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- Fresh reforms to unlock Burkina-Ghana trade opportunities
- Integration vital in unlocking Africa’s $180Bn digital trade economy
- Tanzanian Prof Janabi nominated to steer WHO Africa Region office
- The anatomy of Italy-backed Mattei Plan to speed up Africa’s growth
- Global energy chiefs demand rapid shift in Africa’s resource strategy
- Why infrastructure, investment, and local talent is key to Africa’s LNG sector growth
- Amnesty lifts the veil on human trafficking, abuse of Kenyan maids in Saudi Arabia
- Kenya’s wealthy pivot to food, tech, and homegrown ventures amid global uncertainty
Africa
- Mattei Plan seeks to mobilize investments to tackle hunger, scale up agricultural output, and reduce the drivers of forced migration by investing in climate-aligned infrastructure.
- Central to Mattei Plan is the $170 billion Rome Process/Mattei Plan Financing Facility (RPFF), a multi-donor special fund designed to support infrastructure projects aligned with climate goals.
- The deal also seeks to inject up to €400 million into private equity funds over the next five years.
Italy is increasingly positioning itself as an important player in Africa’s development journey with the rollout of the Mattei Plan—a bold initiative aimed at catalyzing economic transformation across the continent.
Named after Enrico Mattei, the visionary founder of Italy’s national oil company ENI who championed equitable North-South cooperation, the Mattei Plan represents a reimagined partnership model that prioritizes shared prosperity, sustainable development, and strategic collaboration.
At the heart of this initiative is the African Development Bank (AfDB), which Italy …
- In a stinging critique, Doanh Chau, President of Vietnam Gas says Kenya and Africa is not short on talent or resources—it is suffering from a chronic failure in leadership, vision, and execution.
- He says Kenya and Africa’s woes stem from unreliable electricity to misplaced infrastructure priorities and a governance culture geared more toward optics than results.
- Doanh Chau: “Leaders talk big, but systems don’t move,”. For Chau, African leaders should stop performing for the next donor visit or global conference and start building strong institutions that work for their people.
A hard look at Kenya, and Africa by extension
In a sharply worded critique following high-level meetings in China, Doanh Chau, President of Vietnam Gas, offers an unflinching examination of Kenya’s leadership and, by extension, the broader challenges facing Africa. His central point? Africa is not short on talent or resources—it is suffering from a chronic failure in leadership, …
- African coffee entrepreneurs are turning the Gulf region into the next big destination for the continent’s bean exports.
- With its deep-rooted coffee culture and growing appetite for specialty and ethically sourced brews, the Gulf is turning into a premium destination for African exports.
- Amid fluctuating Arabica prices, Gulf buyers are beginning to turn their attention to high-quality Robusta—and African producers are ready to deliver.
In January 2025, the World of Coffee Dubai trade show once again underscored the United Arab Emirates’ emergence as a serious player in global coffee trade—and Africa was at the center of this evolution. The event offered more than just exhibition space; it served as a launchpad for African coffee entrepreneurs to introduce their brands to a high-potential, high-growth region: the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
For entrepreneurs like John Francois of Asili Coffee in Ghana and Willy Kanyinda Kadima of Cocoi Café in the …
- In Eastern DRC, dead bodies lie in the streets, hospitals are overwhelmed and there has been an uptick in reports of sexual violence, rape and looting.
- In Kinshasa, protesters have stormed and torched the embassies of USA, France, Belgium, Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya demanding push back against the advance of M23 rebels.
- UN says 300,000 people uprooted from camps around Goma in a matter of days.
Latest reports from Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from UN teams on the ground indicate a fast-deteriorating situation on Tuesday amid an ongoing assault by M23 rebels on the provincial capital. Dead bodies lie in the streets, hospitals are overwhelmed and there has been an uptick in reports of sexual violence, rape and looting.
