26 years after its first land conference, Namibia is preparing to hold a second summit of the kind scheduled for next September. According to Agence de presse africaine (APA) which disclosed this, the next conference will focus on land reform. “Land Reform Minister Utoni Nujoma on Monday launched regional consultations on the second land summit and called on Namibians to provide inputs about...

UNESCO has added to its World Heritage list the W-Arly-Pendjari (Wap) Complex, according to a statement released by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee last Friday. This natural reserve spans across three nations, namely: Niger, Benin and Burkina Faso. It is the largest protected reserve of West Africa. For the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the Wap complex “includes the largest and...

The International Monetary Fund (Fund) forecast a 2.3% growth for the Tunisian economy this year after a relatively sluggish year in 2016. The new forecast will be mainly driven by the tourism and phosphate sectors. Yet, the Bretton Woods institution stresses on the fragility of the economy of this country which is currently experiencing a particularly complex socio-political situation. The...

In Africa, 1 out of 14 jobs is in the tourism industry. This represent a total workforce of 21 million people. This was revealed in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Economic Development in Africa Report 2017, focused on “Tourism for transformative and inclusive growth". According to the report, from 1995 to 2014, international tourist arrivals on the continent...

On July 7, 2017, populations of Dodel and Demett in Senegal have marched to protest against land grabbing in the communities. Indeed, the Dodel municipal council on March 24 this year has sold 10,000 ha of agricultural lands to Moroccan billionaire Anas Safrioui, head of Afri Partners, for two billion cfa only. According to last Friday’s protestors, this deals threatens the source of living...

Recently established offshore drilling company, Borr Drilling says it has received a letter of commitment from Total E&P for the employment of its Frigg jack-up drilling rig in Nigeria. According to the company, Total will use its rig for one-year starting from Q3 of 2017 and has an option to extend the contract. “We are proud to have secured our first commitment with a super major. We have...

The European Union (EU) has said that it is willing to help Nigeria attract more investment, according to Michell Arion (photo, right), EU Ambassador and Head of EU delegation to Nigeria. “We believe that our prosperity is your prosperity, we see West Africa as a block of ECOWAS and Nigeria as the economic base. We see West Africa not as export designation for the EU but investment destination...

Etisalat Nigeria has been given three weeks to rebrand after talks with lenders over the repayment of a $1.2billion debt contracted in 2013, failed. This is coming after the parent company pulled out of the local unit on Monday and new board members were appointed to run the affairs of the company. According to the Chief executive of Etisalat International, Hatem Dowidar (photo), there was...

The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) has signed a $1.1million grant with the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS) and the National Assembly for the NILS-CAP II Project. This is aimed at developing the capacity of lawmakers in the West African sub-region. “The project for which we are signing the grant agreement today is a regional program that will build capacity...

In Nigeria, The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has on Monday commissioned the Kukwaba 2X60MVA 132/33KV transmission sub-station‎ in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. This will add a further 120MW to the 96MW wheeling capacity of the FCT distribution networks. Speaking at the ceremony, Permanent secretary of the Ministry, Louis Edozien, said the sub-station would address issues...