African Development Bank signs off on 205 MW Sahofika hydropower scheme in Madagascar


Yesterday, the African Development Bank (AfDB) signed two key agreements to further boost energy access in Madagascar. The contracts were signed by Rindra Hasimbelo Rabarinirinarison, Madagascar’s Minister of Economy and Finance, and Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth at the AfDB. The first one covers the $118m Power Transmission Network […]

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Hawilti releases Nigeria LPG Watch Q3 2021


Hawilti has released today its Nigeria LPG Watch for Q3 2021. The report brings you the latest on market trends currently affecting Nigeria’s liquefied petroleum gas value-chain, from supply disruptions to prices fluctuations. After a record LPG supply into Nigeria in Q2 this year, Q3 witnessed more moderate deliveries as global supply chain disruptions affect […]

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AIIM closes $370m financing for IDEAS Managed Fund – plans to keep investing in renewable energy


African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) has announced it has successfully completed a capital increase of ZAR 5.5 bn (about $370m) for its IDEAS Managed Fund (IDEAS) dedicated to infrastructure financing in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. “The new commitments were secured from 19 key South African institutional and pension fund investors, with two […]

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South32 exercises its pre-emptive rights in Mozambique’s leading aluminum smelter


Mining and metals company South32 has announced it is exercising its pre-emptive rights to acquire Mitsubishi’s 25% shareholding in Mozal Aluminium, Mozambique’s largest industrial employer. Mitsubishi currently holds the 25% via MCA Metals Holding GmbH with the rest of the shares owned by South32 (47.1%), the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa (24%) and […]

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‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero sentenced to 25 years in prison by Rwandan court


Unsurprisingly, Paul Rusesabagina was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Monday, September 20, by the Kigali Tribunal. On trial since February, the former manager of the Hôtel des Mille Collines, who became a fierce opponent of President Paul Kagame, was found guilty of supporting a “terrorist” group which “attacked people in their homes, in […]

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Guinea’s military junta refuses to bow to regional pressure


On September 16th, ECOWAS took more severe sanctions against Colonel Mamady Doumbouya and his acolytes. Members of the putschist junta were thus prohibited from traveling and using their pecuniary property in banks. They were also ordered to organize presidential and legislative elections within 6 months, without the possibility of participating themselves. The demands were on […]

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How Obama’s backing for NBA Africa venture could boost basketball on the continent


by John Nauright, Dean, Richard J. Bolte, Sr. School of Business, Mount St. Mary’s University, and Sarah Zipp, Lecturer, Faculty of Health Science and Sport, University of Stirling Former US president Barack Obama’s decision to invest in the National Basketball Association’s Africa venture reflects a lot about his past – his basketball playing youth and his African roots. It also […]

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A plant grown in Nigeria shows potential for epilepsy treatment


by Moses B. Ekong, Senior Lecturer, The University of Uyo Epilepsy is a brain disorder that arises from imbalances of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. This disorder manifests as recurring seizure, unconsciousness and momentary loss of memory. These events are frequent and unpredictable. This is because the brain cells called neurons either overwork or are unable to […]

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Why Edgar Lungu and his party lost Zambia’s 2021 elections


by Chris Changwe Nshimbi, Director & Research Fellow, University of Pretoria Hakainde Hichilema’s election victory is the third time an opposition leader has unseated an incumbent president in Zambia since 1991. The victory bequeaths on the new president and his party, the United Party for National Development (UPND), the immense task of restoring the rule of law, fixing […]

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Angola produces 3.1m carats of diamonds in four months


From January to April 2021, the country produced the equivalent of 620 kilos of diamonds, with the goal of reaching 9.1 million carats by 2022. Angola produced a total of 3.1 million carats of diamonds (620 kg) from January to April this year. This is a reasonable performance given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, […]

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Gabon signs agreement for new 20 MW solar plant in Ngounié Province


On August 23rd, the Gabonese government validated a contract with the Turkish group Desiba Energy for the construction of a 20 MW solar power plant in Doubou, near Mouila, in the province of Ngounié. This FCFA 17.7 bn (27 million euros) project aims at providing a kilowatt at FCFA 95 (or about US 0.15), and […]

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Senegal wants to create 10,000 green jobs


The Senegalese government has recruited 10,000 people for its “green employment” program, the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Abdou Karim Sall, has announced. “These new recruits will pass a two-year test period and then we will assess before signing them CDI”, he added, specifying that 7,000 will be assigned to the National Agency of […]

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The jobs expected to be available for Africa’s youth from now – 2035


Under 25s are expected to total 50% of Africa’s population by 2050, causing a demand for employment to reduce poverty in the region. It’s predicted that ‘industries without smokestacks’ will account for 60% or more of new jobs in Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa. Notably, IWOSS industries also offer more employment opportunities for women. […]

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