Congolese resources can propel country out of poverty

Congolese resources can propel country out of poverty

On the sidelines of the first-ever Kinshasa Economic Forum in March, the EU launched an initial mobilization of €50 million into the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) critical minerals sector. The investment underlines just how important Congolese resources are to the rest of the world, with the country home to…

China reaffirms economic commitment to Africa

China reaffirms economic commitment to Africa

China reaffirmed its commitment to the African continent on Monday, with foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin citing an increase in direct investment, and advances in medicine and other sectors. “Over the past 20 years, the flow of China’s direct investment in Africa has been growing by more than 25 percent…

In Mozambique, U.S. announces new African business council members

Officials in the United States have announced the 26 new members of the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA), which will serve the council’s third term through 2021. The appointments were announced by U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Karen Dunn Kelley, left, during a U.S.-Africa Business…

In the UK, Togo’s Gnassingbé makes case for investment

President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo was joined by former British prime minister Tony Blair on Thursday to talk economic development at the Togo-UK Investment Summit in London. Gnassingbé made his pitch to investors while announcing a new deal for a logistics hub in Lomé, after meeting with CEO Geoffrey White…

Germany agrees it’s ‘the right time’ to be in Ethiopia

In Addis Ababa, President Sahle-Work Zewde met with his German counterpart Monday, and told President Frank-Walter Steinmeier that it was the right time for his nation to come to Ethiopia. That seemed evident when Steinmeier also participated in signing ceremonies with Volkswagen, as the German automaker announced an assembly plant…

China responds to Kagame remarks on Africa engagement

Rwandan President Paul Kagame, current head of the African Union, has blamed Europe for the Mediterranean migrant crisis while discussing China’s engagement with Africa, all in an interview with Austrian media outlet that caught the attention of Beijing on Tuesday. Kagame sat for the interview with Die Presse while attending…

The U.S. may wish otherwise, but what if Africa has chosen China?

China wasted no time in responding to accusations by top United States official John Bolton’s claim that its dealings with Africa are corrupt and predatory. It’s an oft-repeated charge, as the U.S. appears to realize too late that Beijing has spent decades courting the continent while Washington was, by and…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

The future of Angola’s infrastructure development

By Zandre Campos As Angola seeks to diversify its economy, one of the key sectors that continues to grow is infrastructure development. The country has continued to strengthen its mutually beneficial relationships with allies, particularly China, which has invested in Angola’s infrastructure since the two countries established diplomatic relations in…

African leaders welcome Bolsonaro, but concerns over the ‘new’ Brazil

Among the first heads of state to congratulate Brazil’s president-elect Jair Bolsonaro on Monday was President João Lourenço of Angola, leader of one of the six Lusophone nations in Africa that share membership in the Portuguese-speaking community (CPLP) and its most influential. Lourenço said he hopes the Bolsonaro victory will…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Ramaphosa welcomes India’s Modi as BRICS gets under way

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India has arrived for the BRICS Summit in South Africa, where he was greeted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Modi arrived in Johannesburg after a two-day visit in Uganda, where he met with President Yoweri Museveni, and a stop in Rwanda for talks with…

Report finds African energy investment is financing fossil fuels

The African continent is attracting some USD$20 billion in energy investment from government-backed development institutions across the world each year – but far too much of it promotes fossil fuels rather than the shift to renewable energy. That’s according to a new analysis from Oil Change International, an advocacy organization based in…

India, with an eye toward Africa

Sushma Swaraj of India is one of five foreign ministers meeting in Pretoria this week as the BRICS ministers convene ahead of the full summit in Johannesburg in July. On her way to the meeting, she stopped in Mauritius to visit Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, affirming their close cultural…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

UK announces USD$100 million in Zimbabwe development loans

The UK’s development finance institution, CDC, and Standard Chartered Bank today announced an up to USD$100 million in investment funding to grow businesses in Zimbabwe – a move that heralds a new start for the country as the UK has long withheld support while awaiting economic and social reforms. The…