South African Court Blocks Proposed VAT Hike
A South African court has ruled to suspend the proposed hike in the country’s value-added tax (VAT) rate, halting a planned 0.5% increase set to take effect on May 1. The decision resolves a dispute within the country’s coalition government, with the Democratic Alliance party arguing that the VAT increase was unlawfully supported without proper […]
Abundant Rains in Ivory Coast Point to Strong Cocoa Mid-Crop
Heavy rainfall across Ivory Coast’s cocoa-growing regions last week signals a promising end to the April-to-September mid-crop, according to farmers. The world’s top cocoa producer has entered its rainy season, with abundant showers expected to continue, particularly in areas like Soubre, Agboville, and Abengourou, which saw above-average rainfall. Farmers reported an abundance of large pods, […]
Ethiopia’s Assefa Shatters Record in London, Kenya’s Sawe Wins Men’s Race
In the 2025 London Marathon, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa set a new world record in the women’s race, finishing in 2:15:50. She beat the previous record by 26 seconds. Assefa surged ahead in the final 10km, leaving Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei – the winner in 2021 – to settle for second place. In the men’s race, Kenya’s […]
Rwanda and DR Congo Seek Draft Peace Accord by Early May
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have set a May 2 deadline to draft a peace agreement, following escalating rebel activities in the region. During talks in Washington, Rwanda and DRC’s foreign ministers, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio present, agreed to create a draft agreement by the deadline. Both countries pledged […]
Ghana’s GMO Breakthrough: The Story of a New, Improved Cowpea
Last year, Ghana officially approved its first genetically modified (GM) crop, the Songotra-T cowpea, which solved a major agricultural problem. The legume pod borer, a pest of Southeast Asian origin, causes significant crop losses of up to 80%. However, Songotra-T is resistant, providing environmental and economic benefits. Field trials in northern Ghana demonstrated that the […]
Gabon Court Upholds Oligui Nguema’s Presidential Election Win
Gabon’s constitutional court has officially confirmed Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s victory in the April 12 presidential election. Nguema, who led the 2023 coup, secured 94.85% of the vote. He defeated seven candidates, with his closest rival, former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, receiving only 3% of the total votes cast. The election, which saw […]
WTO Chief Says Africa Will Face Minimal Impact from Trump’s Tariffs
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has stated that the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump’s administration will have minimal impact on Africa. According to her, the continent’s trade exposure to the US is relatively small – only 6.5% of Africa’s exports and 4.4% of its imports come from the US […]
Gates and Bezos-backed Mining Firm Expands into DR Congo
KoBold Metals, a US-based mining company backed by billionaires Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, is expanding into the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to secure vital minerals for the global energy transition. The company, supported by significant investments, including $537 million raised in January, plans to use artificial intelligence to discover untapped mineral deposits […]
Meta Faces Lawsuits Over Content Moderators’ Mental Health Struggles
Meta is facing lawsuits over the psychological toll on content moderators in Ghana who review disturbing materials like graphic violence and abuse for Facebook and Instagram. These moderators, employed by Majorel, have reported mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Their claims come after a similar case in Kenya involving Meta’s previous contractor, […]
Princeton in Africa Marks 25 Years of Service and Leadership Development
Princeton in Africa (PiAf) marked its 25th anniversary with a gala event recognizing a quarter-century of fellowship placements, leadership development, and partnerships across the African continent. Since its founding in 1999, PiAf has placed nearly 700 Fellows with host organizations in 37 African countries, providing young professionals with opportunities to contribute to critical sectors such […]
