An overview of elections in Africa this year
Africa is set to host two dozen national elections in 2019. This reflects a now established norm of elections as the recognized means for selecting African leaders. The quality of these elections continues to vary widely, however, with some merely serving as a perfunctory ritual by which leaders maintain their claim on power. Nonetheless, a […]
Full text of President Weah’s annual message
On Monday, January 28, Liberian President George Weah delivered his first annual State of the Nation Addresss in Monrovia, the Liberia capital. Below is the full text: Six days ago, through the Grace of the Almighty God, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) was blessed to celebrate our first anniversary as an incumbent political party. […]
Culture Minister Lind opens Gothenburg Film Festival
On Friday, January 25, Sweden’s Minister for Culture and Democracy Amanda Lind opened the Gothenburg Film Festival: Film-lovers, My name is Amanda Lind and this is my first speech since being appointed Minister for Culture and Democracy last Monday. Thank you for the invitation – I’m very happy to be here in Gothenburg and celebrate […]
Nordic investors visit Tanzania
Norwegian ambassador to Tanzania Elisabeth Jacobsen and the embassy staff last Tuesday met with investors from Norway and Sweden who travelled to the East African country under the auspices of MTI Investments. MTI Investment is an East African/Nordic Investment Company. They use their university-based approach to make micro-investments in businesses and utilize their academically based […]
Weah: Free speech, press freedom critical to peace
Liberian President George Weah has avowed his government’s continued commitment to the sustenance of peace, free speech and media freedom. He indicated that the enjoyment of press freedom and free speech by Liberians and those within the borders of Liberia is critical to lasting peace and development. The Liberian Leader made the remarks Tuesday, January […]
Fake medicines are a threat to Africa
Substandard and fake medicines pose a significant threat to Africa. These products contribute to the global threat of drug-resistant illness and undermine Africa’s ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They often have a tragic impact on individuals in need of effective antimalarials, antibiotics and other medicines. The European Union-funded ENACT project’s research findings […]
Speech: Swedish PM Löfven presents government policy
On Monday, January 21, Sweden’s re-elected Prime Minister Stefan Löfven presented his government’s statement of policy to the Riksdag (Parliament): Mr Speaker, Honourable Members of the Swedish Riksdag, All around Europe, extreme right-wing movements are spreading. In several countries, forces with an antidemocratic agenda have made it all the way to government. But in Sweden […]
Liberian mining agreement: The case of Hummingbird Resources
The National Investment Commission (NIC) has announced that the Liberian government and the Hummingbird Resources Inc have signed a gold-mineral development concession worth over US$ 250 Million. The agreement between the government and Hummingbird was negotiated and signed but very little was known about the contents of these negotiations, and actual terms of the agreements, due to opaque processes, […]
Transnational crime converging across Africa
An INTERPOL report has found crimes are increasingly converging across Africa, underlining how transnational threats cannot be treated in isolation. Published under the framework of the ENACT project, which aims to enhance Africa’s response to transnational organised crime, the report consists of a continental and five regional overviews which highlight the relationships between different types […]
Liberia gets $25m World Bank credit for agriculture project
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit of $25 million for the Smallholder Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness Revitalization Project (STAR-P) of Liberia. This project will increase agricultural productivity and commercialization of smallholder farmers for selected value chains in Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Lofa, Nimba and Margibi counties. […]
