Ethiopian PM wins Houphouet-Boigny Prize
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali has been named as laureate of the 2019 Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize for his actions and, in particular, for having been the instigator of a peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The jury also recognized Ali’s worthiness for the reforms undertaken to consolidate democracy and social cohesion. Finally, the jury considered […]
President Weah commits to dialogue for peace, stability
Liberian President George Manneh Weah has said that he will continue to ensure regular dialogue and consultation with every Liberian, irrespective of political and ethnic affiliations. In a meeting with the country’s former Vice President Joseph Boakai on Wednesday, President Weah noted that this approach would be the hallmark of his administration towards moving the country […]
Green energy central to sustainable development
For many African governments facing numerous challenges, green energy solutions may not be at the top of their priority list. However, without a focus on clean energy the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals will be difficult to achieve in African countries, according to Sweden-based Nordic Africa Institute guest researcher Opeyemi Esther Akinyemi. Many sub-Saharan African countries […]
Global military spending grows to $1.8 trillion
Total global military spending rose for the second consecutive year in 2018, to the highest level since 1988—the first year for which consistent global data is available. World spending is now 76 per cent higher than the post-cold war low in 1998. World military spending in 2018 represented 2.1 per cent of global gross domestic product […]
Liberia: President Weah’s tough choices
By Seltue R. Karweaye (s.karweaye1668@student.tsu.edu) Liberia is a nation of over 4.7 million people with one of the lowest electricity access rates in the world (at approximately 12%, USAID). Ethnic, religious and political issues have skyrocketed to an all-time high. Infant and maternal mortality are among the highest in the world. Education and health systems […]
African First Ladies, Merck discuss women empowerment
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, staged the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit in Bujumbura, Burundi from March 30 to April 1. The event was attended by 15 African First Ladies to discuss the strategy to break the stigma of infertility and empower women and girls in education. Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of […]
US to invest $1 billion in African women
David Bohigian, Acting President and CEO of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Government’s development finance institution, and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump announced on Tuesday the launch of OPIC’s 2X Africa initiative to support investment in women in Africa. The announcement was made during a U.S. Government delegation to the country. […]
Lawrence’s death: Liberian government must be blamed
Under Ex-President Ellen Sirleaf’s regime, the suspicious deaths of two prominent figures, a lawyer and an opposition politician, by ‘drowning’ in the Atlantic Ocean, stood out. Now in just a little over one year into the new George Weah’s regime, it too, is fast gaining a reputation for itself in the wake of sudden deaths […]
Sweden increases development aid to Ethiopia
The Swedish Government has decided to increase development cooperation with Ethiopia with approximately $20m over the next two years. The new funds aim to support the ongoing reform process in the country and to strengthen Sweden’s opportunities to support government institutions as well as civil society organizations what work with democracy and human rights. Examples […]
AU: Cotonou Agreement is not an equal partnership
As Finland prepares for its third EU presidency on 1 July, a round-table talk in Helsinki, the capital, discussed Europe’s future partnership with Africa as the existing Cotonou Agreement comes to an end in 2020. Main speaker Prof. Carlos Lopes, the African Union (AU)’s High Representative at the negotiations, said that much remains to be […]
