-terrorism efforts

In September 2014, a US drone strike killed Al-Shabaab’s most influential leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane. The immediate assumption was that Godane’s ... death would weaken the group and reduce its capacity to carry out further terrorist activities.

Angry callers

Why telecoms firm Orange is so hated in Senegal

With the change in rates for its mobile packages, Orange is once again in the consumer's sights. Since the launch of its offers in 2006, the ... operator has been the target of recurring controversy.

No peace, no talks

Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis: Rivalries hamper peace talks

Peace talks involving the government of Cameroon and Anglophone separatists are at a standstill due to a power struggle playing out between prime ... minister Joseph Dion Ngute and secretary general of the presidency Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh.

Picking partners

Libya: Italy refuses to choose between Tripoli and Haftar

A historic ally of the Tripoli Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, Rome has changed its strategy and ... opened up to "all the players involved", including rebel leader Khalifa Haftar.

Borrower beware

Zimbabwe’s ill-advised plan to raise money through a sovereign bond

The Zimbabwean government recently signed an agreement to pay 4,500 white farmers $3.5bn for infrastructure improvements on the land expropriated ... by the government during the chaotic land reform programme of 1997/8.

Chadian change

BCAS’s Tolli: Can he help stop a CFA franc devaluation?

Facing off against oil lobbies and unhappy finance ministers, this central banker for a group of countries in Central Africa has many challenges ... ahead. In the third part of our series on the governors running central banks, we take a look at Abbas Mahamat Tolli, the governor of the Bank of Central African States (BCAS).

Article 3/3 of "The governors of Africa’s Central Banks"