Marriott Cotonou to rebrand as Hilton by 2028. State-funded upgrade adds 233 rooms for business travel. Part of €1 Billion plan to boost tourism and GDP share. A symbolic change is underway in Cotonou. Marriott hotel, located near Palais des Congrès and major embassies, will soon be rebranded under the Hilton flag. Carlos Khneisser, Vice President of Development for the...

From July 14, 2025, palm oil importers in Ghana must register and obtain permits The move aims to stabilize the domestic market and protect local producers from unfair competition Ghana imported an average of 257,400 tons of crude palm oil annually between 2019 and 2023 Ghana, Africa's fifth-largest palm oil producer, is taking steps to tighten control over palm oil imports as it...

Mauritius is the most peaceful country in Africa for the 18th year in a row Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the most conflicts globally Global peace has dropped to its lowest level since the index began in 2008 Mauritius, Botswana, and Namibia are Africa’s most peaceful nations in 2025, according to the latest Global Peace Index released on Wednesday, June 18, by the...

CSR in CEMAC banks is inadequate, lacking real ESG focus. Critics say current efforts are more marketing than impact. Experts call for training, strategy, and transparency. Despite recent progress, corporate social responsibility remains lacking among banks in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, or CEMAC, experts said at the Business Sustainability Forum in...

DRC and Rwanda to sign U.S.-backed peace deal on June 27 Pact covers disarmament, refugees, and economic ties Tensions driven by rebels, ethnic strife, and mineral smuggling  The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are set to sign a peace agreement in Washington on June 27. This potential breakthrough follows talks that began in March under the guidance of the U.S....

Highlights: • Ghana lost $11.4 billion to gold smuggling from artisanal mining between 2019 and 2023, Swissaid reports. • Smugglers reroute undeclared gold through Togo, Burkina Faso, and Mali, mainly to the UAE. • Tax cuts failed to curb smuggling; NGO blames corruption and weak regulation. Ghana lost an estimated $11.4 billion in gold revenue between 2019 and 2023 due to...

Highlights: • World Bank urges Niger to boost irrigation as climate shocks threaten food security. • Just 2% of farmland is irrigated, yet it produces a third of Niger’s agricultural GDP.  • Niger targets 31,200 hectares of new and rehabilitated irrigated land by 2027 under national expansion plan. The World Bank is urging Niger to expand irrigation as climate change threatens to...

(AfDB) - One side event at the African Development Bank Group’s 2025 Annual Meetings unpacked the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a powerful tool to advance inclusive and sustainable development across the African continent. Held under the theme: “The AI Revolution: How Will AI Support the Delivery of the African Development Bank’s 2024–2033 Ten-Year Strategy and the...

Angola seeks diverse alliances to tap $60 billion in hydrocarbon project needs U.S. firms ExxonMobil and Chevron deepen involvement in oil and gas sectors Country repositions post-OPEC exit to secure revenue and advanced technology Angola is stepping up efforts to diversify its energy partnerships following its December 2023 exit from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting...

Kenya accelerates airport infrastructure to expand freight capacity and exports Major projects underway at JKIA, Moi, and Eldoret to support trade growth Focus on agricultural exports amid rising regional competition Amid growing competition from Rwanda and Tanzania, both aiming to become key regional hubs for agricultural exports, Kenya is stepping up its strategy. The country is...