Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.
COMMENTARY
India’s Economic Imperatives in Africa
Africa has a combined GDP of over $2 trillion and a population base of more than 1 billion. With this consolidated GDP accompanied by a large market, Africa is slowly becoming an important stakeholder in different global platforms. Click here to read…
Uganda 50 years after the expulsion of Indians
August marks an important anniversary for two nation-communities; Ugandans and Ugandan diaspora Indians. 2022 marks the 50th year since the expulsion of the Indian community from Uganda in August 1972, when then-president Idi Amin gave them 90 days to either leave the country or face unknown consequences. Click here to read…
NEWS
Mauritius, Ghana and The Gambia are the top 3 most peaceful countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
The 2022 Global Peace Index (GPI) has ranked Mauritius, Ghana and The Gambia as the top three most peaceful countries in sub-Saharan AfricaClick here to read…
Biden to host African leaders for Dec summit in Washington
President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he’ll host African leaders for a summit in Washington in mid-December. Click here to read…
Togo opens consulate general in Dakhla
The inauguration ceremony was chaired by Togo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Togolese Abroad, Robert Dussey, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita. Click here to read…
Lesotho’s general elections scheduled on October 7
Lesotho says it will hold its general elections on October 7, in the latest round of polling in the landlocked southern African country. Click here to read…
Kenya beefs up security ahead of August 9 elections
Kenyan police have pledged increased security in advance of the August 9 national elections. A total of 150,000 policemen selected from partner security agencies will be deployed during the elections. Click here to read…
French president to visit Cameroon, Benin and Guinea-Bissau
French President Emmanuel Macron will tour sub-Saharan Africa from July 25 to 28, taking him to Cameroon, Benin and Guinea-Bissau, the Élysée Palace announced Thursday. Click here to read…
African Union hails landmark Russia-Ukraine grain deal
The African Union (AU) on Saturday hailed a landmark deal between Ukraine and Russia that will allow Kyiv to resume exports of grain through the Black Sea and relieve a global food crisis. Click here to read…
Mixed reactions as Nigeria’s state oil firm goes private
After more than half a century in existence as a government monopoly, Nigeria’s oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), is set to open up its capital to private investors. Click here to read…
Chad rebels restart peace-building talks with interim military authorities
Chad rebels said on Friday they would renew their participation in peace-building talks with the interim authorities, after breaking off negotiations last week. Click here to read…
Somalia makes fresh appeal to join EAC
The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has rekindled his country’s request to join the East African Community (EAC). Click here to read…
Parliament approves $750 million loan agreement with Afrexim Bank for infrastructure, budget support
The loan is part of a $1 billion dollar facility, the government is seeking to shore up its reserves as well as to pay for several infrastructure projects across the country. Click here to read…
Arab spring torchbearer Tunisia returning to autocracy?
On Monday, Tunisians will vote on a new constitution supported by a president who is accused by his detractors of attempting to reimpose tyranny in the country that gave birth to the Arab SpringClick here to read…
Morocco and Israel continue to get closer
Israel and Morocco strengthen military ties. Israel’s army chief Aviv Kohavi’s who arrived in Morocco on Monday met with the Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Belkhir El Farouk, an Israeli statement confirmed. Click here to read…
Omani delegation visits Tanzania to review investment opportunities
A joint team consisting of personnel from Oman Investment Authority, Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development and Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa visited Tanzania. Click here to read…
China eyes military base in Indian Ocean region in Madagascar
High level visits have been taking place between the defence forces of China and Madagascar and a military base could be set up by Beijing in the island, ET has reliably gathered. Click here to read…
Mauritania, Spain aim to expand cooperation
Mauritania’s president and Spain’s foreign minister discussed ways to expand cooperation between their two countries Wednesday. Click here to read…
Senegal protests poke holes in its longstanding image of stability
Senegal is often lauded in international circles as a beacon of stability in the region – with a notable lack of military coups and a history of peaceful presidential transitions – but its reputation is at risk of slipping. Click here to read…
Clashes erupt on outskirts of Libya’s Misrata
Clashes erupted between rival groups on the outskirts of the Libyan city of Misrata on Saturday, before being halted by the intervention of another armed force. Click here to read…
Clashes in Sudan’s Blue Nile leave thousands stranded without aid
Tribal fighting in Sudan’s Blue Nile state has forced thousands of people from their homes after violence broke out earlier in July over a land dispute between the Birta and Hausa ethnic groups. Click here to read…
Attack reported near ruby mine in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado
