Africans continue to depend on international links for internet access on the continent. Despite the regional interconnection strategy for Africa, which aimed to reduce the share of African internet traffic routed internationally to 20% by 2020, this goal remains far from reach. Yet, Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) stand out as crucial interconnection tools, offering the potential to help...

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced today a "strategic partnership" program with African countries, revealing an initial budget of $5.9 billion. Dubbed the "Mattei Plan," this initiative has a dual objective: to accelerate the development of African countries, thereby reducing migratory flows to Europe, and to establish Italy as an energy hub connecting Africa to Europe. "Our...

In a joint statement released on Sunday, January 28, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger declared their intention to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Following the announcement by the three countries, now collectively known as the Alliance of Sahel States, the organization responded with a statement on its official website. "Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger remain...

The Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), the development impact-focused subsidiary of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has announced that the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Ghana have recently signed the FEDA Establishment Agreement. This important milestone is the result of several months of cooperation between Afreximbank, FEDA and government officials...

Orange Madagascar is ramping up its investments to accelerate the expansion of its telecom network. The company has an ongoing ten-year agreement with NuRAN Wireless to extend its network presence in rural areas with the deployment of 500 sites. Telecom operator Orange Madagascar announced plans to double its network coverage to reach about 90% of the population by the end of 2024. This ambition...

Benin has officially become a member of the Smart Africa Alliance, an organization established during the "Transform Africa" Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda, in October 2013. The move provides Benin with a platform to accelerate the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in alignment with the government's digital transformation goals. The ratification of the agreement...

About a hundred Russian soldiers have arrived in Ouagadougou, marking the initial phase of a 300-member force. Their mission includes ensuring the security of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, patrolling high-risk areas, and providing training to Burkinabe soldiers. The deployment of Russian troops in Burkina Faso has commenced, with the arrival of the first contingent of a hundred soldiers in the...

As part of the Ifrane Forum 2023, a summit for African trade and investment featuring entrepreneurs from across the continent, a call was made to establish national policies aimed at "building African economic champions." Following the discussions, the forum expressed its intention to submit recommendations to African Heads of State and Government, especially during the upcoming African Union...

The government has repaid Tunisia's debts due in 2023, relying on new domestic loans. However, it struggles to secure external financing in the absence of a definitive agreement with the IMF on a $1.9 billion aid program. Tunisia's debt service is expected to increase by 40% in 2024 compared to 2023, reaching $4 billion amid a drying up of external funding, the Ministry of Finance...

In the backdrop of global power rivalries, the United States aims to bolster its influence in Africa. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, following his visit to Cape Verde, went to Côte d'Ivoire to discuss economic and security matters. During his official visit to Abidjan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a $45 million investment for Côte d'Ivoire and the coastal states of West...