NEWS - The African Mirror

Oct

19

2023

Tunisia president sacks the economy minister over statement about IMF

NEWS

TUNISIAN President Kais Saied has sacked Economy Minister Samir Saied after fresh statements that a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would be vital for obtaining other foreign financing. The president strongly opposes what he described as the dictates of the IMF, saying that the IMF is "not sacred" and its conditions will lead to protests. The minister told TAP state news agency on Tuesday that "lenders are wondering about Tunisia's talks with the IMF." adding that "any deal would give a strong signal to the rest of the financiers." Tunisia last year reached a staff-level deal with the…

Oct

19

2023

By The African Mirror

Guinea-Bissau capital in darkness after Turkish firm cuts power supply

NEWS

GUINEA-BISSAU'S capital was plunged into darkness after Turkish company Karpowership cut off electricity supplies to the West African nation due to an unpaid debt of $17 million, the economy minister said. Minister Suleimane Seidi said arrangements were underway to pay $15 million of arrears owed by the Electricity and Water Company of Guinea-Bissau and promised the issue would be resolved within 15 days. Karpowership, one of the world's largest operators of floating power plants and part of the Karadeniz Energy Group, has been supplying 100% of Guinea-Bissau's electricity needs since signing a deal in 2019, according to its website. "Karpower…

Oct

18

2023

By The African Mirror

South Africa to probe Meta, Google competition with news publishers

NEWS

SOUTH Africa's Competition Commission will investigate whether digital platforms like Meta and Google were unfairly competing with news publishers by using their content to generate ad revenue, it said. The Commission will be investigating among other things market features that may distort competition for advertising revenue between news media organisations and digital platforms, and whether these are affected by imbalances in bargaining power. "The inquiry comes at a critical moment for the media industry as news consumption rapidly shifts online and traditional sources of funding to print and broadcast advertising decline," Commissioner Doris Tshepe told journalists. Chief Economist and Acting Deputy Commissioner…

Oct

18

2023

By CAMILLUS EBOH

Nigeria to require mining firms to invest in domestic processing

NEWS

NIGERIA is toughening up licensing rules for foreign mining companies to push them to boost the processing and refining of metals like lithium and zinc within the country, its minister of mines said. The policy announced by Dele Alake at a Nigeria Mining Week event in the capital Abuja will require mining companies to show business plans for so-called "value addition" before they are granted licences. Alake said that the move is essential to help create jobs. "I am glad to mention that such an initiative is already on stream as some companies have already commenced operations in Nigeria," he…

Oct

18

2023

By The African Mirror

Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone signs energy deals worth up to $14.75 bln

NEWS

EGYPT'S Suez Canal Economic Zone has signed a deal worth $6.75 billion with China Energy for green ammonia and green hydrogen projects to be established in the Sokhna Industrial Zone, a cabinet statement said on Tuesday. It also signed a deal with Hong Kong-listed United Energy Group to establish a potassium chloride production complex with an expected investment of up to $8 billion, the statement said.

Oct

17

2023

By YUSRI MOHAMED, NADINE AWADALLA and TALA RAMADAN

Gaza aid stuck as Egypt says Israel not cooperating

NEWS

EGYPT said that Israel was not cooperating with the delivery of aid into Gaza and evacuations of foreign passport holders via the only entry it does not wholly control, leaving hundreds of tonnes of supplies stuck. Cairo says the Rafah crossing, a potentially vital opening for desperately needed supplies into the Israeli-besieged Palestinian enclave, is not officially closed but is inoperable due to Israeli air strikes on the Gaza side. As Israel's bombardment and siege of Gaza has intensified, the territory's 2.3 million residents have been left without power, pushing health and water services to the brink of collapse, with fuel…

Oct

17

2023

By The African Mirror

Mauritius is the latest nation to decriminalise same-sex relations in a divided continent

NEWS

THE Mauritius Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional a law that criminalises consensual same-sex acts between adult men. The decision boosts the trend in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region towards decriminalisation. Now, a slight majority – nine out of 16 member states – do not prohibit gay and lesbian sexual relations. I have researched and taught human rights law in Africa, including the rights of sexual minorities, for over three decades, and closely follow the work of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. FRANS VILJOEN, Director and Professor of International Human Rights Law, Centre for Human Rights,…

Oct

17

2023

By The African Mirror

South Africa recalls U.N. peacekeepers accused of sexual misconduct in Congo

NEWS

THE South African National Defence Force has recalled eight U.N. peacekeepers deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo following allegations of sexual misconduct against them, it said on Sunday. The soldiers were part of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo, known as MONUSCO, and sources first told Reuters about the alleged abuses last week. In a statement released on Sunday, the SANDF said it was "unfortunate" that South Africa first learned about the allegations in the media, and that proper reporting procedures were not followed. "Due to the serious nature of the allegations, the SANDF took a decision to recall the…

Oct

17

2023

By The African Mirror

President Weah, opposition leader Boakai nearly tied in Liberia presidential race

NEWS

LIBERIA'S President George Weah and opposition leader Joseph Boakai are nearly tied in the race for the presidency following an October 10 election, provisional results published by the West African nation's election commission showed on Sunday. Weah holds a slim lead at 43.80% of the vote, while Boakai has 43.54%, according to tallied results from 72.92% of polling places, the commission said. To avoid a runoff, the winner must secure more than 50% of the votes cast. Liberia's opposition Unity Party leader Joseph Boakai casts his vote during the presidential elections in Monrovia, Liberia October 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer

Oct

18

2023

By NQOBILE DLUDLA

Amazon to launch online shopping service in South Africa in 2024

NEWS

AMAZON said that it would launch its online shopping service in South Africa next year, making it only the second African country after Egypt where the U.S. e-commerce giant has set up a locally dedicated website. South Africa will be Amazon's 21st country with a local domain name-based website, challenging a slew of online retailers dominated mainly by Naspers' Takealot.com. "The launch of Amazon.co.za in 2024 will provide independent sellers throughout the country an opportunity to rapidly launch, grow, and scale their businesses," Amazon said in a statement. Africa's most advanced economy is usually seen as a beachhead for companies to expand…