insert_link Africa Kenya’s visa-free policy faces backlash Kenya's decision to offer visa-free entry to foreigners entering the country has faced criticism. Travelers have said the process is hectic. The Kenyan had introduced the policy last month to promote visa-free travel within Africa. Daniel Kijo reports. todayJanuary 10, 2024 41
insert_link Africa Uganda’s elite in etiquette bootcamp: Ministers prep for global conferences with a crash course Uganda's ministers and senior government officials will be given a crash course in "proper conduct, good behaviour, and etiquette". The Daily Monitor reports that the training comes ahead of two international conferences. The training will ensure ministers avoid "embarrassing incidents", warning against behaviours like "pushing and shoving, over-excitement, flirting and bickering". todayJanuary 9, 2024 24
insert_link Africa Zambia delays school opening due to cholera outbreak Monday should have marked the start of the academic year in Zambia, but children there will instead have to wait three weeks to return to class because the authorities want to stop the spread of cholera, saying there is an urgent need for action and awareness following an increase in cholera-related deaths. According to the BBC, more than 200 people in Zambia have died of the disease since October. todayJanuary 9, 2024 22
insert_link Africa From nursing dreams to snail farmer: Ama Serwa Ennin cultivates success in Ghana’s booming snail ndustry By Sefakor Fekpe, via bird story agency Ama Serwaa Ennin squats in a greenhouse, proudly showing off her farming produce, her hands full. What she's holding is her source of pride and future income. But this is not grain or legumes or even beans of the sort usually proffered up in tales of African farming success. Instead, her hands are holding two snails - giant African snails, to be […] todayJanuary 9, 2024 55
insert_link Africa How will we know when local communities benefit from carbon offset schemes? (commentary) By Beth Allgood/John Waugh/Craig A. Talmage/Laura Musikanski/Dehara Weeraman on 5 January 2024 Carbon credit schemes face a crisis of legitimacy and often struggle to demonstrate the support of communities who must forgo land uses not compatible with the production and retention of carbon. At the very least, such projects should not negatively impact affected communities, but community support is also not a simple matter of just obtaining free prior and informed […] todayJanuary 9, 2024 10
insert_link Africa BlueInvest Africa 2024: Calling African Entrepreneurs BlueInvest Africa is calling for African entrepreneurs eager to venture into the blue economy. Thirty outstanding projects will be handpicked for presentation to a panel of investors at the second edition of BlueInvest Africa, scheduled to take place in Kenya on 3 and 4 July 2024. The deadline for applications is 26 January 2024. BlueInvest Africa 2024 marks the second edition of this important business event, initiated by the […] todayJanuary 9, 2024 22
insert_link Africa Scramble for the Sahel – why France, Russia, China and the United States are interested in the region By Olayinka Ajala, Leeds Beckett University The Sahel, a region 3,860km wide located south of the Sahara Desert and stretching east-west across the African continent, has been a focus of attention around the world recently. In the last decade, issues such as terrorism, insecurity and trafficking have characterised the region. Military takeovers have been a major source of concern in the region and beyond in the last few years. […] todayJanuary 9, 2024 3
insert_link Africa Visa-free regimes to bolster African tourism growth in 2024 By Conrad Onyango via bird African countries are set to record an increase in tourism numbers in 2024, as more countries continue to open their borders to other African countries by abolishing visa requirements. In 2023, most African countries made significant strides to liberalize their visa regimes, with Rwanda and Kenya being the latest to completely remove visa requirements for all African travellers, joining Gambia, Benin, and Seychelles. Kenya's transition […] todayJanuary 9, 2024 42
insert_link Africa Botswana’s Peggy Serame named Finance Minister of the Year 2024 Botswana’s government has congratulated Peggy Serame for being awarded Finance Minister of the Year for Africa 2024 by The Banker Magazine. The magazine, which is a Financial Times Publication based in London, was first published in January 1926, to provide economic and financial intelligence for the world’s financial sector, over a broad spectrum of issues. According to The Banker, commonly held up as one of Africa’s success stories, economic growth […] todayJanuary 8, 2024 97