Author: Giza Mdoe

• In an escalation of geopolitical tension, Russia has pulled a power move, ending the Black Sea Gran Initiative. To what extent does this decision threaten food security in Africa? 
• Collapse of the deal will drive inflationary pressure on grain prices, especially in countries heavily reliant on imports, experts warn.
• Currently, Africa is facing biting food shortage as inflation fueled by high food and fuel prices grips economies.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal that allowed the export of Ukrainian agricultural produce especially grains through the Black Sea, has collapsed following the withdrawal of Moscow from the agreement. For those unaware, the Black Sea Gran Initiative, was negotiated by Turkey and the United Nations in July 2022.

The deal, up to Monday July 24th, was allowing ships to carry fertilizer and agricultural products from three Ukrainian ports. It let ships to sail through strictly mapped routes, to avoid mines and …

• Niger military overthrows the democratic government led by President Mohamed Bazoum.
• Niger’s Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane announces coup d’état on national television.
• This is the seventh coup in the West African region in just three years.

In Niger coup d’état, the ouster of the government of President Mohamed Bazoum might plunge the West African country’s economic wellbeing into jeopardy.

Late on Wednesday, June 26th, a group of soldiers took over the national television in Niger and announced the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum from power. Earlier, they had held the president in the presidential palace. Colonel Amadou Abdramane, surrounded by nine other officers, read a statement explaining that the defence and security forces made this decision to put an end to the existing regime, citing the deteriorating security situation and governance issues as reasons.

President held in Niger coup d’état

“The defense and security forces… have decided to put an …

• The second Russia-Africa Summit is underway in St Petersburg, Russia.
• The first Russia-Africa summit in 2019 culminated in the signing of 92 agreements, worth over $11 billion.
• Russia is looking to maintain major trade deals with Africa—a market of 1.3 billion people.

The second Russia-Africa Summit is currently underway in St Petersburg, Russia. This crucial summit taking place on 27th and 28th July has left tongues wagging in the West. The summit has the potential to either further isolate Russia globally or turn the tide and see Africa back Moscow.

How the summit plays out will have very significant outcomes in the determination of the ongoing geopolitical shifts.

$11Bn worth of deals in 2019 Russia-Africa summit

In 2019, Russia and a score of African leaders met for the first Russia-Africa Summit which culminated in the signing of 92 agreements, worth over $11 billion. This time around, with Africa facing a …

• France is leading Europe in accepting colonial mistakes and returning human remains taken from Africa.
• Should restitution of African artifacts also include economic compensation?
• Germany is also agreeing to respond to restitution requests by African countries.

France has once again taken steps to reconcile its patchy colonial ties with Africa, this time championing human remains restitution by returning artifacts, human skulls, bones, and other items of historical value.

These human remains are mostly of great African heroes, who opposed colonial rule in the 17^th and 18th centuries. The return of the human remains has been effected by France’s University of Strasbourg. And it is part of an ongoing human remains restitution demanded by several African countries. Most of the latest demands are from Namibia and Tanzania where historic human remains are coming home.

Germany on human remains restitution

In the same vein, Germany is under criticism for failing to …

DRC President Félix Tshisekedi has announced the signing of a mining deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Many other companies have shied away from the troubled Eastern region. However, the UAE company Primera Group has signed a share deal for export rights of minerals mined in the region.…

• Since President Félix Tshisekedi took power in January 2019, DRC has been pitching and welcoming international and regional investors in Kinshasa. 
• President Tshisekedi has struck mining and agriculture investment agreements with Chinese companies.
• In July, UAE signed a $1.9 billion deal with a state mining firm in the DRC to develop four mines in eastern Congo. South Africa struck electric batteries deal with DRC in July, too.

Across the Democratic Republic of Congo—the second largest country in Africa—the weather is friendly, and the policymakers in Kinshasa have been steadily turning the tide, making DRC a hub for investments.

A stroll down the streets of Kinshasa, a city of over 13 million bustling with activity, heavy clouds are keeping the glare of the tropical sun at bay. The capital’s streets are busy and crowded. The traffic is congested and millions rub shoulders on the sidewalks. To my utter shock, in Kinshasa, …

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi has adopted a comprehensive strategy to fast-track economic development and attract investment to the country. Thus, through its Ministry of Planning, the government has established the National Agency for the Promotion of Investments, more commonly known by the acronym ANAPI.…

• DRC’s agriculture and vast extractive industry are prime targets for global investors. UAE investors have already struck a deal with the Kivu and Maniema Gold Company (SAKIMA).
• Investors can expect huge returns with DRC estimated to be Africa’s fastest growing economy at 4.7% this year.
• Through reforms, Kinshasa has cut business opening process to just three days.

While global economic growth is projected to average between 2.7% and 3.2%, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be Africa’s fastest growing economy posting 4 percent jump this year.

This high rate of economic growth is getting the eye of investors from across the globe who are eyeing DRC’s promising returns in investments. Which begs the question: What is driving investors into DRC? I set out to find out why.

DRC’s key investment areas

According to this year’s Africa’s Macroeconomic Performance and Outlook report by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), the …

Coconut remains one of the most important and useful palms globally. The global coconut products market could reach $31.1 billion by 2026. This follows its increasing use in food, beverage, cosmetics, and other industries. There are opportunities in the global coconut industry for the African government and the private sector to explore and earn foreign exchange.…

• There are two ways in which miners extract rare earths. Both methods are dangerous to the environment.
• They cause contamination of the topsoil and groundwater and they produce harmful dust.
• In April, residents of Myanmar stopped Chinese rare earth miners due to environmental concerns.

In April, China reportedly announced plans to stop rare earths mining in Myanmar’s Kachin state following mounting protests by the locals on environmental concerns.

Media sources state that the protests started in December after the Kachin Independence Organization, a significant ethnic group, authorized Chinese companies to mine in Kachin State close to the Yunnan Province border with China.

Rare earth minerals are a group of 17 elements, including cerium, neodymium, lanthanum, and others. They are vital for various high-tech industries, such as electronics, renewable energy, and defense. According to Investing News, Myanmar produced 12,000 metric tonne of rare earths in 2022, ranking the country fourth globally …