Horn of Africa: Impunity Fueling Abuses
Civilians Bear Brunt of Global Inaction on Wartime Atrocities, Humanitarian Crises Horn of Africa governments grappled with rampant wartime atrocities and humanitarian crises throughout 2023 with meager international assistance, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2024. Unaddressed historical grievances and impunity for serious crimes continued to spur widespread violations against civilians in […]
Southern Africa: Backsliding on Democracy Jeopardizes Rights
Activists, Critics Targeted: Growing attacks on refugees and groups at risk Southern African governments targeted and clamped down on their political opposition, activists, and journalists in 2023, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2024. Southern Africa has historically faced problems such as political instability, and issues related to freedoms of expression, association, and […]
Transactional Banking Trends In Africa
Author: Yasmin Masithela, Managing Executive: Transactional Banking, Absa Corporate and Investment Banking Economies are getting stronger across Africa. Before we can unpack the operating challenges and opportunities in transactional banking, we need to emphasise this point. The global economy has faced a re-set of sorts as inflation has spiked higher and global interest rates have […]
Agriculture Funding In Africa Is Ripe For Innovation
Authors: Roux Wildenboer, Sector Head: Agriculture at Absa CIB and Simon Kinuthia, Head: Agribusiness at Absa Bank Kenya How does the bank which funds the largest number of agriculture sector transactions in South Africa, utilise its skills and knowledge to improve food security and become a force for good across the African continent? This is […]
EIB Global Announces $30 Million Investment In Seedstars Africa Ventures I, A Venture Capital Fund For African Innovative Entrepreneurs
Innovative businesses and start-ups across Africa will benefit from better access to risk capital thanks to a US$30 million equity investment by EIB Global in the Seedstars Africa Ventures I venture capital fund. Increased access to capital will allow companies to grow, creating skilled jobs and improving products and services for businesses and consumers. The […]
South Africa Appeals to the ICJ Bench
Israel faces accusations that it is subjecting Palestinians in Gaza to genocidal acts, as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) commenced a hearing on South Africa’s genocide case against it on Thursday. Adila Hassim, a lawyer representing South Africa, told the ICJ that Israel had breached Article II of the Genocide Convention, which included the […]
Western Brands to Pay Off Garment Workers in Mauritius After Damning Report
Leading fashion brands including Barbour and PVH, which owns Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, have said they will pay £400,000 to garment workers in Mauritius after an investigation found that migrant workers were forced to pay thousands of pounds for their jobs. Transparentem, a US-based organisation that investigates workers’ rights, looked into conditions at five […]
Offering Something Radically Different to Ghana’s Political Mainstream
A wealthy Ghanaian businessman revealed himself as the masked presidential candidate featured on billboards in major cities in recent weeks. But his launch was most notable for highlighting the government’s apparent fear of a new youth-led populist movement similar to others sweeping the continent. Nana Kwame Bediako, a property developer popularly referred to as Cheddar, […]
The Most Powerful Passports in Africa
In a New Year revelation, Henley & Partners unveiled the 2024 rankings for the world’s most influential passports. Utilizing International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, the list reflects passport strength through visa-free access to countries. The first African country is in 26th place in the Henley & Partners ranking: the Seychelles, with 156 destinations accessible […]
Global Software Giant Paid Bribes to Get Business in South Africa
SAP has agreed to pay more than $220m to settle bribery charges involving government officials around the world. The money and gifts, typically routed via outside business consultants, were intended to help win business in South Africa, Indonesia and elsewhere, according to US officials. The schemes allegedly operated from at least December 2014 until January […]
