Author: WAJ Editor

Botswana has officially lifted its ban on vegetable imports from South Africa, allowing products that are not available locally to return to supermarket shelves. The ban, which was imposed in 2022, was aimed at reviving Botswana’s agricultural sector and reducing reliance on imported goods. However, the government launched a two-stage process to reverse the policy in December 2024, with the second stage scheduled to come into effect in April. The decision has been welcomed by trade advocates as a positive step towards strengthening economic ties within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and…

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has announced the cancellation of more than 170 advertised job vacancies due to economic constraints. In a public notice issued on Tuesday, March 4, the JSC, chaired by Chief Justice Martha Koome, cited fiscal challenges as the primary reason for the decision. The affected positions, which had been advertised in March and November 2024, included legal researchers, diploma and graduate internships in various fields such as architecture, electrical and mechanical engineering, and ICT application development. JSC Secretary Winfridah Mokaya expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to applicants and the public. This cancellation follows a similar…

Uganda has signed its first-ever mining production sharing agreement (PSA) to restart operations at the Kilembe copper and cobalt mine in the country’s western region, near the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border. The deal, announced on Monday, marks a major step in revitalizing the long-dormant mine. Energy and Mineral Development Minister Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu revealed that Ugandan firms Sarrai Group Limited and Nile Fibreboard Limited will jointly oversee the redevelopment. While she did not disclose the investment amount, she emphasized the project’s significance in advancing Uganda’s industrial sector and supporting the global transition to clean energy. Government geologists estimate…

Rwanda plans to set aside 8,000 hectares of land for sugarcane cultivation as part of efforts to increase local sugar production and reduce import dependency. The government aims to attract at least $50 million in private investment to increase processing capacity and strengthen the sector. Minister of Trade and Industry Prudence Sebahizi acknowledged that Rwanda’s land constraints make it difficult to achieve full self-sufficiency in sugar production. However, the government is focusing on increasing productivity through high-yielding sugarcane varieties, efficient irrigation and better farm management. To balance affordability with local industry protection, Rwanda is implementing the East African Community (EAC)…

Libya has announced its first bidding round for oil exploration in over 17 years, marking a significant step in revitalizing its energy sector. Masoud Suleman, the acting Chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), made the announcement in a televised address on Monday. As Africa’s second-largest oil producer and a member of OPEC, Libya has struggled with political instability since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Ongoing conflicts between rival factions have frequently disrupted oil production, deterring foreign investment. In August 2024, Libya’s oil output was cut by more than half—around 700,000 barrels per day—due to political tensions surrounding…

Ghana’s newly appointed central bank governor Johnson Asiama has suspended the country’s gold-for-oil program amid the cedi’s increasing stability and commitment to sound monetary policies. In an interview, Asiama expressed confidence in Ghana’s economic trajectory under President John Mahama. He stressed that maintaining appropriate monetary policy and fiscal discipline would help maintain stability in the foreign exchange market. Ghana’s interest rate currently stands at 27%, with inflation down to 23.5% as of January. Asiama believes that better coordination between monetary and fiscal policies could further reduce inflationary pressures and enable the country to avoid a 2022 debt default. Ghana, Africa’s…

A new analysis provides a comparative perspective on the economic performance of Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia with the European Union (EU), highlighting key trade dynamics between the regions. According to the report, Morocco and Egypt’s GDP growth rates have slowed from 2023 levels, remaining at 2.8% and 2.7% respectively. In contrast, Tunisia and the EU saw slight improvements in their economic growth, reaching 1.6% and 1.1%, but both remain below the 2% threshold. Egypt has faced significant economic challenges over the past two years, with inflation expected to rise to 33.3% in 2024 and its currency experiencing volatility. Despite this,…

Amid a global coffee crisis fueled by climate change, South Sudan is turning to a hardy coffee variety discovered in the region more than a century ago, Excelsa. The hardy variety is gaining traction as coffee-producing countries face dwindling yields due to unpredictable weather and rising prices. Experts say major coffee producers such as Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer, are expected to see a 12% drop in their harvest this year due to ongoing droughts. Aaron Davis, head of coffee research at the Royal Botanic Gardens in London, said many coffee farmers are facing challenges directly linked to climate…

