ECOWAS discusses free trade in Africa
The Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission continued its consultations with State and Non-State Actors on the formulation of the ECOWAS Regional Implementation Strategy for the Agreement of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on 22 March. With a view to ensuring that that the AfCFTA outcomes are consistent with regional advancements […]
Ukraine war leads to rise in food prices worldwide
As the war continues to rage in Ukraine, impacts of rising food prices and shortages of staple crops are already being felt in the Near East and North Africa region and spreading to the world’s most vulnerable countries, including in the Horn of Africa, with poorest people at greatest risk, warned the UN’s International Fund […]
Global arms trade falls slightly
International transfers of major arms saw a slight drop between 2012–16 and 2017–21 (–4.6 per cent). Nevertheless, exports by the United States and France increased substantially, as did imports to states in Europe (+19 per cent), East Asia (+20 per cent) and Oceania (+59 per cent). Transfers to the Middle East remained high, while those to […]
Liberian Vice President talks tourism in Belize
Liberia’s vice president has called for economic cooperation between Liberia and Belize in the tourism Industry. Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor made the call when she paid a courtesy visit on the Prime Minister of Belize John Briceno on Friday She commended the leadership of Belize for maximizing its potential in the tourism sector. She also […]
Ukraine: Liberia moves to ensure its citizens’ safety
Liberia is engaging in frantic diplomatic efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens in Ukraine, including about 200 students. The Liberian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has requested Ukraine’s neighbors, Poland and Hungary, to grant safe passage and humanitarian assistance to Liberians who reach their respective borders fleeing the Ukraine-Russia […]
IFAD: A call for solutions to address rural poverty
World leaders recently called for urgent and innovative investments to help rural communities in the world’s poorest countries adapt to climate change. Speaking in Rome, Italy at the opening of the annual Governing Council meeting attended by 177 Member States of the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), leaders specifically highlighted the vulnerability of […]
Agreement to promote free movement of goods in Africa
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was last week signed between the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the World Customs Organisation (WCO), aimed at operationalizing the tariff schedules and ensuring additional free and efficient movement of goods in Africa. The MoU was signed in Brussels, Belgium by Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA […]
Sweden: Foreign policy statement for 2022
Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde on Wednesday, February 16 presented the country’s 2022 Statement of Foreign Policy in the parliament, Riksdag. Below is the full text: Mr Speaker, Our security situation is serious. Russia’s increasingly confrontational rhetoric and military activities, both visible and covert, are unacceptable. The heightened Russian military presence at Ukraine’s […]
Why Africa needs to develop its own financing structures
Africa’s vast oil and natural gas resources represent a critical solution to the continent’s energy crisis and its unprecedented degree of energy poverty. With a population of over 600 million living without access to reliable electricity, and as global pressures increase to transition to cleaner energy sources, fossil fuel financing restrictions hinder the development of […]
Sweden lifts ban on entry from EU/EEA countries
The Swedish Government decided on Monday to lift the entry ban to Sweden from the Nordic countries and other European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries. The decision, which comes into effect on Wednesday, February 9, was made at an extraordinary government meeting. As part of the continuing work to phase out the […]
