Why is the Kenyan Currency Performing so Poorly?
The Kenyan shilling has now been in near-constant decline for almost three years – and there’s little sign of a recovery anytime soon. In February 2020, just before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the shilling was trading at 100.60 against the US dollar. Since then, the greenback has strengthened by 33% to trade at […]
No More Bailouts for South Africa’s Power Supplier
South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana ruled out additional state funding for debt-laden power utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., underscoring the government’s disjointed approach to resolving the nation’s debilitating energy crisis. “From where I sit, the utility does not require any further cash injection… What we’ve done allows them to accumulate sufficient cash flows to […]
Botswana’s Warning Shot to Diamond Miner De Beers Over their Five-decade Partnership
The diamond producer may not renew a five-decade sales agreement with De Beers if the firm doesn’t offer a larger share of rough diamonds to the state’s gem trading company, Okavango Diamond Company. The move comes after the southern Africa nation acquired last month a 24% stake in Belgian diamond processing firm HB Antwerp for […]
Kinshasa wants Substantial Earnings from Chinese Companies Mining in its Territory
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is pushing for an audit of the country’s mining contracts with China, which it says heavily favour Beijing. Finance minister Nicholas Kazadi has alleged that these contracts were skewed in favour of Beijing and wants the tax obligations on these companies increased. “Sicomines, it seems, is not keen on […]
Does a Fairtrade Certification Benefit those at the Bottom of the Cape’s Wine Value Chain?
A 2021 report indicates that it generates more than US$550 million in export value annually. While wine does not rank as one of South Africa’s biggest industries, it contributes 1.1% to South Africa’s GDP and 1.6% of the country’s total employment, making it significant to the economy. During the colonial and apartheid eras, the country’s […]
Improving Africa’s Health Systems Requires Intensive Investment in Human Resources
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a public health agency of the African Union, is leading the charge to improve African health outcomes through its vision of a New Public Health Order for the continent. It is championing initiatives and investments across critical areas of health policy and practice. These include a […]
Strengthening Mogadishu’s Weak Monetary Policy through Reforms
The Central Bank of Somalia has recently integrated the International Bank Account Numbers (IBAN) into the National Payment System (NPS), which is expected not only to streamline payment processing and mitigate operational risks, but also to support the ailing economy. A new currency should also be introduced soon, boding well for the weak monetary policy […]
