In recent years, Chinese lending to African countries has increased the most among non-Paris Club creditors on the continent. The information is featured in the latest African Economic Outlook. Between 2000 and 2018, Beijing's loans to Africa sharply increased, staying above $10 billion a year between 2012 and 2017; 2016 saw a peak of $30 million. The financing mainly went to key...

The Rwandan Ministry of agriculture announced a joint investment of $10 million in the livestock sector in partnership with the US NGO Heifer International. The initiative is part of the 5-year Partnership for Resilient and Inclusive Small Livestock Markets (PRISM). The money will help 23,400 rural and vulnerable households that are facing food insecurity in 15 districts in the Northern,...

In Ethiopia, people who would not comply with the restrictive measures against covid-19 risk imprisonment for up to 3 years. This was stated by the Federal Attorney General's Office in a statement issued on Saturday, March 27, 2021. According to the announcement, the directive will take effect this Monday, March 29. Measures include the requirement to wear a mask in public places, but also the...

In Sudan, the transitional government has initiated negotiations with the rebel faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu. This was reported by the Sudan News Agency (SUNA), citing official sources. According to the media, the two parties agreed on Sunday, March 28, 2021, to relaunch peace talks. In that regard, a declaration of principles...

The stimulus package established by the Nigerian government to boost the economy in a post-pandemic context has helped restore and create more than 2 million jobs. The information was reported last March 26 by Laolu Akande (pictured), the spokesperson of the Vice President of Nigeria, during a press conference. According to him, more than N2,300 billion ($6.04 billion) has been earmarked for the...

M-Kopa, the Kenyan platform which provides digital financial services and solar systems and devices, is negotiating a $3 million expansion financing with the Dutch Development Finance Bank (FMO). “The proposed facility increase of $3 million will add up to the existing receivables facility with M-Kopa Kenya. This will allow the company to continue its growth trajectory and provide...

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Dangote Cement Plc recorded an outstanding performance. Indeed, on March 23, 2021, the cement group posted a turnover, which crossed the N1 trillion mark for the first time, up by 16% year-on-year to N1,034.2 billion (over $2.7 billion).  A year of firsts According to the group, this surge in turnover was mainly driven by strong demand...

The United Nations (UN) and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) will conduct a joint investigation into the situation in Tigray. This was announced by the two institutions in a joint statement issued on Thursday, March 25, 2021. The investigation will be conducted by the EHRC, an institution established by the Ethiopian government and the Office of the United Nations High...

Bolloré Ports has ordered two mobile port cranes to reinforce the stevedoring capacities of Tincan Island Container Terminal Limited (TICT) in Lagos. The cranes will enable the container terminal to contribute to volume growth in Nigeria, Africa’s leading economy. TICT’s new Konecranes Gottwald Model 7 cranes will be equipped with an electric power system that substantially reduces CO2...

During the ministerial council of March 22, 2021, Uganda approved a project for the construction of a ground station in the country. The infrastructure will be a strategic investment to develop national space capability in a well-coordinated and harmonized way. According to Judith Nabakooba (pictured), the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, the ground station will help...