Author: James Wambua

• UN faults UK-Rwanda asylum treaty citing concerns on potentially harmful impact on global responsibility-sharing, human rights, and refugee protection.
• Spearheaded by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the legislation mandates judges to deem Rwanda as a safe third country.
• With deportation flights slated to start in July, the move is sparking weighty debates over the ethical implications of outsourcing asylum responsibilities.

This week’s passage of the “Safety of Rwanda” Bill by the UK Parliament has triggered alarm bells within the United Nations (UN), with two prominent leaders, Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, raising concerns over its potentially harmful impact on global responsibility-sharing, human rights, and refugee protection.

Spearheaded by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the legislation mandates judges to deem Rwanda as a safe third country, paving the way for the deportation of thousands of migrants who have sought refuge …

• Namibia’s Mopane field could hold up to 10 billion barrels of oil, Galp announces.
• Tests on Mopane-1X well in January and the Mopane-2X well in March gave highly promising findings.
• Exploration success in Namibia could pave the way for a new revenue stream for Galp.

Portuguese oil company Galp Energia has set the stage for a potential game-changer in the global energy industry with its announcement at the weekend regarding the Mopane field off the coast of Namibia.

Following the conclusion of the first phase of exploration, Galp projects that the Mopane field could hold up to 10 billion barrels of oil, marking a huge step in the evolving oil and gas industry in Namibia.

Gap noted that testing operations were undertaken at the Mopane-1X well in January and the Mopane-2X well in March gave highly promising findings. The company noted the discovery of significant light oil columns in …

• Chronic instability plagues the existing power grids, worsened by the pressing need to connect growing populations.
• The advent of renewable energy sources introduces new complexities, considering the intermittent nature of solar and wind power generation.
• Wärtsilä Energy says deploying battery storage and flexible engine power plants offers a pathway toward reliable grid resilience.

Across economies in Africa, a profound transition is underway. Increasingly, economies are grappling with the dual challenge of meeting burgeoning energy demand while steadily transitioning towards sustainability, a scenario amplifies the importance of economies having reliable power production.

Wärtsilä Energy, a giant power plant manufacturer and energy systems integrator in Africa, is coming forward to offer insights on how economies can easily navigate this transition. Drawing insights from the 2024 North and West Africa Energy Transition Forum in Rabat, it is evident that addressing the complexities of grid reliability and renewable energy integration requires a multipronged approach.…

• Leading the lineup of this year’s Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) at the AIM Congress 2024 keynote speakers is H.E. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary General of the League of Arab States.
• Her Majesty Tirelo Molotlegi, the Princess of the Royal Bofakeng Nation, brings a unique perspective on sustainable development and community empowerment.
• Prof. Rae Kwon Ching, Nobel Prize Winner and Chairman of the Global Energy Prize International Award Committee, will discuss sustainable energy solutions.

The AIM Congress 2024, which is scheduled from May 7 to 9 in Abu Dhabi, is set to be a groundbreaking event, attracting a constellation of global leaders and visionaries. The Congress, to be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), promises to be a melting pot of ideas and innovations, with over 900 influential speakers poised to share their insights on a broad spectrum of investment-related topics.

Among the illustrious speakers at AIM …

• South Africa’s Strategic Fuel Fund (SSF) operates Block B2 in South Sudan in collaboration with Nilepet.
• The company has just completed a major phase of its oil and gas exploration in Jonglei state.
• SSF recently completed undertaking the largest geophysical survey ever done in South Sudan, covering 47,000 square kilometres.

In a move marking the strengthening bilateral relations between South Africa and South Sudan, the Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF), South Africa’s state-owned petroleum company, convened a key meeting with South Sudan’s national oil company, Nilepet, in Juba last week.

The meeting was a highlight of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state visit, underscoring the growing economic ties between the two nations.