Precious gem producer Gemfields has reported an attack close to its ruby mine in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, but said operations have not been halted. Click here to read…
Attack on Base in Mali Brings Conflict to Doorstep of Capital
Insurgents used two booby-trapped vehicles full of explosives in the raid, the West African nation’s military said. The uptick in violence has come as French troops prepare to leave the country. Click here to read…
Somalia’s Al-Shabab Militants Launch Attack in Ethiopia; Heavy Casualties Reported
Al-Shabab militants from Somalia launched a cross-border attack into Ethiopia’s Somali region Thursday, triggering gunbattles with Ethiopia’s paramilitary Liyu police that caused an unknown number of casualties. Click here to read…
Jihadist blow up two crucial bridges in Burkina Faso
Two bridges were blown up by armed groups in Burkina Faso on Friday night by suspected Jihadists in the West African nation. Click here to read…
South Africa’s Energy Crisis Escalates
Behind rolling power cuts loom deep-seated socio-economic issues worsened by the rich countries of the world. Click here to read…
Italy signs energy deals with Algeria in bid to sidestep Russia
The Italian government has sealed a series of agreements with Algeria, as European countries ramp up their push to disengage from Russia after it invaded Ukraine and secure alternative energy supplies. Click here to read…
Malawi government, Huawei commission national data center
The Malawian government and Chinese information and communications technology (ICT) company Huawei have commissioned Malawi’s first-ever National Data Center. Click here to read…
Construction of Chinese-built hydropower plant in Zambia nears completion
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema speaks after touring the Kafue Lower Gorge Power Station in Southern Province, Zambia, July 21, 2022. Click here to read…
Mulk International’s $500m Zim Cyber City project launched in Zimbabwe
Zim Cyber City, a $500 million mixed-use hi-tech park at the outskirts of Zimbabwe’s capital city Harare, was launched on Wednesday. Click here to read…
South Africa’s Mbeki Sees Danger of Arab Spring-Like Protests
South Africa’s former President Thabo Mbeki warned that the country faces the danger of protests similar to those that toppled governments in the Arab world a decade ago unless it addresses growing lawlessness and inequality. Click here to read…
Russia Will Support Africans To ‘complete The Process Of Decolonisation’: FM Sergey Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday that Russia has always supported Africans in their struggle for liberation against colonial tyranny. Click here to read…
Tunisia is the sole survivor of the Arab Spring. It was nice while it lasted.
On July 25, Tunisians return to the polls for a historical vote: a referendum on whether to repeal the democratically-drafted constitution of 2014 and replace it with a new charter immaculately conceived by President Kais Saied. Click here to read…
ICJ: The Gambia’s Myanmar genocide case can proceed
Judges at the United Nations’ highest court on Friday dismissed preliminary objections by Myanmar to a case alleging the Southeast Asian nation is responsible for genocide against the Rohingya ethnic minority. Click here to read…
Rwanda says it can only bring in 200 migrants from UK under controversial deportation scheme
The Rwandan government has defended the controversial asylum agreement but said it only has the capacity to hold 200 migrants currently. Click here to read…
DRC to auction oil and gas permits in endangered gorilla habitat
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has announced it will auction oil and gas permits in critically endangered gorilla habitat and the world’s largest tropical peatlands next weekClick here to read…
Adopt community-led initiatives for conservation: Africa Protected Area Congress
Community-led interventions always tend to support conservation measures, said experts at the first Africa Protected Areas Congress (APAC). Click here to read…
INDIA IN AFRICA
India-African trades reached a record US$89.5 bln in FY2020/2021
Trade between India and Africa reached a new record in the 2020-2021 fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2021. Click here to read…
Africa Plays Important Role In India’s Foreign Policy: EAM Jaishankar
The African continent plays an important role in India’s foreign policy outlook and the two-way engagement has seen a major upswing in the last eight years, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday. Click here to read…
India among top five investors in Africa: Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday said that India is among the top five countries that have invested in the African continent. Click here to read…
India, Africa partners in progress; solar, drinking water key areas. says Industry Minister Goyal
“The geopolitical situation in certain parts of the world have disrupted supply chains to the extent that it started hurting our economic interests, but I do believe that the economic outlook in the long run is surely going to be very promising both for the African continent and India because this is where the markets and future opportunities are,” he said. Click here to read…
Union Minister Piyush Goyal emphasizes Need For India-Africa Trade and Investment Agreement
Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textile Piyush Goyal has emphasized upon the need for a trade and investment agreement between India and Africa. Click here to read…
India Wants Partnership That Will Be Comfortable And Beneficial For Africa: Goyal
