Author: Kudret

Burundi has officially begun its campaign season for the upcoming legislative and district elections, with political parties entering a crucial stretch ahead of the June 5 vote. The campaign period commenced on Tuesday and will run until June 2. A formal launch ceremony took place on Friday in Gitega, the nation’s political capital, drawing participation from key political figures including President Evariste Ndayishimiye. Voters are set to elect members to the 123-seat National Assembly. Of these, 100 will be chosen through direct voting, while the remaining seats are allocated to ensure inclusive representation through a co-optation process—an approach designed to…

The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has signed an agreement with the government of Cote d’Ivoire to establish a representative office in Abidjan, the country’s economic capital. The deal, formalized on Tuesday, marks a strategic step toward deepening regional cooperation and accelerating economic development across West Africa. EBID operates as the development finance arm of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with a mandate to drive sustainable growth across member states. By opening a presence in Abidjan, the bank aims to reinforce its support for national development programs and expand its impact in the region. The…

Sierra Leone is grappling with a rising mpox outbreak, with the Ministry of Health confirming 2,045 cases and 11 fatalities since the start of the year. The most recent figures, released on Monday, show a concerning surge of 165 new cases reported in just one day. The rapid increase in infections has prompted urgent action, with the government requesting international assistance. Health Minister Austin Demby, addressing the national parliament, revealed that the country has sought 100,000 doses of mpox vaccine from India to help manage the crisis. Demby emphasized that while the situation is serious, Sierra Leone has demonstrated resilience…

Morocco has unveiled plans to invest 7 billion dirhams (around $760 million) in a nationwide network of emergency storage facilities, in a bid to strengthen its disaster response infrastructure. The announcement follows a directive from King Mohammed VI, prompted by the devastating earthquake that struck the High Atlas Mountains in September 2023. The quake, which killed more than 2,900 people and decimated homes and key public services, exposed critical gaps in the country’s emergency preparedness. Under the new initiative, 2 billion dirhams ($217 million) will go toward constructing 36 storage platforms across the country. These facilities, covering a total of…

Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Monday held separate bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Mauritania and Côte d’Ivoire, reinforcing strategic ties on the margins of the Africa CEO Forum underway in Abidjan. Kagame met with Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and Côte d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara for discussions aimed at deepening cooperation across a range of sectors. According to the Rwandan presidency, the talks focused on strengthening partnerships that are mutually beneficial and aligned with national development priorities. The high-level engagements coincided with the opening day of the Africa CEO Forum, an annual summit bringing together more than 2,000 leaders…

Cocoa farmers in Ivory Coast are urging for heavier and more consistent rainfall to support the final stages of the April-to-September midcrop season, following a week of below-average precipitation across key production areas. As the leading global supplier of cocoa, Ivory Coast relies heavily on its April to mid-November rainy season. This period typically brings the level of moisture necessary for healthy pod development and successful harvests. However, recent weather conditions have raised concern among growers, who fear that insufficient rain could affect the quality and quantity of beans expected later in the season. In major cocoa-growing zones like Soubre,…

Guinea will head to the polls in December 2025, Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah announced on Monday, setting a new timeline for the country’s long-delayed return to civilian leadership. Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, the prime minister confirmed that both presidential and legislative elections are planned for the end of next year, following a constitutional referendum scheduled for September 21, 2025. “The constitutional referendum will be on September 21, and the legislative and presidential elections will be in December,” Bah told attendees at the high-level business gathering, where he also discussed progress on the Simandou iron ore…

At least seven Nigerian soldiers lost their lives on Monday following a coordinated assault on a military base in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State. The attackers are believed to be part of an armed group that broke away from Boko Haram and has been active in the region. Though the Nigerian military has not yet issued an official statement, local sources—including members of the Civilian Joint Task Force—confirmed the incident. The details were first reported by YERWA EXPRESS NEWS, a regional media outlet closely following developments in northeastern Nigeria. According to these accounts, the assailants launched a surprise…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed claims that white Afrikaners emigrating to the United States qualify as refugees, asserting that they are not fleeing persecution but rather resisting the democratic transformation underway in post-apartheid South Africa. Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan on Monday, Ramaphosa addressed a growing international debate triggered by a February executive order from former US President Donald Trump, which authorized the resettlement of Afrikaners in the United States. Trump’s order referred to the group as victims of “unjust racial discrimination.” Ramaphosa, appearing on a panel alongside his counterparts from Rwanda and Mauritania, rejected…

Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority is considering a temporary reduction in transit fees, ranging from 12% to 15%, to encourage traffic through the vital trade route. Chairman Osama Rabie announced the proposal during a phone interview with Sada al-Balad TV, adding that the measure could be enacted within days, pending approval from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The canal has experienced a sharp decline in usage due to ongoing security concerns in the Red Sea, where maritime activity has been disrupted. Certain vessels are being diverted away from the region amid heightened risks, particularly those believed to be en route to Israel.…

Violent clashes broke out in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, on Monday, as armed factions engaged in intense fighting. The unrest followed the reported death of Abdul-Ghani al-Kikli, also known as Ghaniwa, the head of the Stability Support Department, a paramilitary group affiliated with the Libyan Presidency Council. Local media reports indicated that al-Kikli was killed inside the headquarters of the 444 Brigade, a militant group under the Tripoli Military Zone. The exact reasons for his presence there remain unclear, with security sources unable to provide definitive answers about the circumstances leading to his death. As news of al-Kikli’s death spread, residents…

The 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum opened on Monday in Abidjan with a clear ambition: forge a new alliance between African governments and the private sector to drive economic transformation amid mounting global uncertainty. Held under the patronage of Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, the two-day summit brought together over 2,000 participants from more than 90 countries, including five African heads of state, several prime ministers, and over 900 CEOs. The event is co-organized by the Jeune Afrique Media Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). President Ouattara used the opening ceremony to urge leaders to seize the moment.…

At just 37 years old, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has emerged as one of Africa’s most polarizing figures—praised by some as a revolutionary leader, and criticized by others as a populist with authoritarian tendencies. Since leading a military coup in 2022, Traoré, now serving as Burkina Faso’s transitional president, has positioned himself as a vocal opponent of foreign interference, particularly from former colonial power France. His rhetoric, reminiscent of the late Thomas Sankara, has earned him growing support from disillusioned youth across Africa and sections of the diaspora. However, his administration faces ongoing scrutiny over its handling of security, human rights,…

Nigeria has marked its strongest economic growth in nearly a decade, with a notable performance in the fourth quarter of 2024. However, while fiscal improvements have bolstered growth, inflation remains a significant concern, according to the latest analysis by the World Bank. The country’s economy expanded by 4.6% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, driven by sweeping reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. These include the removal of costly fuel subsidies, reductions in electricity allowances, and the devaluation of the naira. While these reforms are seen as vital for long-term fiscal health, they have contributed to upward pressures on inflation,…

Tidjane Thiam, the prominent opposition leader in Ivory Coast, has announced his resignation as the head of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI), but emphasized that he remains committed to his bid for the presidency in 2025 despite facing legal challenges. The decision comes after a court in Abidjan ruled last month that Thiam was ineligible to run in the upcoming presidential elections. The court determined that the 62-year-old former banker lost his Ivorian nationality when he obtained French citizenship in 1987, a violation of the country’s electoral law, which prohibits dual citizenship for presidential candidates. Thiam’s disqualification was…

South African food giant Tiger Brands has taken a decisive step towards resolving a long-standing class action by offering compensation to victims of the deadly 2017 listeriosis outbreak, which claimed nearly 200 lives and left more than 1,000 people seriously ill. In a statement released Monday, the company confirmed that its lead insurer, QBE Insurance Group, tabled the compensation offer on 25 April 2025. The offer targets specific groups of claimants affected by the outbreak, which was linked to processed meat products manufactured by Enterprise Foods, a Tiger Brands subsidiary. According to the company, the proposed settlement covers full compensation…