The SFF, which operates Block B2 in South Sudan and collaborates with Nilepet through the Nile Orange joint venture, has recently completed a major phase of its oil and gas exploration campaign in Jonglei state. The initial aerial survey …

• Global verification body Verra certifies d.light’s clean cookstove projects in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria.
• Initiative to distribute 600,000 clean cookstoves, which are now verified by leading certifiers as a trusted source of high-quality carbon credits.
• Launched in 2022, these projects have already positively impacted over one million lives and are on track to transform the lives of three million people by 2025. 

d.light’s clean cookstove initiatives

In a landmark move that helps advance the journey towards sustainable development and environmental health in Africa, d.light, a firm that provides innovative solutions for low-income households, has achieved a milestone with its projects receiving certification from Verra as a trusted source of high-quality carbon credits.

This certification marks d.light’s clean cookstove initiatives in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda as crucial players in the voluntary carbon markets (VCMs), aiming to reduce carbon emissions, combat indoor air pollution, and curb deforestation.

Addressing environmental challenges, and earning

• The key highlight of the AIM Congress 2024 is the Investment Awards, scheduled for the opening day, May 7th.
• These awards celebrate top direct investment (FDI) projects from around the globe.
• The awards underline the diverse ways investment can contribute to economic progress with categories ranging from Innovation and Research to Sustainability and Local Linkages.

As the global investment contours keep evolving, the AIM Congress 2024 is taking shape as a critical platform to foster global investment innovations and sustainability.

Set to convene in Abu Dhabi from May 7-9, the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) Congress promises to be a crucial gathering for driving the new dynamics of economic resilience and growth.

This year’s congress theme, “Adapting to a shifting Investment Landscape: Harnessing New Potential for Global Economic Development,” aptly captures the current global challenges and the opportunities they present. Under the banner “Resilient Sustainable Economic Growth–Creating a Healthy and Prospective …

• Ventures interested in applying for the Investment Showcase can submit applications here by 2nd May.
• To qualify, the ventures must be African, have at least one African co-founder or be headquartered in Africa.
• They must also offer a product or service designed for scalability, and be able to present in person at the Africa Tech Summit (ATS) London.

On June 7th, 2024, the Africa Tech Summit (ATS) London will convene at the London Stock Exchange for its eighth edition, continuing its tradition of fostering business and investment opportunities in Africa and around the world.

This tech conference, known for its dynamic engagement and insight into the African continent’s tech industry, is poised to attract over 300 African and international tech leaders, policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and corporates.

The summit’s key event, the Investments Showcase, is inviting African tech ventures to present their business models to a curated audience of potential investors …

• Exclusive pre-congress workshop launched to elevate startups for the global stage
• This year’s startup competition has attracted entrants from 53 countries.
• With cash prizes amounting $60,000, the stakes are high for participants to showcase their innovations.

As the global business community looks forward to the AIM Congress 2024, an exclusive startup workshop has been announced to prepare tech entrepreneurs for the grand stage.

Scheduled for May 7-9, the AIM Congress is set to be a pivotal gathering for industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and innovative startups under the theme “Adapting to a shifting investment landscape: Harnessing new potential for global economic development.”

In preparation for this landmark event, AIM Startup, in partnership with Bloom, is organizing a preparatory workshop designed to hone the skills and strategies of promising tech entrepreneurs. The workshop, aimed at empowering participants to maximize their impact at the congress, is part of a broader initiative by …

• A total of 77 people, including 22 Chinese and a Cameroonian, all suspects in an elaborate cybercrime ring in Zambia targeting thousands of people across the world, have been arrested in a crackdown. 
• Masquerading as call centre agents, Zambian youth were recruited into conning people via Telegram and WhatsApp platforms.
• Authorities in Zambia say the scam affected people in Singapore, Peru, the UAE, and some African countries.

In Zambia’s posh Roma district, the morning African sun barely peeked through the offices of Golden Top Support Services. This company had promised scores of respectable jobs to young Zambians as call centre agents.

Instead, it had covertly plunged them into the depths of a sprawling cybercrime syndicate. This chilling reality came to light following a decisive raid led by the country’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), exposing a narrative that conjures up the global challenges of cybercrime.

This operation was a huge score …