Goyal said that we believe that the destiny of nearly 3 billion people is in our hands as India and Africa offer future opportunities that are unparalleled. Click here to read…
Time is ripe for India to explore trade deal with AfCFTA: Commerce Secy
With the signing of the world’s largest free trade area–African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)–the time is right for India to explore a trade with the union, commerce secretary BVR Subrahmanyan said on Wednesday. Click here to read…
India, Africa may soon start talks for trade pact
India is likely to soon start talks for a trade and investment agreement with African nations to further bolster bilateral commerce, an official source told FE. Click here to read…
Time for India, Africa to talk of trade pact: trade secretary
Commerce secretary BVR Subrahmanyam on Wednesday said that the time has come for India and Africa to start talking to engage in a Comprehensive Economic Partnership or a free trade agreement (FTA). Click here to read…
India’s Digital Initiatives Like UPI, ONDC Can Benefit Africa Immensely: Piyush Goyal
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has said that India’s digital initiatives like Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) can immensely benefit Africa. Click here to read…
Goyal calls for deepening trade ties with Africa; exploring solar energy, startup ecosystem
Solar energy, infrastructure, military cooperation and startup ecosystem are four critical areas where India can be a valuable partner to African nations, Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. Click here to read…
India Seeks Better Use Of Market Access SOPs By African Nations, CII Hints At $200 Billion Trade By 2030
The government has called for diversification of the trade basket between India and Africa and for deeper cooperation in bilateral investment. Click here to read…
Indian investments in Africa can go up to $ 150 billion by 2030: CII
The CII report said that since April 1996, India has invested $74 billion in Africa; however, these flows are concentrated in Mauritius and are majorly by public sector companies for energy and raw material assets. Click here to read…
India-Africa trade ties offer huge potential but challenges remain
As India and Africa weigh the feasibility of a broad trade and investment agreement, the potential of scaling up bilateral commerce remains huge but negotiators have to traverse substantial challenges as well to clinch a win-win deal. Click here to read…
NTPC Signs MoU With Moroccan Agency For Sustainable Energy For Cooperation In Renewable Energy
India’s largest integrated energy company, NTPC signed a MoU with MASEN (Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy) for cooperation in renewable energy sector during the 17th CII EXIM Conclave on India Africa Growth Partnership held in New Delhi from 19th-20th July 2022. Click here to read…
Morocco’s agency for sustainable energy, India’s largest energy conglomerate sign MoU on renewable energy projects
The Moroccan Agency for sustainable energy (MASEN) and India’s National thermal power corporation (NTPC) signed a memorandum of understanding, providing for carrying out of joint projects in the field of renewable energy. Click here to read…
Need diversification of India-Gabon trade basket, deeper investment cooperation
Minister of state for commerce and industry Anupriya Patel on Wednesday highlighted the need for diversification of trade basket and deeper cooperation in bilateral investment between India and Gabon during a meeting with her Gabon counterpart Pacome Moubelet-Boubeya. Click here to read…
India, Egypt, others seek fairer WTO trading system amid food woes
At a meeting of the Committee on Agriculture at the WTO on Thursday, India said that a permanent solution for food security is a long overdue mandate and insisted on a solution that the General Council can approve without waiting for the next ministerial conference of the multilateral trade body. Click here to read…
India and Mauritius to work with other countries on matter of Food Security
In the meeting, Shri Tomar said that India’s relations with Mauritius have been very strong and these relations are not only political and commercial, but also cultural and spiritual. Click here to read…
India, Madagascar join hands to amp up bilateral ties
India’s Ambassador to Madagascar and Comoros, Abhay Kumar, has called on the Prime Minister of Madagascar Christian Ntsay and took note of the progress made in the bilateral relations between both countries during the past three years. Click here to read…
India, Ghana hold Foreign Office Consultations to strengthen bilateral ties
India and Ghana held the third round of Foreign Office Consultations on Friday to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral relations covering political, economic, defence, cultural and capacity-building matters. Click here to read…
Loyola College inks pact with Ethiopia
Loyola College has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Ethiopia, for research and partnership. Click here to read…
Indian Air Force team concludes Tactical Leadership Programme in Egypt
Bolstering the defense cooperation, the Indian Air Force contingent deployed to Egypt has successfully completed the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) where the participants from both nations shared their knowledge of operational tactics. Click here to read…
Govt notifies five ports for imports of pulses from Myanmar, Mozambique & Malawi
To meet domestic shortfall, the government has notified imports of 0.6 million tonne (MT) of tur and urad annually under bilateral agreements with Myanmar, Mozambique and Malawi, through five ports. Click here to read…