Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered police to tighten border security to control tobacco smugglers who sell the crop to neighbouring countries for better prices. However, analysts and some farmers say tobacco smuggling would only stop if buyers offered competitive prices to farmers. Tobacco is the main cash crop and major foreign exchange earner in Malawi. Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture show that the crop, also known in Malawi as “green gold,” contributes about 60% to the country’s foreign exchange basket. It also contributes about 13% to the country’s gross domestic p ..read more

The vassalization of Tunisia by Algeria continues to draw criticism among the Tunisian political class. Recently Neji Jelloul, a political party leader, called on Tunisian authorities to safeguard the country’s sovereignty by returning to positive neutrality in the Algeria-instigated conflict over the Sahara territory. Tunisia, under President Kais Saied, irked Morocco when it rolled the red carpet to the head of the Polisario self-proclaimed republic during a Japan-Africa summit in the summer of 2022. Morocco recalled its ambassador from Tunis, while the latter doubled down on its provocation ..read more

Namibia aims to become a member of OPEC as it anticipates a surge in large-scale oil production. The southern African nation is gearing up to potentially rank as the continent’s fourth-largest oil producer by the next decade. Namibia’s Petroleum Commissioner, Maggy Shino, mentioned last year that if the exploitation of its substantial offshore oil and gas discoveries progresses as intended, the country could emerge as a notable oil producer. Shino highlighted the value that an organization like OPEC brings in ensuring controlled and sustainable management of market dynamics. Namibia, with sign ..read more

France is gradually tilting towards an outright recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara territory where it said Paris is ready to back Morocco’s investments. The position to back Morocco’s economic projects in the Sahara was first expressed by French foreign minister Stephane Séjourné in February and reiterated this month by French minister in charge of foreign trade, Franck Riester. Proparco, an offshoot of a French development agency backing the private sector, “would contribute to financing a high voltage link between Dakhla and Casablanca, a strategic project for the Kingdom ..read more

Madrid Chamber of Commerce holds business forum on investment opportunities in the Dakhla region on Tuesday, April 16. The forum will concentrate on sectors like the port industry, tourism, and aquaculture. Its objective is to encourage Spanish companies to invest in the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab area, in collaboration with the Moroccan Embassy in Spain. The announcement of the economic forum has sparked controversy with the Polisario separatist front. The separatist representative in Madrid has called for the forum’s cancellation, claiming it aligns with Moroccan interests in the Sahara and violate ..read more

Nigeria’s real estate sector, a key player in the country’s economy, holds significant potential but faces enduring challenges hindering its growth. With technological advancements on the horizon, there is an opportunity for a transformative change. Recent data indicates a market set for substantial expansion, with Nigeria’s real estate industry expected to grow by 10% in the next decade, amounting to billions in value. However, approximately 30% of transactions in this sector are plagued by fraud and inefficiencies, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions. Blockchain technology ..read more

President Bola Tinubu has announced that his administration is diligently working to reduce Nigeria’s inflation rate to a manageable level. He reassured Nigerians that the economy is progressing towards sustainable growth and prosperity nationwide. Speaking at an event in Abuja, President Tinubu highlighted the government’s efforts to address inflation and stabilize the exchange rate. He also emphasized the importance of education in fighting poverty, citing the recent enactment of the Student Loans Re-enactment Bill as a step towards a brighter future for Nigerian children. President Tinubu e ..read more

Google has taken legal action against two Chinese nationals in the Southern District of New York for allegedly orchestrating a cryptocurrency scam through the Google Play store, resulting in the deception of over 100,000 users worldwide. The lawsuit claims that Yunfeng Sun and Hongnam Cheung have been operating this fraudulent scheme since at least 2019, utilizing false information to upload their deceitful apps on Google Play. The general counsel at Google, Halimah DeLaine Prado, emphasized the significance of combatting such illicit activities and protecting users from crypto fraud, noting t ..read more

If you are a real estate investor and looking to enter the South African market, these top 7 highly rated real estate agents in South Africa could be your first stop: Jawitz Properties Founded in 1969, Jawitz Properties is one of the top real estate agents in South Africa with an outstanding reputation and has as its cornerstone the excellence of its people. Around the world, the finest real estate firms are united under the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® banner, forming a global network that more people rely upon to buy and sell homes than any other real estate organization. As o ..read more

The World Bank Board of Directors has approved an additional $40 million in IDA* grants to the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR** Climate Research for Africa project (AICCRA), a significant step towards advancing climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies and addressing critical gaps in climate resilience and food security in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, and Zambia. The new financing, allocated to CGIAR centres through the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), will facilitate the validation and dissemination of CSA technologies and methods in the beneficiary countries ..read more