Africa

Botswana and South African diamond giant De Beers have finalized a new 10-year sales agreement after prolonged negotiations that began in 2019. Under the deal, Botswana’s government will initially be permitted to sell 30% of the rough diamonds mined through their joint venture, increasing to 50% by 2035. This arrangement is expected to help reverse […]

The abrupt halt initiated by the Trump administration of US foreign aid risks jeopardizing the lives of millions in low-income countries where up to 60% of health budgets depend on such funding. Gregory Rockson, the co-founder and CEO of mPharma, argues that while there is a humanitarian imperative to protect these lives, the current model

Paul Kagame, the president of Rwanda and commander in chief of the nation’s armed forces, has claimed that he does not know whether Rwandan troops are present in eastern DRC following recent clashes between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese armed forces that killed over 900 people. Despite mounting evidence and international reports suggesting

South Africa’s newly passed Expropriation Act 13 of 2024 replaces the apartheid-era law to align property acquisition with constitutional principles. The act details procedures for expropriation, outlines compensation guidelines, and introduces a controversial “nil compensation” clause applicable only to land expropriated in the public interest. A law professor and scholar, who recently edited a book

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has unveiled a proposal for a new “gold standard” currency arrangement that would be backed by Africa’s critical minerals—such as cobalt, copper, lithium, and manganese. The AfDB notes that although Africa holds about 30% of the world’s reserves of critical minerals, it attracts only a small fraction of global energy

The Congo River Alliance, a coalition of rebel groups including the Rwanda-backed M23, has declared a unilateral ceasefire in eastern DR Congo for humanitarian reasons, effective Tuesday. The ceasefire comes in the wake of intense fighting in Goma—Congo’s largest eastern city—where at least 900 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced. Although M23

The National Tripartite Committee has begun negotiations to determine the 2025 minimum wage and the base pay for the 2025. The Committee, which includes employers, organised labour and government representatives, is expected to conclude discussions by the end of April, in line with the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act. A statement signed by the Acting

The Briefing on Humanitarian Health Facility Electrification, led by the Global Platform for Action (GPA) on Sustainable Energy in Displacement Settings with the support of NORCAP, defines the humanitarian healthcare electrification gap and explores its root causes.  Key challenges include: Short-term humanitarian budget cycles Limited financial and management capacity among government partners Difficulty in operationalising

An estimated 135 000 women could lose their lives to breast cancer by 2040 in sub-Saharan Africa if urgent actions are not taken to reverse the trends, a new World Health Organization (WHO) report finds. The WHO study assessed breast cancer control capacities in 42 of the 47 countries within the African region, focusing on

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established an audiovisual production studio within the National Center for Children and Youth Informatics, operating under the Tunisian Ministry of Family, Women, Children and the Elderly. Founded in 1996, the National Center for Children and Youth Informatics has branches in 24 provinces and serves 1,500 students annually. As part of