Europe looks to Africa for energy security
As Europe takes action to reduce imports of Russian gas, the continent’s leaders have been looking to Africa as an alternative energy supplier. New deals have been signed with Algeria, Angola, …
Cameroon sugarcane strike turns violent over wages
Over 150 hectares of sugarcane fields have been destroyed in Cameroon due to violent clashes between workers at the Société Sucrière du Cameroun (SOSUCAM) and police. The unrest, which erupted earlier …
FIFA suspends Congolese Football Federation
FIFA has announced the immediate suspension of the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT), following escalating tensions between the Ministry of Sports and the football body. The dispute, which has been ongoing for …
Judge halts Trump’s effort to dismantle USAID
A federal judge has delivered a major blow to President Donald Trump and his ally, billionaire Elon Musk, halting plans to pull thousands of staffers from the U.S. Agency for International …
Malaria vaccine reaches more than one million children in Africa
More than one million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi have now received at least one dose of the first malaria vaccine. Data provided by the UN’s World Health Organisation suggests …
More than one million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi have now received at least one dose of the first malaria vaccine.
Data provided by the UN’s World Health Organisation suggests that the pilot programme launched in April 2019 was safe and “substantially reduced severe cases” of the disease.
The “RTS,S” vaccine could save the lives of 40,000 to 80,000 children per year in sub-Saharan Africa and high-risk areas.
The new vaccine works against the mosquito-borne parasite, Plasmodium Falciparum, the most deadly parasite worldwide and the most prevalent in Africa.
About 90% of the world’s malaria cases are in Africa, where 260,000 children die each year.
Malaria is a very old disease and it can be fatal if not treated in time.
More than $155 million has been mobilised by the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) to enable the delivery of these vaccines.
World Malaria Day is marked on April 25th.
Extreme hunger threatens 28 million people in East Africa- Oxfam
Up to 28 million people in East Africa are at risk of extreme hunger due to hikes in food and commodity prices most of which is as a result of the …
Up to 28 million people in East Africa are at risk of extreme hunger due to hikes in food and commodity prices most of which is as a result of the Ukraine war and potential lack of rain this March, non-profit organisation Oxfam warned.
According to the organization, there is a real chance that the international community will not respond adequately. The development organization Oxfam warns about this today.
Millions of people in East Africa are already experiencing severe food insecurity. Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia are experiencing the driest weather in 40 years, meanwhile, South Sudan is tackling ongoing flooding, the group said.
“The effects of the Ukrainian conflict on the global food system will reverberate around the world, but it will be the poorest and most vulnerable people who will be hit hardest and fastest,” said Gabriela Bucher, Oxfam’s executive director.
“Rising food prices are a sledgehammer for millions of people already suffering from multiple crises, and are making the massive shortage of aid potentially deadly.”
Describing the global response as “woefully underfunded” a press release stated that only 3% of the $6bn (£4.5bn) United Nations (UN) 2022 humanitarian appeal for Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan had been funded.
East African countries get up to 90% of their wheat from Ukraine and Russia, the press statement said.
One farmer said the lack of food and water is impacting his cattle: “Due to the droughts our donkeys have perished and the ones remaining are too weak to pull carts,” Ahmed Mohamud Omar from Wajir County, Kenya, said.
“I think about what will my family eat, where will their next meal come from, whether I will get the daily jerrycan of water,” he continued.
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.
Gambians react to election win of incumbent leader Adama Barrow
Residents of Banjul, the capital of The Gambia are reacting to the news of Adama Barrow’s re-election for a second term as president. The incumbent candidate won more than 53% of …
Residents of Banjul, the capital of The Gambia are reacting to the news of Adama Barrow’s re-election for a second term as president.
The incumbent candidate won more than 53% of the vote according to results released by the electoral commission. Thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate Barrow’s reelection late Sunday evening when the Chairman of the IEC, Alieu Mommar Njie, announced the results and prayed for peace to prevail in the nation of about 2.4 million people.
Gambians now expect Adama Barrow to bring something “better” to the west African nation, including the “creation of more jobs” for the young.
“I can’t say much about that, because he wasn’t the one I voted for anyway. But as far as I am concerned, so long as there is peace, there is stability. We will give him another five years, and see what he comes up with” Rose Fatou Coker, an entrepreneur in agro-food products said.
