Kenya to receive $750 million from World Bank
The World Bank has approved a $750 million loan for Kenya, aimed at supporting the East African country’s 2022 budget. Kenya would have to carry out some necessary reforms in its …
Islamic State Strikes Again kill at least 11 people – officials say
A local official in eastern Congo says extremist-linked rebels attacked villages over the weekend, killing at least 11 people, torching vehicles and taking possessions. The assaults, which occurred on Saturday, were …
Congo landslide kills at least 15 people and up to 60 others are missing:officials
A landslide in southwest Congo caused by heavy rains killed at least 15 people and left as many as 60 others missing, local officials said Sunday. Seven people were found alive …
At least 58 killed by 2 weeks of floods in Tanzania
Floods have killed 58 people in Tanzania during the last two weeks, the government said, as heavy rains continue in the East African country. The coastal region was hit hardest, with …
News special
Europe-Africa: fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in Africa
On March 17 in Marseille, France, European and African political and economic leaders met for the Europe-Africa forum. Organized at the Palais du Pharo by the Metropole Aix-Marseille-Provence with the newspaper …
On March 17 in Marseille, France, European and African political and economic leaders met for the Europe-Africa forum.
Organized at the Palais du Pharo by the Metropole Aix-Marseille-Provence with the newspaper La Tribune and La Tribune Afrique, as a follow-up to the European Union-African Union summit held in Brussels on February 17 and 18. The main objective of this forum was to strengthen the new partnership between the two continents through a day of debates and discussions on various themes. Among them, the creation of employment and added value were discussed.
The Minister of Finance of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nicolas Kazadi, spoke about entrepreneurship, which for him is “the job of tomorrow”: “There must be a change in mentality, especially among young people, in relation to the relationship between employees and employers. If this change is not made, if we are not culturally prepared to become entrepreneurs, we will be eternally frustrated, that’s what we still are today, and that’s what needs to change.”
Amina Zakhnouf, co-founder of the association “Je m’engage pour l’Afrique”, shares this need for a change of mentality: “We have been very unambitious about what we already have in terms of potential, and I would like us to stop talking about purely material potential, by talking about the resources of Africa and its youth, there are other things that exist on the continent that are exceptional. There is a technical and technological innovation on the Finetech point of view that could transform this continent into a real laboratory of ideas and give Africa a leading role in the drafting of a new regulation.”
African entrepreneurs are already established on the continent and are developing small and medium-sized businesses. Some of them are sometimes boosted by private companies.
The French bank La Société Générale, still positioned in several African countries such as Morocco, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Cameroon, offers solutions.
“The support of SMEs is key in Africa, particularly for the inclusion of populations and to fight against poverty. We intervene both in financing and we have decided to double our financing by 2025, and also with a lot of coaching of business leaders through the houses of the SME that we have organized in each of our banks on the African continent,” said Laurent Goutard, director of the Africa, Mediterranean & Overseas Region of Société Générale.
Several questions remain unanswered at the end of this forum, and among them, is how to find the right cooperation between public authorities and private companies.
The European and African political leaders present at the forum nevertheless showed a willingness to change the paradigm.
Moderna to build mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Kenya
Pharmaceutical giant Moderna has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kenya’s government for its first mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Africa. In a statement on Monday (07 March), the company …
Pharmaceutical giant Moderna has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kenya’s government for its first mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Africa.
In a statement on Monday (07 March), the company said its goal is to produce up to 500 million doses of vaccines a year for the continent, with a focus on drug substance manufacturing, though the facility could be expanded to include fill-and-finish work.
“In parallel, Moderna is also working on plans to allow it to fill doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in Africa as early as 2023, subject to demand,” the company said.
Currently, the least vaccinated region in the world against the coronavirus, Africa relies on imports for about 99% of its vaccine needs, according to the World Health Organization.
In October, Senegal and Rwanda signed an agreement with BioNTech for the construction of its first start-to-finish factories to make mRNA vaccines in Africa.
The novel mRNA process uses the genetic code for the spike protein of the coronavirus and is thought to trigger a better immune response than traditional vaccines. Scientists hope the technology, which is easier to scale up than traditional vaccine methods, might ultimately be used to make vaccines against other diseases, including malaria.
