Tag Archives: africa

  Liesl Louw-Vaudran | ISS AFRICA | The impressive turnout at the African Union’s Extraordinary Summit on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on 21 March showed the continent’s united fervour to boost its economic opportunities. Delegations from 50 countries, including 27 heads of state, attended the summit in …

Beyond the clapping and ululation in Kigali, can the ACFTA be implemented? Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | After close to 30 years of negotiations, 44 African states finally agreed to establish a single market to ease buying and selling of African-made goods and services. That leaves out 11 countries; …

South Africa has safeguards against ruling party decay, Ethiopia can’t be saved from its ruling party COMMENT | BINIAM BEDASSO | The leaders of two key African countries resigned their posts within 24 hours of each other in mid-February. South Africa’s Jacob Zuma finally buckled under pressure from his own party …

  Trump to suspend duty-free apparel imports from Rwanda, spares Uganda and Kenya Washington, United States | AFP |  President Donald Trump suspended the duty-free status of Rwanda’s apparel after finding the African nation unfairly blocked US exports of used clothing (commonly known as Mivumba), officials announced Thursday. However, the …

Africa is the world’s last frontier market, and Western businesses need to take advantage of its potential COMMENT | LANDRY SIGNE | Since 2000, at least half of the world’s fastest-growing economies have been in Africa. And by 2030, Africa will be home to 1.7 billion people, whose combined consumer and business …

Beni, DR Congo | AFP | Ten civilians and a Ugandan militant died when Congolese troops clashed with rebels in the flashpoint town of Beni in Democratic Republic of Congo’s troubled east, an army spokesman said Wednesday. The violence took place on Tuesday evening when rebels attacked military positions around …

Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has criticized African leaders for the influx of mainly African refugees to Europe and North America. Kadaga said African refugees make dangerous crossings through the Mediterranean, fleeing harsh economic conditions and conflicts in their countries. “Today, many of our countries are independent, …

It’s an embarrassment to depend on outsiders Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT & AGENCIES | Africa should start paying its own bills, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has said. The President was on March 15 speaking at the 11th General Assembly of the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) where he held …

Kigali, Rwanda | AFP | Forty-four African countries have signed an agreement establishing a free trade area seen as vital to the continent’s economic development, the head of the African Union said Wednesday. The creation of a free trade area — billed as the world’s largest in terms of participating …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT & AFP | Uganda has sent a strong delegation to Kigali where African leaders will formally launch the African Continental Free Trade Area Treaty on Wednesday, but the country is reconsidering its full involvement in the pact as it is. Uganda, in many ways like …