Business Features Finance Headlines

World Bank calls for further lowering of remittance costs to Sub-Saharan Africa

The World Bank and industry stakeholders have called for the lowering of the cost of sending remittances from the African diaspora to their home countries, as the money sent home is crucial in supporting household expenses in many developing countries. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most affected by the global crisis, but remittance inflows from […]

Africa Features Headlines International

DRC: UN chief “alarmed” by surge in violence, as militia executes 17 hostages

The escalating violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has claimed more than 700 lives at the hands of militia fighters since December last year, the United Nations said Monday (27 March). This comes as the CODECO insurgents, a notorious militia operating in the region, a day earlier executed at least […]

Energy Features Headlines

Chad’s ‘nationalization’ of all Exxon-owned assets disputed by UK’s Savannah Energy

Chad has announced the nationalization of assets of a former subsidiary of US oil and gas giant ExxonMobil in Chad, which comes after the company divested from them in December 2022 A decree signed by Chad’s president, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, on Thursday (23 March) declared that all the assets, prospection rights, operating permits and […]

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China’s investment in Tanzania soars, as trade relationship with Nigeria takes dip

China’s investment in Tanzania has hit a record $1.8 billion since President Xi Jinping’s visit in the East African country 10 years ago, while bilateral trade between China and Nigeria has taken dip by about a third in 2022 compared to 2021. China’s direct investment stock in Tanzania is 2.5 times that of 2012, according […]

Africa Business Emerging Markets Features Headlines International

China refocuses on food and agriculture in its relations with Africa

China is importing more food products such as avocados, cashews, sesame seeds and chili peppers from Africa, after President Xi Jinping promised to increase non-resource imports from Africa and agriculture is emerging as the new focus of Beijing’s engagement with the continent. In the first two months of this year, Shanghai ports handled more than […]

Energy Features Headlines

Africa’s palm oil sector to see prices falling in 2023 as output rises

Although palm oil production has been linked to environmental damage and human rights abuses, it remains an important industry providing jobs and contributing to economic growth in several countries in Africa. The global palm oil market size reached US$53.1bn in 2022 and looking forward, the market is expected to reach US$67.6bn by 2028, exhibiting a […]

Business Features Finance Headlines Morocco

Inclusive Finance: Morocco’s Princess Lalla Meryem Meets Queen Máxima

Morocco’s Princess Lalla Meryem received, on Wednesday in Rabat, Queen Máxima Zorreguieta of the Netherlands, UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA). The visit of Queen Máxima to Morocco is a UN recognition of the progress made by the North African Kingdom in the field of financial inclusion, a key enabler to […]

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Russia, India to move away from US dollar in their trade exchanges with Africa

Trade exchanges between Russia and Africa should move away from the US dollar and be facilitated by transition to national currencies, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said, just as Tanzania and India have inked an agreement establishing a platform by which their bilateral trade will be carried out in their own currencies, not the dollar. […]

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Red Cross announces release of employees kidnapped in Mali

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Monday two of its staff kidnapped in Mali, early March, have been freed, without providing more details. “The two ICRC collaborators kidnapped on March 4 between (the cities of) Gao and Kidal (north) were released this (Sunday) evening”, announced the Malian branch of the ICRC on […]

Africa Features Headlines International

UN grants Malawi $5.5m to cope with damage caused by Freddy cyclone

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), a humanitarian fund set up by the United Nations, has granted Malawi $5.5 million expected to be used to back hundreds of thousands of people affected by Freddy, a tropical cyclone that has hit the country in the past days. The South of the African country has been battered […]