Another Niger Media Organization Suspended
Authorities Should End Attacks on Press Freedom, Free Expression The interior minister of Niger’s decision this week to suspend the activities of Maison de la Presse (Press House), an independent media organization, is the latest in a series of government actions to crack down on the press and free expression in the West African country. […]
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Quit Regional Bloc
Action Will Prevent Citizens from Seeking Justice through ECOWAS Court On January 28, the three military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced they would leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a move that would limit opportunities for their citizens to seek justice for human rights violations. In a joint statement, […]
Malawi Military’s Threats Send Journalist into Hiding
Authorities Should Ensure Media’s Safety, Free Expression Rights A top investigative journalist in Malawi, Gregory Gondwe, has gone into hiding after the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) threatened to arrest him. Gondwe’s plight stems from a report he wrote exposing the military’s multi-million-dollar payments to companies owned by a businessman under investigation for corruption. In January […]
DR Congo: Free Prominent Journalist, Drop Charges
Stanis Bujakera Held Nearly Five Months in Politically Motivated Case (Kinshasa) – The Democratic Republic of Congo authorities should immediately and unconditionally release the prominent journalist Stanis Bujakera, and drop the charges against him, Human Rights Watch said today. Bujakera has been detained since September 8, 2023, in police custody and later at Kinshasa’s Makala […]
Market-friendly Reforms being Introduced by Bola Tinubu
Nigeria has sharply devalued its currency for the second time in eight months, as the west African country bids to clear up its messy system of exchange rates and attract investment to its flailing economy. The naira has tumbled this week after the methodology used to calculate the official exchange rate was changed, taking the […]
Mozambique to Use Renewable Power for New Industries
The country plans to end half a century of hydropower supply to South Africa’s state-owned electricity utility, raising risks for the continent’s most industrialized economy and threatening the viability of Africa’s second-biggest aluminum smelter. In the country’s yet-to-be published energy transition strategy, a copy of which Bloomberg has seen, Mozambique details the plan to secure […]
Military-led Countries Leave ECOWAS
Founded in 1975, Ecowas allows the free movement of its citizens between its 15 member countries and largely the free movement of goods. Yet it has been floundering since a spate of coups toppled the governments of Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger. Each time, Ecowas imposed sanctions and demanded elections. Yet the juntas flagrantly […]
Japa Phenomenon has Opened Up a Chance to Tap into Nigeria’s Remittance Market
Newly released World Bank data shows $20.5 billion was sent to Nigeria last year, which meant it accounted for around 38% of total remittance inflows to sub-Saharan Africa. And showed inflows have steadily increased, up from $20.1 billion in 2022. By comparison, the bank’s data showed that in 2022 overseas investors took out $186.8 million […]
Highly Indebted African Countries are Facing Stark Trade-offs
Governments have to choose between servicing expensive debt, supporting high and growing development needs, and stabilising domestic currencies. Government debt has risen in at least 40 African countries over the past decade. As a result, some are experiencing a bad combination of high debt, elevated development spending needs amid budget shortfalls, and unfavourable exchange rate […]
The IMF’s Outlook on Africa
According to itss recently released World Economic Update for January 2024, Global growth is expected to reach 3.1% in 2024 and 3.2% in 2025. In Africa’s case, the fund notes that “growth is projected to rise from an estimated 3.3 percent in 2023 to 3.8 percent in 2024 and 4.1 percent in 2025,” in Sub-Sahara […]
