Sudan’s army chief demands paramilitary forces’ withdrawal to achieve ceasefire KHARTOUM | Xinhua | Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council and General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, on Sunday said that stopping the war in Sudan would not be achieved except by withdrawal of the …
Read More »Centi-millionaires fuel luxury property enclaves in Africa’s major cities
From Cape Town to Nairobi, new elite property zones are emerging in Africa’s major cities as local centi-millionaires spread their economic footprint across the continent. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Affluent households are starting to make up a noticeable share of renters and buyers in major African cities, in …
Read More »Felix Tshisekedi re-elected president of DR Congo: electoral commission
KINSHASA, DRC | XINHUA | Felix Tshisekedi has been re-elected as president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for a second five-year term, securing 73.34 percent of the total votes cast in the elections held on Dec. 20, the Independent National Electoral Commission said Sunday. Moise Katumbi, one of …
Read More »Ongoing conflict ravages Sudan’s economy, society in 2023
KHARTOUM, SUDAN | Xinhua | As the Sudanese people expected to see an end to the years-long instability in 2023 to avoid an economic collapse in the country, Sudan slid into a deadly military conflict in April that has been ongoing till now. HEAVY TOLL ON CIVILIANS On April …
Read More »Natural gas-fueled four-wheelers are popping up across Africa
Natural gas-powered vehicles are becoming increasingly popular across Africa thanks to supportive policies, infrastructure development and heightened investor appeal. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Several African nations are taking advantage of their ample natural gas reserves to introduce gas-powered four-wheel vehicles to their roads. Nigeria, the African nation with …
Read More »Kenya gets into 2024 with government securities’ interest rates at historic high
NAIROBI, KENYA | Xinhua | Interest rates on Kenya’s government securities have closed 2023 at a historic high, putting the country in a tough position as it seeks to ramp up borrowing to fund a budget deficit. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) said in its data released Friday …
Read More »Maputo Port: A privatisation success story
Privatised 20 years ago, the Maputo Port’s success offers a model for African ports seeking efficiency and growth, with growth likely to continue, according to investors. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Two decades after Mozambique privatised its only international harbour, the Port of Maputo is recording remarkable progress, both …
Read More »UAE’s post-oil ambitions steer a multibillion-dollar push into African freight
Sheikdom ramps up multi-billion dollar investment in Africa’s freight industry, positioning itself as a logistics and trade behemoth in a post-fossil-fuel era. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | United Arab Emirates-based companies and funds are doubling down on a foray into Africa’s freight and logistics scene. Earlier this year, Emirati …
Read More »High inflation persists as Nigeria enters New Year
ABUJA, NIGERIA | Xinhua | Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, enters the New Year amid internal and external difficulties challenging its “Renewed Hope,” with President Bola Tinubu vowing to tame stubborn inflation. The country is battling its highest inflation rates in nearly two decades. The latest data, from the National Bureau …
Read More »Egypt seals 29 oil, gas deals in 2023
CAIRO, EGYPT | Xinhua | The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced on Thursday that 29 agreements with a total investment of about 1.2 billion U.S. dollars for oil and natural gas exploration in the country have been signed in 2023. The ministry said in a statement that …
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