For Alhajie Fatty, a private driver, this is a new opportunity to make things better. “Many youths are idle, there are a lack of jobs you know. So when they create more jobs for them maybe things should be better, before they go this backway and suffer.”
President Barrow easily beat out his main competition, Ousainou Darboe of the United Democratic Party who received about 28% of the vote.
Barrow, from the National People’s Party (NPP) emerged victorious with 457,519 of the votes cast. UDP’s Darboe was credited with 238,233 votes, and Mama Kandeh of the Gambia Moral Congress party came in third with 105,902 votes, according to results announced by the IEC.
The results, however, have already been contested by four opposition leaders, including Darboe and Kandeh. According to a statement from the parties, they were concerned about an “inordinate delay” in the announcement of results.
“We are investigating this matter with our partners to determine our future course of action. At this point in time, we reject the results announced thus far by the IEC. We reserve the right to embark on any course of actions the situation requests to this end all actions are on the table. In the meantime, we call all Gambians to remain calm and peaceful while we continue our investigations of these concerns.” Ousainou Darboe, candidate and head of United Democratic Party (UDP) said
Nearly 860,000 Gambians voted on Saturday, a high number that shows a determination for many to exercise their democratic rights as demands for justice in the post-Yahya Jammeh era rise. Barrow emerged victorious in 2016 as the candidate for an opposition coalition that tested the 22-year rule of Jammeh.
After initially agreeing to step down, Jammeh resisted, and a six-week crisis saw neighboring West African countries prepare to send in troops to stage a military intervention. Jammeh was forced into exile.
Jammeh’s two-decade rule was marked by arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and summary executions that were revealed through dramatic testimony during Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission hearings that lasted for years.
The commission recently handed its 17-volume report to Barrow, urging him to ensure that perpetrators of human rights violations were prosecuted. Barrow has vowed to fight for justice for the victim
This was the country’s first presidential election in decades that did not include Jammeh, who now lives in exile in Equatorial Guinea after losing the 2016 election and refusing to accept defeat.
China promises to help Africa fight Covid 19
China has promised to help African countries overcome the shock of the Covid 19 pandemic and the effects of global warming while refraining from imposing its will on Africa. Chinese foreign …
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.
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.
President Buhari pledges to help South Sudan overcome economic challenges
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said Nigeria is ready to extend a helping hand to South Sudan towards the political and economic stability of the country. President Buhari made the promise …
Best Places to Visit this Vacation
Best time to go is during the Festival in the Desert in Essakane and..
Timbuktu, Mali
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Timbuktu, Mali
Timbuktu in Mali was a center of trade and learning during medieval times. Some buildings remain from its heyday, and it’s still an important stop for salt caravans which travel from Taoudenni in the winter. Timbuktu is difficult to get to although the journey is half the fun. Ironically for a desert town, the most common way to get to Timbuktu is by boat down the Niger river.
Best time to go is during the Festival in the Desert in Essakane and also try and catch the festival, Curee Salee in Ingall, Niger across the border.
Coastal Forts, Ghana
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Victoria Rd, Cape Coast, Ghana
Ghana’s Atlantic Coast is lined with old forts (castles) built by various European powers during the 17th Century. Initially, the forts were used to store goods for export such as gold, ivory, and spices. Later the slave-trade turned many forts into prison dungeons. European powers fought among themselves for control over the forts and they changed hands numerous times over the next few centuries.
Two forts that shouldn’t be missed are St George’s Castle in Elmina and Cape Coast Castle and Museum. The castle was the headquarters for the British colonial administration for nearly 200 years.
Some of the forts have even been turned into guesthouses offering basic accommodation.
Sine-Saloum Delta, Senegal
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Palmarin, Senegal
The Sine-Saloum Delta lies in the southwest of Senegal. It’s a large area of mangrove forests, lagoons, islands, and rivers. A highlight for visitors to this region is taking a boat ride up the rivers to spot pelicans and flamingos and enjoy the lovely fishing villages along the way. There are baobab trees, sandy beaches, and lots of forest animals including monkeys to enjoy.
Palmarin has some wonderful hotels to stay at. Check out the luxurious Royal Lodge or the Lodge des Collines de Niassam where you can sleep in a baobab tree house. Deeper into the mangroves, you can also stay at an eco-lodge run by several local villages, Keur Bamboung.
