insert_link Africa Nigeria denies plans for foreign military bases amid regional concerns Nigeria's government says it has no plan to host foreign military bases within its borders. This follows reports that the government was planning to do so after three West African countries asked French and US troops to leave their country. todayMay 7, 2024 20
insert_link Africa East Africa braces for more rains Kenya remains on high alert as Tropical Cyclone Hidaya threatens to dump more torrential rains on East African countries, which recently emerged from three years of historic drought. The heavy rains have caused deadly flooding and landslides that have killed nearly 400 people across the region since March. The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Kenya, Stephen Jackson. todayMay 7, 2024 59
insert_link Africa Nairobi, Kenya, Set to Host the 12th Edition of the Africa Fintech Summit from September 4-6, 2024, at the GTC JW Marriott Hotel On September 4-6, 2024, Regulators, Policy Makers, Financial Industry Executives, Fintech Founders, leading innovators, investors, Climate Finance experts and Afroprenours from around the world will gather in Nairobi, Kenya for the 12th edition of the Africa Fintech Summit (AFTS). The summit will take place at the newly opened GTC JW Marriott Hotel in the heart of Nairobi, Kenya. With participants who represent over $4.5bn in private equity and […] todayMay 7, 2024 38
insert_link Africa US-Africa trade deal turns 25 next year: Agoa’s winners, losers and what should come next By Bedassa Tadesse, University of Minnesota Duluth The African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) is a landmark piece of trade legislation enacted by the United States in 2000. Its goal is to promote economic growth, development and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa by providing qualifying countries with duty-free access to the US market for over 6,500 products. By eliminating import tariffs and quotas, Agoa aims to […] todayMay 7, 2024 26
insert_link Africa Kenya’s public universities: financing model overhaul fails to address biggest challenge – funding By Ishmael Munene, Northern Arizona University Kenya adopted a new approach to public university funding beginning with the 2023-24 academic year. Rapid student enrolment growth and declining state revenues have triggered the need for the reforms, which will require students to meet a higher proportion of costs. Ishmael Munene, who has a scholarly interest in African higher education, examines the background to these reforms. What are the […] todayMay 7, 2024 19
insert_link Africa Enough With the Veto, Mozambique Vents to the ‘P5’ Security Council Members Ambassador Pedro Comissário of Mozambique leads the UN Security Council in May. He said: The “veto should have never been allowed in cases of flagrant violation of international humanitarian law as we are witnessing in Gaza at this moment.” JOHN PENNEY/PASSBLUE By Damilola Banjo The veto power of the five permanent United Nations Security Council members is the bane of countless failed resolutions across decades. Now, Mozambique’s ambassador […] todayMay 6, 2024 14
insert_link Africa Nigeria’s minimum wage has never protected workers from poverty: here’s why By Stephen Onyeiwu, Allegheny College Wages have become the top issue for Nigeria’s organised labour movements in the past year. Reacting to recent increases in the cost of living, the labour movement has been calling for an upward review of the national minimum wage, currently N30,000 (US$24) a month. The Conversation’s Adejuwon Soyinka asks economics professor Stephen Onyeiwu if Nigeria’s minimum wage truly protects workers from poverty. […] todayMay 6, 2024 24
insert_link Africa African countries can’t resolve their debt crisis under a system rigged against them By Carlos Lopes, University of Cape Town The debt situation in many African countries has escalated again to a critical juncture. Twenty are in, or at risk of, debt distress. Three pivotal elements significantly contribute to this. Firstly, the rules governing the international banking system favour developed countries and work against the interests of African countries. Secondly, multilateral financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund […] todayMay 6, 2024 12
insert_link Africa Nigeria’s maritime logistics cruise as ports get a makeover By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Nigeria is implementing a ports makeover, ramping up investment to expand its ports as it seeks to untangle congestion, enhance efficiency, and seize economic opportunities through improved sea freight logistics. President Tinubu and Maersk Chairperson Robert Maersk Uggla have reportedly discussed a US$600 million deal with A.P. Moller-Maersk. The two met during the World Economic Forum event in Riyadh. In […] todayMay 3, 2024 55