Browsing: President Joe Biden

As Angola President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço visits the White House on Thursday, November 30, the US is poised to strengthen a complex alliance developed during the past three decades of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Going beyond the usual protocol, this visit exemplifies the growing bond between two countries sharing common ideals with hope for a bright and safe future. …

United States officials and politicians have shown much interest and support for renewing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) as its expiration date approaches in September 2025. The fate of this landmark legislation, which provides duty-free access to the US markets for some African countries, remains uncertain for the next 22 months but has significant implications for trade between the United States and Africa.…

The goal of JETP is to help South Africa decarbonise and switch to renewable energy for its power needs as aligned in the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution emissions goals.

Through the program, South Africa will mobilise an initial commitment of $8.5 billion for the first phase of financing, which has now been secured and whose distribution plan will be announced next month in Egypt at the COP27.

“The Partnership is expected to prevent up to 1-1.5 gigatonnes of emissions over the next 20 years and support South Africa to move away from coal and to accelerate its transition to a low emission, climate resilient economy,”  reports the European Commission.…

Egypt and Sudan, both of which are located further downstream on the Nile, on the one hand, and Ethiopia, which is located upstream on the Blue Nile, on the other, have been engaged in a protracted disagreement on the construction of the GERD.

The two former countries are dependent on the waters of the Nile, and they are afraid that the reservoir being filled behind the dam will reduce the amount of water available to them. The reservoir has a capacity of 74 cubic kilometres, which is equivalent to 1.6 years of the average flow of the Blue Nile.

The Nile provides Egypt with 90 per cent of its fresh water and is essential to the country’s agricultural and power generation systems.

It is estimated that the filling will take seven years to complete, with the first two stages already having been finished. According to statements made before the end …

Trade between Kenya and the US is governed by the World Trade Organization (WTO), given that both countries are members of the Organization.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), is perhaps the highlight of the strong trade relations between Kenya and the US; enacted in May 2000 and has since been renewed to 2025. Under the Act, Kenya qualifies for duty-free access to the U.S market, exporting products such as textiles, apparel, and handicrafts among many others.  

The US views Kenya as a key strategic trade partner in the region, which is the second-largest beneficiary of the AGOA tariff benefits. In 2019, trade between the United States and Kenya was estimated at US$1.1 billion, recording a 4.9% increase from 2018. Top US imports from Kenya were apparel, estimated at US$454 million, edible fruit and nuts at US$55 million, titanium ores and concentrates at US$52million and coffee at US$34 million. …

Gabon is one of few countries with a carbon-negative economy, thanks to the Congo Basin’s immense tropical forests, which absorb more greenhouse gases than the country’s companies, cars, and towns emit.

It just approved an ambitious climate law to ensure that its economic bases are on forests and agriculture rather than fossil fuels.

Outside assistance is required to attain this goal so that the government can continue to enhance living standards.
Many African countries rely on coal for electricity and have refused to sign a declaration signed by more than 40 countries this week calling for an end to the most polluting of fossil fuels. …