Browsing: DRC

• For a country so crucial to the global energy transition, the world awaits DR Congo’s political transition.
• Congo’s political transition will be a massive factor in the significance of its massive natural resources in global energy transition needs.
• President Felix Tshisekedi, seeking a fresh mandate from the people, refers to Congo as the ‘solution country’ for the global climate crisis.

The Democratic Republic of Congo goes to the polls today to elect a president whose role will be vital in the global fight against climate change over the next five years. The Central African nation’s minerals, forests, and rivers are crucial to the future of green transition globally. Congo’s political transition will be a massive factor in the significance of these resources in global energy needs.

President Felix Tshisekedi, seeking a fresh mandate from the people, refers to Congo as the ‘solution country’ for the global climate crisis. However, he …

• On December 20, 2023, the eyes of Africa and the international community are keenly focused on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as it goes to its presidential and legislative elections.
• The elections in the DRC hold significant implications for the region and the international community.
• The recent developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have led to a significant diplomatic response, particularly from Kenya.

On December 20, 2023, the eyes of Africa and the international community are keenly focused on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as it goes to its presidential and legislative elections. The DRC, known for its vast mineral wealth, is at a pivotal point in its democratic journey, with the elections being a critical step towards stability and development.

The upcoming elections are taking place amid a complex backdrop of security challenges, particularly in the eastern regions where armed conflicts continue to displace millions. …

• Africa holds more than half of the world’s reserves of cobalt, 46% of its manganese, and 21% of its graphite, all used in EV batteries, and about a quarter of its bauxite, which is required for solar photovoltaic technologies.
• For decades, Africa has allowed her raw materials, including oil and natural gas, to be exported raw, without a chance to benefit from the finished product.
• As a result, we’ve missed out on the job creation, industrialization, and economic diversification.

To meet their green agendas, the European Union, US, and China are engaged in the modern-day equivalent of a gold rush. This time, though, fortune seekers aren’t panning for shiny nuggets in Canada, America, or Australia. Instead, all eyes are on the critical minerals of Africa—cobalt, graphite, lithium, and others—raw materials essential to the production of clean technology, including electric vehicles (EV).

To say that Africa is generously endowed in this …

• The 2023 DRC presidential election is slated for 20 December in what many view as the most consequential election in its recent history.
• There have been reports of various logistical complications threatening to undermine the electoral process.
• Recent developments in Nairobi have seen the emergence of a new group backed by M23 Rebels committed to the liberation of the DRC, signifying a potential shift in the regional dynamics and hinting at the high stakes involved.

On December 20, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will carry out what many view as the most consequential election in the country’s recent history. With President Félix Tshisekedi seeking a second term, nearly 40 million voters will decide whether to stay the course or set a new direction for a nation endowed with vast natural resources but plagued by longstanding challenges.

The DRC, the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, holds nearly 70 per cent …

• Economic considerations are why the world is watching the DR Congo elections. 
• President Félix Tshisekedi’s approach to the Eastern Congo crisis is a matter of immediate political strategy and a defining aspect of his legacy.
• DR Congo’s political stability is crucial for international markets.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is at a pivotal moment with the delay of its December 20th election, attracting global attention. This postponement, amid logistical challenges and the ongoing conflict in the eastern provinces, raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.

The country’s history of electoral irregularities, including allegations of fraud in past elections, amplifies these worries. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, as any perceived manipulation could further destabilize the already fragile political landscape of the country and the Central African region.

Winning the Hearts of Eastern Congo: A Keystone for Tshisekedi’s Legacy

President Félix Tshisekedi’s approach to …

• Kenya’s Bluewave Insurance Agency has announced plans to raise $6 million to expand into five new African markets to increase insurance penetration in markets characterized by low uptake.
• Company Founder and CEO Adelaide Odhiambo says the investment would be raised over the next three years.
• The insurer is partnering with Mobile Network Operators and banks to distribute affordable micro-insurance products, with plans to enter Uganda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Malawi, DRC, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Zambia.

Kenya’s Bluewave Insurance Agency has announced plans to raise $6 million as the firm seeks to expand into five new African markets, aiming to increase insurance penetration in regions characterized by low uptake. Adelaide Odhiambo, Founder and CEO of Bluewave Insurance Agency, stated that the investment would be raised over the next three years to support the expansion plans.

Bluewave Insurance Agency’s new target markets

The company has forged partnerships with large aggregators, specifically Mobile Network Operators …

A groundbreaking initiative, the SEMA ReACT (SEvere MAlaria treatment with Rectal artesunate and Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy [in remote settings]) consortium, marks a fresh collaboration between Africa and Europe. This study addresses the knowledge gap surrounding an intervention designed to provide a critical time buffer for seeking additional care in remote settings where transferring to health facilities is difficult.…

• The strategic manoeuvrings of the United States in the DRC’s cobalt mines serve as an international yardstick for how well it can balance economic aspirations with ethical imperatives.
• The DRC has become embroiled in a complicated geopolitical chess game, and it is no longer merely a national asset but a worldwide commodity.
• The strategic importance of cobalt from the Congo to the United States exemplifies the necessity for a multifaceted solution that upholds human dignity in the workplace, safeguards natural resources, and encourages economic resilience.

Conspicuously rising to critical importance on a global scale, cobalt has been overshadowed by the world’s precious metals. Although it is sometimes overlooked in resource talks in favour of its more glamorous cousins, gold and oil, this silvery-blue element—a byproduct of copper and nickel mining—is an essential component of modern technology.

Nevertheless, it is a mineral of the future because it powers electronic devices such …

• Most African countries are set to increase their economic growth next year compared to 2023, with East Africa leading the charge.
• Countries will be powered by their travel, tourism, transport, logistics, financial, and telco sectors.
• However, some African countries will not enjoy this fastest-growing economy wave as they will be under severe financial stress in 2024 due to their huge debt obligations.

The most recent analysis from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) predicts that by 2024, Africa will have the world’s second-fastest expanding major area, behind only Asia. According to the EIU’s African Economic Outlook, Africa’s amazing growth trajectory is evidence of the continent’s resiliency and its enormous unrealized economic potential.

Most African countries are set to increase their economic development compared to 2023, with East Africa leading the charge, as noted by the EIU’s Africa Economic Outlook. Powered by their thriving travel, tourism, and hospitality industries as well …

The Lobito Corridor represents a significant transport infrastructure project in Africa. The project will now become a reality with the backing of the US. Moreover, this is one of the projects through which Washington seeks to strengthen its investment ties on the continent. This project entails a transportation network that links northwest Zambia to Angola’s Benguela railway, ultimately connecting to the strategic Lobito port, the second largest seaport in oil-rich Angola.…