United Nigeria Airlines acquires new Airbus 320
United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) has acquired a new Airbus 320 aircraft expand its operations, increasing its to eight. The spokesman of the airline, Achillieus-Chud Uchegbu, said the aircraft touched down on …
African fashion brings beauty and glamour to Niger
For five days the capital of Niger vibrated in glamour and beauty as the International Festival of African Fashion, FIMA, held its 13th edition. About fifty top models and thirty fashion …
For five days the capital of Niger vibrated in glamour and beauty as the International Festival of African Fashion, FIMA, held its 13th edition.
About fifty top models and thirty fashion designers showcased clothes, accessories and jewellery from all over Africa.
Alphadi, the founder of FIMA has always given a very important place to young people in the fashion industry.
Founded in 1998, almost half of the program of this event is dedicated to young African talent.
Dozens of designers took part in the young designers’ competition.
Sun Alejandro, a Rwandan designer based in Gabon, was inspired by the diversity of the Bantu culture – the population of Central and Southern Africa.
“This collection is a little bit of tribal code because I love Bantu culture which I find very rich. That’s why we find panther prints on most of these clothes which is an animal very representative of Gabonese culture and which symbolizes strength”, said designer Sun Alejandro.
The Top Model contest is always eagerly awaited by the public.
About twenty young men and women participated in the contest.
The event represented an opportunity for beginners like Erudie Deberry from Benin who amazed the public.
“Winning to honour my country, I am also very proud, winning to go to other countries and travel, winning to further develop my career, winning for me first and also for my country, that’s it”, shae said.
The public of Niger, a predominantly Muslim country, is very tolerant of other African cultures where the female body is widely shown.
The designers of Niger however remain very attached to the culture of Islam like sisters Adama and Aicha Seyni Seydou, creators of the brand Mam’Mode.
“The female body is something very precious, it’s a treasure in fact. Through our clothes twe try to highlight this body and at the same time respect the local culture”, explained the sisters.
FIMA will come back to Niger in full splendour as usual in 2 years.
Kenya’s President Praises Economic Performance
The president of Kenya spoke to Parliament on Tuesday praising the country’s response to the pandemic. In his State of the Nation speech, president Uhuru Kenyatta downplayed the impact of Covid-19 …
The president of Kenya spoke to Parliament on Tuesday praising the country’s response to the pandemic.
In his State of the Nation speech, president Uhuru Kenyatta downplayed the impact of Covid-19 on the economy.
“Today I am happy to go on record in this august house as having succeeded in the choices that our administration made. Because of our fiscal stimuli, today I can report that the impact of Covid on our economy was 14 times less than that of the global economy”, said the President.
Facing an election next year, President Kenyatta criticised the rejection by the courts of a constitutional amendment and praised economic growth in the country.
“During the second quarter of 2021 real GDP recorded a phenomenal 10.1 percent growth and this is the highest growth ever recorded in one quarter in Kenya’s history”, affirmed Uhuru Kenyatta.
Critics of the president have raised concerns about a number of issues missing from the speech such as the high level of debt in the country.
Africa – China Summit discusses enhanced cooperation
The Africa-China Summit is taking place in Senegal’s capital, Dakar. Direct exchanges between the Continent and China reached over 200 billion dollars in 2019. Trade and security are the main topics …
The Africa-China Summit is taking place in Senegal’s capital, Dakar.
Direct exchanges between the Continent and China reached over 200 billion dollars in 2019.
Trade and security are the main topics under discussion.
Many see this event as an opportunity to work on what is seen as a win-win situation.
“This Forum is an opportunity for our leaders to express the respective needs of their countries, because we need this win-win cooperation with China to develop our continent. China’s achievements in Africa speak for themselves; and after this meeting, we know that many more projects will be announced”, Baye Thiam, a trader of decorative objects in Senegal.
Interviewed ahead of the opening, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo spoke of a shared future.
“What is important for me is a shared future. Our future globally now [is] so intrinsically interrelated and woven together that if the future of Africa is uncertain, it has implication for the rest of the world”, said the former Nigerian leader.
