Social Media, not Online Marketplaces, Dominate e-commerce on the Continent
Africa has several Amazon-style retail platforms which can handle logistics and simplify payment. But those are not very popular, finds a recent survey by the GSMA, an association of mobile-phone operators, that tracked small businesses trading online in six African countries. In Ghana and Ethiopia, three-quarters of respondents sell exclusively through social media; only in […]
Kenya Starts its Privatization Drive
The country will offer stakes in 11 companies including the state oil pipeline, the finance ministry said. The 11 firms are among more than 35 companies that are slated for sale to partially help the government raise revenue in the face of growing debt repayments. Apart from the Kenya Pipeline Company, which is wholly owned […]
Tragedy at South African Mine
Eleven people died in an accident at a South African platinum mine on Monday when the lift fell as it was lifting workers at the end of their day, the company that owns the mine, Impala Platinum, said on Tuesday. “Eighty-six employees were standing in the lift, eleven lost their lives and all the others […]
Nigerien Citizens Welcome the Abrogation of Controversial Law
At the weekend, Niger’s military government abrogated the controversial Law 36-2015, which criminalised transportation of migrants north from Agadez to Libya and Algeria for onward transition to Europe. The government also expunged convictions handed out as a result of the law. The announcement effectively ended an eight-year security partnership between the European Union and Niger […]
African Women who Stand Out in the BBC 100 Women 2023 Lineup
The BBC has revealed its annual list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2023 recognising remarkable women globally who are influencing the future. Over a dozen African women emerged as powerful and influential figures on the global stage, earning recognition and admiration for their impactful contributions across various fields. From […]
Zambia’s Experience Demonstrates that the Common Framework has Failed to Deliver
Three years after defaulting on its foreign debt, Zambia is still trying to reach agreement with all its creditors on how to manage this situation. This has left the southern African country in a state of development finance limbo. It is handicapped in raising the funds needed to generate jobs, build infrastructure, provide health, education […]
Australian Link in Kenya’s Doomsday Cult
A Christian doomsday cult responsible for the deaths of more than 400 people from starvation and beatings in Kenya was influenced by an Australian religious group, a parliamentary committee report in the east African nation has found. The report into the Shakahola massacre, tabled in the Kenyan Senate on 19 October, found that the accused […]
Nigerian Digital Publishing and Bookselling Platform Goes Offline
Okada Books announced that it will shut down on November 30, 2023, due to “insurmountable challenges”. The platform, founded in 2013 by Okechukwu Ofili, has helped over 8,000 writers become authors for free, and has over 20,000 books available for download. However, the platform has been unable to sustain its operations amid the economic downturn […]
Pet Tigers Spark Court Battle in Accra
Two tigers at the centre of a row between neighbours in Ghana’s capital, Accra, remain in a cage on one of the properties despite a court ordering their removal. When businessman Nana Kwame Bediako took the unusual step of importing them he thought people would be excited to see non-native wildlife. But his unimpressed neighbours […]
Africa Isn’t Exactly the First Place that Pops into Mind when you Think about Snow
If we take a closer look beyond the stereotypes, we discover a surprising side of Africa – one where snow makes an unexpected appearance, adding a unique touch to its multifaceted nature. Intriguingly, this phenomenon is not primarily linked to the effects of climate change. The diverse landscapes and elevations in some African nations create […]