“Roads are blocked, ports are closed and those crossing Lake Kivu risk their lives in makeshift boats,” said Shelley Thakral, spokesperson for the UN World Food …
- South Sudan has vast natural resources in fisheries, forestry, and wildlife, offering potential for inclusive economic growth if managed sustainably.
- The World Bank’s Natural Resource Review highlights strategies like community-based management, investment in value chains, and improved governance to unlock this potential.
- By addressing challenges such as poor infrastructure and resource depletion, South Sudan can diversify its economy and reduce dependence on oil.
South Sudan is a nation endowed with abundant renewable natural resources, offering vast opportunities for sustainable development. According to the newly released South Sudan Natural Resource Review (NRR) report by the World Bank, the country’s fisheries, forestry, and wildlife sectors are poised to play a crucial role in driving inclusive economic growth.
However, achieving this requires strategic investments, better management practices, and community-driven approaches to harness these resources sustainably.
The wealth of natural resources in South Sudan
South Sudan’s natural habitats are among the most diverse in …
- US President Donald Trump is among the top 40 Movers and Shakers who are poised to drive change in Africa’s energy sector this year.
- The list by the African Energy Chamber includes various Heads of State and Captains of industry whose focus on sustainable development, investment mobilization and energy sovereignty will define the continent’s future.
- The accomplishments and strategies of the 40 Movers and Shakers will be critical to addressing industry challenges and harnessing opportunities for the continent’s growth.
A mix of leaders, policymakers, innovators and corporate executives are poised to further drive change across Africa’s oil, gas and energy industries, the latest update by the African Energy Chamber (AEC) shows.
The list, which is an annual benchmark of influence and innovation, announces leaders at the forefront of advancing Africa’s energy potential. According to the AEC, these individuals are reshaping narratives, overcoming challenges and championing investment and sustainability in their …
- Joseph Kony is suspected of 36 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, allegedly committed between at least 1 July 2002 until 31 December 2005 in northern Uganda.
- Ugandan Kony is still at large, 19 years after his arrest was ordered by the International Criminal Court.
- On 12 December 2024, ICC judges scheduled the confirmation of charges hearing to start on 9 September 2025, in the absence of the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
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WHO IS JOSEPH KONY?
Joseph Kony was born in September 1961 in Uganda. He is of Acholi ethnicity and a national of Uganda. He is the alleged founder and leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (“LRA”), a Ugandan rebel group that originated in 1987 in northern Uganda among ethnic Acholi communities.
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IS MR KONY IN THE ICC CUSTODY?
No, the suspect, Joseph Kony, is still at large, 19 years after his arrest was …
- Authorities across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Sudan harassed activists and government critics in spirited attempt to suppress dissent in 2024.
- Human Rights Watch says harassment, intimidation, and arrests of journalists, human rights defenders, and opposition figures intensified.
- In Kenya, senior government officials including President William Ruto threatened the courts for making decisions unfavourable to his administration.
Millions of civilians across countries in East Africa bore the brunt of human rights violations orchestrated by either government security organs or armed groups in 2024, further deteriorating the region’s respect for human rights, a new report by Washington-based Human Rights Watch states.
According to the group’s World Report 2025, authorities in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Sudan continued to harass activists and government critics in their spirited attempt to suppress dissent during the year under review.
“Armed forces and armed groups in Sudan and Ethiopia have deliberately targeted civilians and …
- So far, South Africa and Senegal are the only African countries to have agreed to a Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP), with South Africa securing a deal for $8.5 billion, while Senegal secured one for $2.7 billion.
- How South Africa and Senegal intend to leverage these deals differ drastically, however, as do their power generation circumstances.
- Currently, coal continues to dominate South Africa’s energy portfolio, at over 80 per cent of the country’s power generation mix.
Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) have been introduced in recent years to provide financial support to developing nations as they transition away from fossil fuels. In 2021, during the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), South Africa became the first nation to sign such a deal. Senegal and the International Partners Group (IGP) signed a JETP in June 2023.
I have said before that the best way for Western countries, and …
