ECOWAS parliament holds session in Nigeria

The 4th Legislature of the parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the weekend convened its first extraordinary session for the year in Abuja, the Nigeria capital. Both the speaker of the parliament and president of the ECOWAS Commission separately paid glowing tributes to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, chairperson of the […]

Nine African films at Berlin international festival

Nine African films will be screened at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival  which runs until 19 February in the German capital. Vaya, a South African film directed by the Nigerian Akin Omotosho; Cahier Africain, a Swiss-German production that documents the suffering of 300 Central Africans in the hands of Congolese mercenaries between October 2002 and March […]

US: Liberian arrested for lying in warlord’s case

  Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced this week that Liberian national Isaac Kannah, 51, of Philadelphia, PA, who was charged in an October 2012 indictment with perjury and obstruction of justice, was arrested on January 10, 2017, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents in Philadelphia.    The charges carry […]

OECD praises Swedish economy

  The Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Angel Gurria has today presented the organisation’s report on Sweden’s economic situation with a special focus is on equality and gender equality.   The OECD also expresses clear support for the government’s fiscal policy. This report is part of the OECD’s regular review of […]

Facebook rallies African partners for safer internet

Today is Safer Internet Day (SID) and Facebook has launched a series of initiatives to help make the Internet a safer and better place for people across Africa, especially children and the youth. Facebook is partnering with public sector agencies and non-governmental organisations from across Africa under the rallying call “Be the change: unite for a better Internet”. […]

Kenya to host international investment forum

The Pan-African meeting of SMEs managers, entrepreneurs, investors and government representatives convened by EMRC, will take place from 13-16 February in Nairobi, Kenya. The conference will focus on entrepreneurship and innovation and access to finance in key sectors such as energy, water, ICT, health and agriculture. Highlights of the AFIF 2017 official agenda:  2-day training “Scaling an Entrepreneurial Venture” […]

EU has faulty Niger migrants transit numbers

The European Union has been touting a faulty figure for migration reduction through key transit country Niger as it looks to expand a policy of giving more development aid to African nations if they crack down on people smuggling and migrants, IRIN can exclusively reveal. When the International Organization for Migration (IOM) released figures in early […]

Global tourism body condemns US travel ban

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, has expressed deep concern and strong condemnation over the recently announced travel ban by the United States of America (USA) to nationals of seven countries (Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen). The travel ban, based on nationality, is contrary to the principles […]

Kenyan exporter nominated for African award

  EuroFresh Exotics has been nominated for the AFIF Entrepreneurship Award 2017, for their production and exportation of fresh fruits and vegetables using innovative farming techniques.   EuroFresh was created in 2012 by Ms. Lydia Wambui, who will defend her project during the Africa Finance & Investment Forum 2017 (13-16 February), in front of an […]

Some key considerations in the new Gambia

It finally became clear on January 21, 2017, that Yahya Jammeh, the long-serving autocratic president of The Gambia would step down and leave the country. The road to this point was a twisty one; writes Niklas Hultin. Jammeh had lost the December 1, 2016, election to Adama Barrow (who represented a coalition of opposition parties). […]