The Ivorian former rebel leader Guillaume Soro is being prosecuted along with 19 others for conspiracy and undermining the authority of the state, illegal possession of weapons, dissemination of fake news, and disturbing public order. In exile since 2019, Guillaume Soro should be tried in absentia. In Côte d'Ivoire, the trial of the former president of the National Assembly, Guillaume Soro...

Algeria decided in March 2020, due to Covid-19, to close all its borders. In a move to return to "normal", the government, later on, announced on May 16 the gradual reopening of land and air borders. Algeria’s Presidency said on May 18 that the plan to reopen land borders will not be executed. In the related statement, authorities said the land borders will remain "closed unless necessary,"...

The importation of technological devices does not benefit the South African economy. To gain more and boost the tech sector, the government wants to start making mobile phones and other devices locally. The goal is to make the ICT sector a key driver of the post-Covid-19 economic recovery. Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams (pictured), South Africa's Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies...

The Dutch brewing company Heineken is in talks with South African wine and spirits maker, Distell Group, for the potential acquisition of the majority of its business. This was announced in a statement released on May 18 by Distell Group’s brand owners: Amarula, Savanna, Hunter’s Dry, Durbanville Hills, and Nederburg. If completed, the acquisition of Distell with a market value of R31.8...

After a decade of fratricidal conflict following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, Libya is making progress toward a lasting peace. Sahelian leaders, however, fear that the guns that are silent in Libya will be heard more loudly in their lands. Indeed, in an address to the UN Security Council last May 18, the Chadian Deputy Foreign Minister Oumar Ibn Daoud (pictured) warned that...

Since Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali traveled to Spain on April 18 for medical treatment, tensions between Rabat and Madrid have become tense. The situation escalated with the influx of thousands of migrants from Morocco at the Spanish border since May 17.  The government of Morocco has decided to recall its ambassador to Madrid amid the diplomatic tensions with Spain. According to...

During his departmental budget presentation to parliament, South Africa’s Minister of trade and industry Ebrahim Patel revealed that the localization strategy for the country would result in up to R200 billion (about $14.2 billion) of additional production over the next five years. The plan is gaining momentum as it has received support from 30 local chief executives from companies...

The International Finance Corporation plans to support the growth strategy of Egyptian service provider Integrated Diagnostics Holding Plc with $45 million. According to Capital Ouest, which relayed the news, the Egyptian company seeks to grow locally and beyond borders. IDH is listed on the London Stock Exchange and also has a footprint in Jordan, Sudan, and Nigeria. The next step is to...

Homzmart, the Egyptian platform that connects furniture makers with potential buyers has closed a $15 million Series A financing to expand activities in the MENA region. The fundraising deal was led by MSA Capital and Nuwa Capital. "Market opportunity in the region is huge and our business model is perfectly set up for it. Homzmart provides a simple one-stop platform to transform the...

Sudan has just obtained the cancellation of $5.4 billion of its debt to France and Germany. The announcement was made on Monday, May 17, during the International Conference to Support the Sudanese Transition. In a speech delivered at the press conference closing the meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron said his country was willing to waive the money owed by Sudan. "We are in favor of a...