Africa International

UNGA: Africa is still divided in its stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine

African countries have been divided over the vote in the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday (12 October) that in the end condemned Russia’s “illegal annexation” of Ukrainian territories after Moscow vetoed a similar text in the Security Council in late September. Twenty-six African countries voted in favor of, while nineteen others abstained in the […]

Africa Asia Business Headlines International

‘Health Silk Road’: China’s health diplomacy in Africa in post-COVID era

The controversial Beijing-funded African Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that is due to open in the next few months is just one example of China’s increasing investment in health care on the African continent since the pandemic as it builds what analysts and Beijing call a ‘Health Silk Road’. According to […]

Africa Asia Headlines International

China urges Côte d’Ivoire to introduce Mandarin in school curriculum

China’s ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire has expressed Beijing’s desire to see the West African country introduce Mandarin in schools as the Asian country seeks to boost ties with Abidjan. “The Embassy will continue to work closely with relevant parties and strengthen communication with the Ivorian government to strive for the inclusion of Chinese language teaching […]

Business Finance Headlines

Afreximbank approves $200 million for Uganda crude pipeline as NGOs denounce the project

Afreximbank has approved $200 million toward financing of a contested oil pipeline to export Uganda’s crude, while a report released by two environmental NGOs has warned of potentially “unacceptable” damage caused by a controversial project involving French oil giant TotalEnergies and China’s National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). The Nigeria-based bank was also willing to finance […]

Energy

EU, Namibia discuss critical raw materials and hydrogen partnership

The 2022 Session of the EU-Namibia Political Dialogue took place in Windhoek earlier this week (28 September), during which the two parties engaged in an in-depth discussion on several topics of shared and common interest, ranging from peace and security, climate change to trade and economic cooperation. Co-chaired by Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Deputy Prime Minister and […]

Business Emerging Markets

Kenya’s policy reversal: from Ruto’s anti-China campaign to more pragmatic stance

While Kenya’s newly elected President William Ruto, ran his election campaign on an anti-China platform, the language of his new administration now stands in a sharp contrast with the strident tones he used on the campaign trail. During his campaign, Ruto talked tough on China, vowing to deport Chinese nationals doing jobs he said should […]

Business Finance

Nothing’s free: skepticism grows over China’s debt forgiveness

Skeptics say that despite China’s agreement to forgive interest-free loans to 17 African countries as it seeks to dispel debt-trap allegations, the days of Beijing writing off interest-bearing loans are over. The world’s poorest countries — many of them in Africa — are facing $35bn in debt-service payments in 2022, out of which around 40% […]

Business Emerging Markets

South African retailers source local clothes, reducing reliance on Chinese imports

With more than half of the textiles sold by South African retailers are imported from abroad, out of which nearly 60% of those imports come from China, local retailers are signing on to a master plan by the government to support local businesses in an effort to bolster the country’s clothing and textile sector. As […]

Business Headlines International Morocco

Morocco, China share ambition to promote a ‘triple win’ cooperation in support of Africa

Morocco and China share the ambition to establish a “triple win” South-South cooperation in support of Africa’s all-out development, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said in New York. Speaking Tuesday at a High-Level Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Bourita stressed that under the leadership and vision of […]

Africa Asia International

Talk with taikonauts’ helps to promote China’s soft power in Africa

Three Chinese astronauts, known as ‘taikonauts’, recently spoke to students from eight African countries via video link during an event hosted by the China Mission to the African Union (AU), highlighting the increasing collaboration in space between China and African nations who aspire to develop their own ambitions in the next frontier. The Forum on […]