Business Finance

US grants Madagascar $20m to address food insecurity

The United States has allocated to Madagascar $20 million to help the African country to tackle food security exacerbated by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The financing, the US ambassador Claire A. Pierangelo, notes, is within the framework of the US government’s global response to the impact of the “illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The […]

Business Culture Finance Lifestyle

Guinea to revamp two-star Labe tourism hotel

The Guinean tourism ministry has signed a deal with SAB-TRANSIT SAU to refurbish and expand state-owned two-star tourism hotel Labe located in Labe, the capital of “Moyenne Guinee”, as part of the West african country’s efforts to revamp tourism potential, local reports say. Alpha Soumah, Minister of tourism signed an agreement with Elhadj BAH Mamadou […]

Columns Finance Headlines Opinions Tunisia

Did Tunisian President receive Polisario chief for $200 mln Algerian loan?

The unilateral invitation by Tunisian president to polisario chief and Algerian proxy Brahim Ghali continues to spill ink. Maghreb Intelligence reports that Tunisia’s president rolled the red carpet for the Polisairo leader in return for a promise to receive a meagre $200 million loan from Algiers. President Kais Saied- who ironically often brags about defending […]

Business Finance

Int. airlines promised to receive some of their funds trapped in Nigeria

The Central Bank of Nigeria said (26 August) it has made US$ 265 million available for release to international airlines shortly after the Dubai-based Emirates airline announced that it has put a hold on flight operations in and out of Nigeria due to its inability to repatriate funds from the West African country. The money […]

Business Finance

Africa’s crypto challenges: crackdown, ban or regulation in wake of rising scams

Despite rising interest all across the continent, trade in cryptocurrencies remains banned — in part due to concern about soaring losses arising from crypto scams — by most African governments save for the Central African Republic (CAR). The latest Chainalysis report indicates that losses arising from cryptocurrency scams rose by 60% in the first seven […]

Finance Headlines Tunisia

Tunisians queue for basic commodities as shortages worsen

Queues have become a new reality in Tunisia which faces a shortage of fuel, sugar, rice, cooking oil, butter, semolina, bottled water and even coffee, local media reported. The shortage of fuel and foodstuff is the utmost reflection of the disarray the Tunisian economy faces as public debt widens to unsustainable levels and talks for […]

Africa Finance International

Launch of nearly $20 million-initiative to transform agricultural interventions in Africa

The African Agricultural Transformation Initiative (AATI), Endowed with a budget of $19.6 million until 2025, has been launched to improve sustainable development in Africa by bridging the gap between the formulation of strategic agricultural initiatives and their successful implementation at local level, the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) said in a press release. […]

Business Finance

China pledges to waive some Africa loans to defy debt-trap diplomacy claims

China has announced plans to waive 23 interest-free loans to 17 African countries that were due in 2021 amid a growing rivalry with the West and accusations that it is creating “debt traps” on the continent. The relief was announced on 18 August in an address to Chinese and African diplomats at a follow-up meeting […]

Finance Headlines Morocco

Morocco: Imported inflation leaves little room for fiscal or monetary intervention

Morocco, like most energy importing countries, is facing the fallout of an imported inflation that sent up the prices of basic commodities in the international market. In July, prices rose to 7.7% year on year, according to the national statistics agency. The increase has been felt mostly in food prices and transport cost which rose […]

Business Finance

Saudi central bank grants license to two new fintech firms

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Tuesday issued operation permits to “Lean Technologies” and “Mod5r”, two companies which will provide Open Banking Solutions. The permits are in line with the Council of Ministers’ decision in the second quarter of 2022, which provides for the adoption of the Fintech Strategy containing the supreme directive order for the […]