DR Congo: Little Justice for Goma Massacre Victims
A Year On, Investigate Senior Officials, Compensate Families Democratic Republic of Congo authorities should expand their investigation into security force personnel responsible for killing scores of people in eastern Congo one year ago, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should also provide prompt and adequate compensation to victims or their families. On August 30, […]
How Baobabs Thrive: Africa’s Remarkable Trees Defy Climate Challenges
Baobabs reach extraordinarily old ages. Some have been found to be thousands of years old. During these life spans, elder baobabs have survived erratic climate conditions.As an ecologist who has spent the last 17 years studying baobab, I decided to look specifically at the health of adult baobabs in Southern Africa and then in Africa […]
Steep Currency Devaluations and High Inflation have Dissuaded Skittish Investors from Writing Cheques in Africa
Yet there is good news, too. A financial squeeze is forcing startup founders to make tough choices in the name of efficiency: consolidating with rivals and cutting costs to hit profitability targets faster. Agility is the name of the game. Perhaps reflecting this, recent figures for funds raised by startups have improved: July was the […]
ILO Warns of an African “Youthquake” Unless Jobs are Created
Africa’s young people will be key players in the direction of future global consumption, culture and even stability. It’s estimated that by 2050, about 72.6 million new jobs for sub-Saharan Africa’s young people will be needed. As highlighted in the ILO report, without many options, Africa’s young people are turning to insecure work. Nearly three […]
Insurers Looking to Capitalise on the African Opportunity, Need to be Strategic
At less than 3%, insurance penetration in Africa is significantly lower compared to other regions globally. Despite this, Africa presents an attractive long-term opportunity for insurers due to the rapid expansion of many of its economies and its youthful demographic profile. According to the African Development Bank, the continent is experiencing significant economic growth, with […]
Benin’s Farm to Fashion Revolution
A plain cotton T-shirt is a pretty ordinary item of clothing. But for Benin, a country on the west coast of Africa with little manufacturing tradition, it is intended to be the start of an industrial revolution. Benin, a nation of 13mn people, is trying to achieve what few African countries have managed: systematically transform […]
Sub-Saharan Africa is Poised to Having More People of Working Age than China in the Coming Decades
A new report from Bridgewater Associates estimates that sub-Saharan Africa requires a doubling of current investment to at least 30% of gross domestic product “to achieve a much steeper development trajectory.” The hedge fund forecasts Africa’s long-term future economic growth at a maximum of 5.5%, based on a “positive but low” long-term output-per-worker growth of […]
Uganda’s Alcohol Market is Experiencing a Paradigm Shift Driven by Some Dynamic Market Forces
The East African market which typically shuffles between a couple of beverage choices has now developed a craving for other alcohol options, forcing brewers to adjust to a market where the tastes of its customers are ever-changing. Coupled with the economic situation in the country that is forcing people to cut back on lifestyle choices, […]
Who Benefits from Senegal’s Resources?
This week, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko officially set up Monday a commission tasked with reviewing the oil and gas contracts the country signed with multinational corporations. The PM made the announcement on national TV insisting that the team of legal, tax, and energy sector experts will work meticulously to make sure all legal aspects […]
Ghana to Commission its First Large-scale Greenfield Mine in more than a Decade
The Cardinal Namdini mine, owned by Cardinal Resources, is expected to have an annual production of more than 350,000 ounces. Martin Ayisi, CEO of the Minerals Commission, said three other new mines, including a lithium project, will come onstream by 2026 to boost the West Africa nation’s minerals production and quicken a recovery from its […]