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) ends on Tuesday and is expected to produce plans for enhanced cooperation in the next phase.
South Africa disappointed at the EU over travel ban
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed disappointment at the European Union over the recent travel ban instituted against southern African countries. The president described as unjustified the travel ban which …
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed disappointment at the European Union over the recent travel ban instituted against southern African countries.
The president described as unjustified the travel ban which has been linked to the discovery of the new highly-mutated coronavirus variant Omicron.
President Ramaphosa says the outbreak of the Omicron variant should be a wake-up call to the world that vaccine inequality cannot be allowed to continue.
“We are deeply disappointed by the decision of several countries to prohibit travel from a number of Southern African countries including our own.
Instead of prohibiting travel, the rich countries of the world need to support the efforts of developing countries – economies that is – to access and to manufacture enough vaccine doses for their people without delay.” Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa stated.
Botswana’s Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoli, believes there are much better ways of handling this issue rather than using it a means to stigmatize against southern African countries.
“We were concerned that there seemed to have been attempts to stigmatize the variant and the country where it was detected. Detection in this case was treated as origination, which again should not be an issue, even if the variant will have originated in Botswana. The issue should be the presence of the disease, which would then call for all to do whatever is possible to avoid its transmission.
At Hatfield province, 90 percent of new cases of the Omicron variant has been detected. The new variant is believed to be behind the explosion of infections. Only 24.1% of South Africans have been vaccinated.
Some youth are worried about the new variant “I take public transport and every time I am afraid.”
“We don`t really know what to expect. The fear is that the epidemic will start again and the virus will be even stronger.”
European member states agreed on Friday to temporarily suspend travel from southern African nations over the outbreak of a new coronavirus variant.
Countries affected by the ban comprise South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said there is a “high to very high” risk the new variant will spread in Europe.
The World Health Organization on Sunday urged countries around the world not to impose flight bans on southern African nations due to concerns over the new omicron variant.
WHO’s regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, called on countries to follow science and international health regulations in order to avoid using travel restrictions.
South Africa tourism industry thrown into chaos Due to BAN
The travel ban imposed on South Africa announced by the United Kingdom and other countries is throwing the tourism industry into chaos. The United States and Australia have also joined the …
The travel ban imposed on South Africa announced by the United Kingdom and other countries is throwing the tourism industry into chaos.
The United States and Australia have also joined the list of countries banning travelling from southern Africa.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, many still feel that the travel ban is unnecessary.
For the tourism industry in South Africa, representing around 3% of GDP, the new travel ban represents a big problem, particularly at a time when the recovery is struggling to gain traction.
“So this is hugely important for Cape Town. There are tens of thousands of families that rely on the tourism industry. And the whole day I’ve been flooded with messages from tour operators saying “we had a full December booked with tours for the first time”, small hotel owners and BnB owners saying everyone’s cancelled. It’s just really, really bad news”, laments Geordin Hill-Lewis, Mayor of Cape Town.
The World Health Organization cautioned against imposing travel restrictions, saying it would take weeks to understand the implications of the newly discovered strain.
Business Africa : What innovative financing solutions can the continent adopt?
Pledges of financial resources like the $100 billion made in 2009 are yet to be fulfilled, which means African nations must be ready to finance and manage their own survival against …
Pledges of financial resources like the $100 billion made in 2009 are yet to be fulfilled, which means African nations must be ready to finance and manage their own survival against a climate change doomsday.
Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, Director-General of the African Risk Capacity Group, a specialized agency of the African Union, shed some light on the self-sustaining options available for African countries, considering how slow Africa’s development partners have been in delivering on their commitments to combating climate change effects.
Saving beer from climate change
Every single beer on the African market today contains hops. While Hops is one of the four main ingredients in beer, global warming poses a serious threat. To curb the challenges created by temperature fluctuations, a computer engineer has turned to green agriculture for solutions.
Crippling cost of transporting goods across Nigeria
Nigeria may be Africa’s biggest economy but years of insecurity and reliance on road transport are fuelling the high costs of transporting goods. Transporters say it is cheaper to ship goods from as far as the United States than to move them inside the borders of the vast country. We have more in this report.
