Central Europe’s war industry scrambles for African weapons market as Russia battles Ukraine
The Czech Republic in 2022 exported ammunition, guns, aircraft and other military supplies valued at around 32 million euros to 10 sub-Saharan African countries, many which rely on Soviet-era weapons manufactured with different standards and calibres than those used in the West. This was up from just under 2 million euros in 2011.
China’s Xi Jinping meets US’ Biden to restore communication, reduce military tension
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, who with Blinken opened the APEC ministerial session, said the San Francisco meeting came at a time of “great uncertainty and challenges” for the region. She noted increasing geopolitical tensions, fragile supply chains and a worsening climate crisis.
Intra-African Fair in Cairo told AfCFTA can end colonial legacy of exporting raw materials
Jean-Louis Ekra, Deputy Chairperson of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2023) Advisory Council and a former President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
Kenya to pay back $300 million of $2 billion bond in December, says President Ruto
Kenya will in December pay back $300 million of a $2 billion Eurobond that falls due next June, President William Ruto said on Thursday. The East African nation is being watched closely to see how it handles the bond due to its growing debt repayments, weakening currency and a surge...
US Secretary of State says President Biden is keen on improved US-Africa trade programme
Over $10 billion worth of African exports entered the United States duty free last year under the programme. However, the US International Trade Commission earlier this year highlighted major shortcomings.
UK-based firm lines up project financing to connect 260 million people in Africa to electricity
The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that the number of people in Sub-Saharan Africa without power – 600 million – will be largely unchanged by 2030. Mini-grids, which are self-sufficient electricity grids that can serve households and businesses, have a critical role to play in bridging the gap. They are the least-cost method to bring electricity to over 260 million people.
Kenya’s grim economic outlook forces Uganda to give exclusive petroleum supply deal to Vitol
Using Kenyan importers had “exposed Uganda to occasional supply vulnerabilities where the Ugandan retail companies were considered secondary whenever there were supply disruptions,” which affected retail prices, Nankabirwa said.
Millions of jobs in Kenya, South Africa and 3 others in limbo over AGOA trade initiative
Apparel has been the standout success story of AGOA, which launched in 2000 to help develop African economies and foster democracy. African apparel exports under the programme reached nearly $1.4 billion last year, double the pre-AGOA amount.
‘Speech protections are not just for views we agree with but also for views we most strongly oppose’
The Westminster Declaration also cites the UDHR (United Nations Human Rights), which “was drafted in 1948 in response to atrocities committed during World War II,” as another example of how protections for free speech are legally enshrined. The declaration specifically cites Article 19 of the UDHR, which states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.’”
US to evict Gabon, Niger, Uganda and Central African Republic from Agoa trade programme
Launched in 2000, AGOA grants exports from qualifying countries duty-free access to the US market. It is set to expire in September 2025, but discussions are already underway over whether to extend it and for how long.
