WORLD BANK SUSPENDS GABON DISBURSEMENTS
The World Bank has suspended all disbursements to Gabon due to the country's increasing debt level, which now stands at some 17 billion francs, or about $27 million. This marks the second consecutive year that Gabon has experienced a disbursement freeze by the international financial institution, raising the specter of continued fiscal and economic problems in the central African nation. In an effort to address the brewing crisis, Gabon’s President, Brice Oligui Nguema, has appointed Mark Doumba, a Harvard-trained entrepreneur, as the new economy minister. The cabinet reshuffle aims to stabilize the country’s economy ahead of presidential elections later this year. (Reuters, January 14, 2025; Bloomberg, January 15, 2025)
KENYA TURNS TO THE UAE
Kenya is looking for funding from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to finish a regional railway project after China pulled out of the deal. The railway, initially part of China's Belt & Road Initiative, currently ends 468 kilometers short of Uganda's border. President William Ruto said that the country was exploring a partnership with the UAE to extend the railway to Uganda and South Sudan. The project is part of Kenya's broader efforts to strengthen ties with the UAE, an effort which includes a $1.5 billion commercial loan for budget support and a new economic partnership agreement aimed at boosting bilateral trade. Trade between the two nations surpassed $3.4 billion in 2023, driven by agricultural exports from Kenya and petroleum imports from the UAE, making the UAE a key trade partner for the African nation. (Reuters, January 15, 2025)
NIGERIA BECOMES A BRICS PARTNER
Brazil has officially announced that Nigeria will join the BRICS group as a partner country. As the 6th largest population globally and Africa's largest economy, Nigeria shares key interests with BRICS members. Brazil, which holds the BRICS presidency in 2025, emphasized Nigeria's role in strengthening South-South cooperation. Nigeria joins eight other nations already holding partner status, primarily from Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Asia, further expanding the BRICS network. (Reuters, January 17, 2025)
SUDANESE ARMY CAPTURES STRATEGIC CITY
The Sudanese army has wrested control of the key central city of Wad Madani from rebel forces in one of its biggest victories in the nearly two-year-long war against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Wad Madani, which lies 87 miles south of Khartoum, is an important crossroads connecting key supply routes and serving as the closest major town to the capital. The RSF leader, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti, conceded defeat but promised to continue fighting. Tens of thousands have been killed in the conflict, which broke out in April 2023, and nearly nine million people have been displaced to date. Meanwhile, Sudan has also been hit by widespread famine, with half of the population in urgent need of food assistance. The U.S. sanctioned Hemedti earlier this month for his role in the atrocities committed by the RSF. (BBC, January 12, 2025)
ILLEGAL MINING CRACKDOWN CAUSES CHAOS IN SOUTH AFRICA
South African authorities are under heavy criticism after at least 78 miners died and more than 100 others are feared dead at the Stilfontein mine, situated 97 miles southwest of Johannesburg. Rescuers have recovered 166 survivors, but many miners remain trapped, some up to 2.5 kilometers underground, after the government cut off food and water supplies in an attempt to force them out. The unions and opposition parties have condemned the action, meant to halt illegal mining, with the South African Federation of Trade Unions describing it as a "horrific" display of state negligence. Many of the miners were undocumented workers from Mozambique and other Southern African countries driven by extreme poverty. The South African government has promised to tackle illegal mining, which costs the country more than $1 billion every year. (Associated Press, January 14, 2025; CNN, January 15, 2025 )
NEW MOZAMBICAN PRESIDENT SWORN IN AMID MASS PROTESTS
Daniel Chapo has been inaugurated as president of Mozambique following contentious elections that triggered violent protests and a boycott from opposition parties. The ceremony in Maputo was marred by violence, resulting in the deaths of eight protesters at the hands of police, contributing to the over 300 fatalities reported since October. Opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, who denounced the election results as fraudulent, called for a national strike on the day of the inauguration. Chapo, 48, vowed to foster unity, tackle corruption, and revive Mozambique’s economy, yet doubts remain regarding his legitimacy. As the first president of Mozambique not linked to the independence war, Chapo faces the significant challenge of confronting systemic corruption, rebuilding public trust, and engaging with opposition leaders to bring stability to the nation. (BBC, January 15, 2025)
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