The Bill & Melinda Gates foundation, will allocate between 2018 and 2020, $300 million to agricultural research in African and East Asian nations which are weakened by the global warming. This was disclosed yesterday by the foundation on the sidelines of the “One Planet Summit” held in Paris on the initiative of France’s President, Emmanuel Macron. In details, the organization will...

It’s officially recorded. As scheduled by the National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC), the finals between George Weah and the Vice President Joseph Boakai will take place on December 26, 2017. Jerome Korkoya, chairman of NEC, gave the starting signal for the presidential campaign which will end on December 24 at midnight. This finals, initially supposed to be held on November 7 have...

On Monday, December 6, the IMF’s executive board approved a 3-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility for Mauritania. The arrangement is for 115.92 million Special Drawing Rights (SDRs); this equals to $163.9 million. It will support the economic and financial reforms program in the country. The board’s decision enables an immediate disbursement of 16.56 million SDRs...

Today and tomorrow, respectively December 13th and 14th, Dakar, Senegal’s capital, will host an interactive workshop on impact data related to the use and occupation of lands, Agence de Presse Sénégalaise (APS) reported quoting a statement. Organized by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) West Africa, the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control (CILSS) and...

Sula Iron & Gold, which operates the Ferensola project in Sierra Leone, has announced this week that it has acquired a 70% interest in a cobalt exploration license in DRC. The move cost the firm $100,000, half of which it has already paid. “We are very excited to announce this significant addition to the company’s strategy and exploration activities,” said Roger Murphy, CEO of the...

In Uganda, the Karuma hydropower dam could be no more delivered by December 2018, as initially announced, The monitor reports.    According to Edward Mutesa, project manager at the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), a 6-month delay is already recorded, due to various challenges related to the compensation of populations affected by the construction of the...

In Cotonou since last Sunday, the head of the International Monetary Fund, seems very optimistic regarding the reforms initiated by the Talon government. Mrs. Lagarde lauded the government for its efforts in consolidating its public finances and for implementing structural reforms to restart Benin’s economy which was one of the least performant of the WAEMU in 2016. She also reiterated her...

OneTech, a group specialized in the manufacturing of circuit boards, electronical and mechanical assembling, connectors and wiring, has obtained on December 11, 2017, a €21 million funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The monies will help accelerate the development of the firm’s innovative products, research and development and innovate in the wires and mechatronics...

The Ivorian government has committed to pay a premium of CFA15 million ($25,782) to each soldier who voluntarily agrees to retire on December 31, 2017, Reuters reports. This measure falls under a scheme to reduce the size of the army which became too big (25,000 soldiers) causing many mutinies since the beginning of this year. Indeed, by 2020, Côte d’Ivoire plans to reduce the size of its...

Burkina’s company for textile fibers (SOFITEX) has secured from a pool of 12 banks, a loan of CFA70 billion for the 2017/18 cotton season, Sidwaya reported. The related agreement was signed on December 8, 2017, in Ouagadougou. The loan which comes at an interest rate of 6%, should be used to buy input and cotton seeds from producers, as well to convey the commodity to the SOFITEX’s 15...