(Posted 27th July 2022)
U.S.-AFRICA RELATIONS
U.S. Senator questions aid to Rwanda over human rights, role in Congo
Reuters
The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee said he would place a hold on U.S. security assistance to Rwanda in Congress over concerns about the Rwandan government’s human rights record and role in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo…. Read more>>
U.S. Embassy in Kenya addresses visa delay complaints
The Standard
The United States Embassy in Kenya says it has added staff members to help clear a backlog of visa applications, even as Kenyans continue to pile pressure on the consulate to address delays…. Read more>>
U.S. Embassies in Africa are Chronically Short-Staffed
Foreign Policy
U.S. embassies across Africa are facing chronic staffing shortages that are undercutting U.S. foreign-policy goals on the continent and sapping the morale of the diplomatic corps, according to interviews with multiple U.S. officials and regional experts…. Read more>>
New U.S. Ambassador to SA pledges to promote ‘Ubuntu diplomacy’
News 24
The US Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy has resolved that President Joe Biden’s nominee, Reuben E Brigety II, is the new ambassador to South Africa…. Read more>>
AGRIBUSINESS
East Africa bloc says 50 million face acute food insecurity
AP News
More than 50 million people across the East African region are expected to face acute food insecurity this year, a regional bloc said Friday, warning that some 300,000 in Somalia and South Sudan are projected to be under full-blown famine conditions… Read more>>
USAID promises $1.3 billion to help the Horn of Africa hit by severe drought
Africa News
The Horn of Africa is facing its worst drought in over 40 years, as a result, 18 million people in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya are going hungry, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development…. Read more>>
ENERGY
S. Africa Unshackles Private Sector in Bid to End Blackouts
Bloomberg
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa turned to the private sector in a bid to end a 14-year-old power crisis that the government has failed to resolve…. Read more>>
HEALTH
Africa’s top public health body gets $100 million from World Bank
Reuters
Africa’s main public health body, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), will receive $100 million from the World Bank to help African countries prepare for, detect and respond to disease outbreaks…. Read more>>
‘Historic’ drought threatens widespread starvation and death in Somalia
ITV News
Hospitals are seeing hundreds of malnourished children every day – and the country is on the edge of a famine… Read more>>
Monkeypox Proves Elusive Foe as WHO Sounds Alarm on Global Spread
BNN Bloomberg
The Covid-19 outbreak forced governments around the world to revamp their pandemic response programs, invest in drugs and vaccines and establish viral surveillance systems. Now monkeypox is putting those upgrades to the test — and they’re falling short…. Read more>>
INFRASTRUCTURE
Africa’s chief executives focus on Francophone markets
Mail & Guardian
Out of a list of the 10 most attractive investment destinations on the continent, six are Francophone countries, according to the Africa’s CEO Forum 2022 survey by audit firm, Deloitte…. Read more>>
East Africa Financing Deals Mark Time Awaiting Kenyan Election
Bloomberg
Private equity and venture capital deals as well as development finance, mergers and acquisitions and commercial debt in East Africa will jump after the successful conclusion of next month’s national elections in the region’s largest economy, Kenya… Read more>>
Zimbabwe launches gold coins to tackle soaring inflation
BBC News
Zimbabwe’s central bank has launched gold coins in an effort to help curb soaring inflation amid a slump in the country’s currency…. Read more>>
ICT
Cryptocurrencies are gaining ground across Africa. That’s both good news and bad
The Conversation
Cryptocurrencies have become popular in African and other developing countries. That’s according to a policy brief released recently by UNCTAD, a United Nations agency… Read more>>
TOURISM
Rwanda: How Tourism is getting back on track
The Africa Report
“This year is the year”. Having successfully rebounded, the Rwandan government is showing off its ambitions in tourism: new air routes, prestigious hotel brands in the pipeline and a goal of “generating $342m in tourism revenue by 2022”, says Zephanie Niyonkuru, deputy director-general of the Rwanda Development Board…Read more>>
