Rwandan-born French Actress Sonia Rolland Placed Under Formal Investigation in France
This follows her indictment in a probe into the huge fortune of the late Gabonese President Omar Bongo, which prosecutors allege includes ill-gotten assets. In 2003, the beauty queen received an apartment in Paris as a gift from Bongo, with the real estate valued at about $850,000, according to the French newspaper Le Parisien. The […]
This is How the Next Two Years Will Look Like in Mali
Mali’s military leaders have confirmed there won’t be a return to civilian rule for two years. The interim President, Colonel Assimi Goïta, has signed a decree fixing the length of the transition period. The army initially seized power in 2020 and has been under international pressure to hold elections sooner. Mali is struggling to deal […]
A Ban on Grain Hits Africa’s Small Farmers Hard
Ghana and Uganda are among several African countries banning the export of grains and other farm produce, with the latter imposing high taxes to prevent food exports to neighboring countries. The Ghanaian government has extended a ban on grain exports. A temporary ban on exporting maize, rice, soybeans, and other grains — which took effect […]
American Express Backs Nigerian Fintech Startup
Nigerian fintech startup Klasha announced that it has received a $2.1 million investment as part of a seed round that started last year. One of its new investors is American Express Ventures, the investment arm for American Express (Amex), one of the top four credit card networks in the world, for whom this is a […]
Addis Defies Court Order
Ethiopian authorities have refused to release three detained journalists, despite a court order they be given bail. Solomon Shumye, Meaza Mohammed and Temesgen Desalegn appeared Tuesday morning before the Federal First Instance Court and were granted bail of about $190 each. However, the federal police force immediately appealed the judge’s decision at the High Court. […]
Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema’s Push to Bring Fresh Capital into the Mining Sector
After Mopani’s First Quantum move, it is the turn of Konkola Copper Mines to receive the treatment. According to its provisional liquidator, KCM will appoint an adviser to help it find an equity investor willing to fund the mine’s expansion. Zambia’s previous government put KCM into the hands of a liquidator in May 2019, triggering […]
Is Ramaphosa’s Credibility at Stake?
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing a criminal investigation after a revelation that he failed to report a theft from his farm in northern Limpopo province, surfaced last week. Allegations of kidnapping and corruption were levelled against the president by the country’s former spy chief, Arthur Fraser. In South Africa it is illegal not […]
These are the Businesses African Entrepreneurs Want to Start the Most
A new survey by ZenBusiness has found that the industries that most attract entrepreneurs vary from country to country and depend on various factors such as infrastructure, business climate, and culture. According to the survey, Personal services are the most-searched-for small business type in 22.7% of African countries, the largest share of any continent. These […]
Does the Dash for Gas Spell a Potential Disaster for Africa?
African countries should be able to exploit their vast natural gas reserves despite the urgent need to cut global greenhouse gas emissions, the former UN climate envoy Mary Robinson has said. Robinson, the chair of the Elders group of former world statespeople and business leaders, said African countries’ need for energy was so great that […]
WATCH Climate Transition in an African Context
Africa’s leaders know that transitioning to a low-carbon environment presents a unique set of challenges across the continent. Standard Bank’s Chief Executive of CIB, Kenny Fihla, has a deep understanding about what is required for a just transition. He spoke at length with Teresa Clarke of AFRICA.COM about the group’s commitment to climate transition in […]
