In practical terms, Russia needs to go beyond its traditional rhetoric of Soviet-era assistance rendered to sub-Saharan African countries. It is important now to highlight concrete success stories and policy achievements, at least, during the past decade throughout Africa. The young generation and the middle class, aged between 25...
“Who said it was raining?” This question, simple on the surface, touches on the very core of our global dialogue. It raises issues of perspective, communication, and understanding intrinsic to the concept of civilization. Evoking the timeless journalistic axiom, “When someone tells you it is raining, and another tells you...
By Kestér Kenn KLOMEGÂH Until sustainable food security is established through modernizing agriculture and ensuring adequate support for local farmers, Russia's grain supply would be a soft geostrategic bait (i) to reinforce the existing time-tested relationships with Africa and (ii) to solicit an endorsement for the unprovoked war in Ukraine. In...
Nigeria will reopen its airports for international flights from Aug. 29, its aviation minister said on Monday. The airports have been closed since March 23 to all but essential international flights as part of the country's efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika said four flights will begin...
African e-commerce group Jumia’s revenues slid by 10% in the second quarter, dashing hopes that lockdowns aimed at stemming the spread of the new coronavirus would lead to a flood of online orders. Still, the loss-making company highlighted an 8% rise in orders and ongoing cost cuts that its co-CEO...
……acquires BNP Paribas in Guinea and Burkina Faso Vista Bank Group (‘Vista’) has agreed with BNP Paribas to acquire BNP Paribas’ majority interest in the International Bank for industry in Guinea and the International Bank for Industry, Commerce and Agriculture in Burkina Faso. The acquisition, whose completion is subject to regulatory...
The 2020 Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE) has once again ranked Uganda (39.6%), Botswana (38.5%) and Ghana (36.5%) as the world’s three leading economies having the most women business owners. The Index’s benchmark indicator is calculated as a percentage of total businesses owners, and all three countries have...
The World Trade Organisation's incoming chief on Monday warned against ‘vaccine nationalism' that would slow progress in ending the COVID-19 pandemic and could erode economic growth for all countries - rich and poor. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told Reuters her top priority is to ensure the WTO does more to address the...
Tanzania's President John Magufuli has died aged 61, the country's vice-president has announced. He died on Wednesday from heart complications at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, Samia Suluhu Hassan said in an address on state television. Magufuli had not been seen in public for more than two weeks, and rumours...
On 1st of April, as I was publishing my Uniconization of African Fintech piece, Mastercard was busy announcing their $100 million investment into Airtel Money (Airtel Africa’s mobile money subsidiary) to acquire a minority position - half what TPG Capital did. Even though I had gotten wind of the transaction...