Titi Ogufere, founder of Design Week Lagos Exhibition, stressed that Nigeria’s creative and manufacturing industries have significant potential to attract investment and reshape the country’s economic future. Speaking at the exhibition in Lagos, themed “Building a Made in Nigeria Brand”, Ogufere highlighted the vast talent in sectors such as furniture design, product design, toy design and doll making, demonstrating the untapped potential of local creative skills. “Our country is brimming with creative talent and through this exhibition, we want to showcase innovative work being done in these sectors that often go unnoticed,” she said. Ogufere drew comparisons between Nigerian industries…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the keynote address at the Microsoft South Africa investment announcement to be held in Johannesburg on March 6. According to the Presidency, the investment is expected to strengthen South Africa’s position as a leading hub for artificial intelligence (AI) on the African continent. The announcement comes in preparation for the South Africa Investment Conference scheduled for later this month. South Africa has secured R1.14 trillion in investment commitments across sectors including mining, manufacturing, agriculture, energy and the digital economy since the conference began in 2018. Microsoft’s investment aligns with the government’s broader goals…

One of The Gambia’s most valuable nature reserves, Bijilo Forest Park is a vital sanctuary for a variety of wildlife and a major ecotourism destination. Covering an area of ​​51 hectares (126 acres), the park is known for its thriving monkey population, including green monkeys, patas monkeys and the rare red colobus monkey. It also provides a habitat for over 100 species of birds, a variety of reptiles and a wide variety of butterflies, contributing to its rich biodiversity. Visitors to Bijilo Forest Park can explore its dense forests and open savannas via well-maintained hiking trails that provide close encounters…

Kenya has taken a significant step in restoring the country’s wildlife heritage by successfully repatriating 17 critically endangered mountain bongos from the United States. The striped antelope, native to Kenya’s mountain forests, has seen its population dwindle to less than 100 individuals due to habitat destruction, poaching and disease. The bongos were part of a conservation breeding program in Florida, where their ancestors were taken during the 1960s when African wildlife was being widely cleared. Experts say their return is both a conservation victory and a correction of past exploitation. Kenyan authorities, including the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Ministry…

Ghana and Rwanda have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide a license passport framework and cross-border payment interoperability aimed at facilitating fintech operations between the two countries. The agreement, signed by the Bank of Ghana and the National Bank of Rwanda, will allow regulated fintech firms licensed in both countries to expand their services with minimal additional regulatory requirements. The initiative is expected to spur growth in the financial technology sector and enhance cross-border digital transactions. Furthermore, the MoU reinforces Ghana’s commitment to fostering an integrated African market, encouraging fintech investment and supporting the growth of small and…

Nigeria is set to host the first African Raw Materials Summit in Abuja, a major event aimed at promoting economic diversification and industrial growth across the continent. Announcing the summit at a preliminary briefing in Abuja, the Director General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Professor Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, highlighted its importance in addressing Africa’s resource management challenges. Themed “Shaping the Future of Africa’s Resource Landscape”, the summit will focus on leveraging the continent’s abundant raw materials for sustainable industrialization, economic expansion and global competitiveness. Professor Ike-Muonso stressed that Africa, despite being home to a significant portion…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency of Nigeria (NDLEA) has arrested a 42-year-old Angolan businessman, Mbala Abuba, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) for attempting to smuggle 120 wraps of drugs to Istanbul, Türkiye. According to a statement by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Abuba, who hails from Zaire province, Angola, was apprehended on Tuesday, February 25, at the airport’s screening point while trying to board Egypt Air flight MS 880 to Istanbul via Cairo. A body scan confirmed that he had ingested illicit cocaine. Following his arrest, Abuba was placed under observation and later…

Malawi has revised its 2025 economic growth forecast downward as inflation concerns spark protests across major cities. Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda announced in the annual budget that the economy is now expected to grow by 3.2% this year, down from the 4.0% projection made in December. Last year’s growth stood at 1.8%, impacted by a severe drought that reduced agricultural output, the backbone of Malawi’s economy. The country is grappling with high inflation, recorded at 28.5% in January, driven by foreign exchange shortages that have disrupted imports of essential goods like fuel and fertilizer. A black market for foreign…