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The article reports on the 350 million U.S. dollars cement project of Dangote Group in the Republic of Congo which will begin production in 2014.

The article reports that SN Brussels, Belgium's national airline, will launch Air DC, a central African regional carrier, early in 2008 in partnership with Democratic Republic of Congo's Hewa Bora Airways. Hewa Bora will have a 51% state in Air DC, while SN Brussels will own 49%. Air DC will initially operate flights to Lubumbashi and Mbuji-Mayi. Routes to the capital Kinshasa have yet to be finalized. SN Brussels Congo director Johan Martens stated that Air DC will serve the main domestic points in Congo and also regional destinations.

The article reports on the Netherlands' allocation of funds to assist the Congolese Armed Forces in carrying out joint operations with MONUC against the remaining armed elements in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The article reports that clean drinking water remains to be a scarce commodity in certain areas of east Kinshasa, the Congo. In order to remedy the scarcity of water supply affecting more than one million inhabitants, the water distribution utility needs large amount of money that will finance projects including increasing the water plant capacity and construction of water distribution plant. another plan is on working on underground water sources and construction of boreholes.

In This Issue DR Congo The Profits Of War 15845 Mining Goodwill Growing 15865 Zambia Diversification Is Essential 15848 Namibia Rand Blamed For Deficit 15850 Libya End Of Socialism? 15853 Zimbabwe Bank Restructuring 15856 South Africa Goldmines Squeezed 15862 Contents Continental Developments 15842 Policy and Practice 15845 Communications and Transport 15858 Commodities 15861 Industries 15868 Economic Aid 15873 Rates 15857 Index 15874 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This section offers news briefs about banking and finance in Africa. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) states that headline inflation in Burundi in March 2012 reached 25 percent due to one-off increases in rents, utility tariffs, food and fuel prices. The IMF mission offers a favorable outlook for the Republic of Congo provided that policy intentions are followed through to implementation. The IMF and World Bank approved a debt relief for Côte d'Ivoire.

The article offers news briefs on reports related to Democratic Republic of Congo. The Global Witness report shows that militarisation of mining in eastern part of the country extends war that destroys Congo. The United Nations Panel of Experts report indicates violations for arm smuggling by Western and African countries. The Enough Project came to the country to understand more how tin, tantalum and tungsten (3Ts) and gold kill fields in various devices such as laptops and MP3 players.

The article reports on the approval of a fourth phase expansion of copper-cobalt operations of Katanga Mining Ltd. in Democratic Republic of Congo.

The article reports on the rejection of the 2010 proposed budget of the Democratic Republic (DR) of Congo. It states that Congo President Joseph Kabila sent back the proposal for revision since it does not meet the agreed terms with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). It also presents the political and economic goal of the budget including consolidation of state's authority and peace, pursuance of financial and military reform, and established strong infrastructure base.

The article reports that the East African Community (EAC) five heads have agreed to the creation of the East African Common Market to advance commerce. EAC Secretary General Juma Mwapachu says that the heads of the partner states of EAC have committed to the agreement as a gift to the residents in the region's 10th anniversary. To add, it cites that the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan plan to join the group in addressing common developmental concerns.

The article focuses on the border dispute between Angola and the Democratic Republic (DR) of Congo. It states that Angola was being accused for stealing the access of DR Congo to its oil deposits, despite the fact that both countries are allies. Congo Minister of the Interior Celestin Mbuyu notes that their country will acquire the capacity to produce 450,000 barrels of oil per day. It also asserts that the redesignation of the border should result from bilateral negotiations.

The article reports on the agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to upgrade diplomatic relations and promote cooperation on security and oil exploration. These two countries were former enemies who shared a border in one of Africa's most risky business regions. Presidents of the two countries held discussions on their shared border on March 4, 2009. It is noted that finds on the Ugandan side of Lake Albert by Heritage Oil PLC and Tullow Oil have increased the cooperation between the two countries.

The article discusses the conservation of the forests in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It mentions that the population of Congo is expected to increase to 125 million 20 years after 2008. As a result, forest areas are reduced to agricultural lands for crop farming. Also, this problem is present in countries of Central Africa, including the Equateur Province where the forest is the only remaining wealth. As a solution, the Minister of the Environment of Congo, Joseph Endundo, started a fact-finding mission and consulted the Minister of Ecology of France, Jean-Louis Borloo. According to Bononge, Congo needs a conservation cost worth 1.9 billion Euros every year to solve the problem.

The article offers news briefs related to the retail industry in Africa. Shoprite, the supermarket group based in South Africa, will invest $80 million to build two supermarket complexes in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nakumatt Holdings plans to spend 470 million shillings to expand its supermarket industry in western Kenya in 2008.

The article reports that the Democratic Republic of Congo's Transport Minister Remy Henry Kuseyo Gatanga is dismissed after an aeronautics accident that involved an Africa One Antonov 26 cargo plane resulted in the death of at least fifty people in the capital Kinshasa. The Congolese Red Cross terminated rescue efforts two days after the crash. The twin-propeller plane crashed into houses in a suburban neighborhood. The country holds one of the worst aviation safety records in the world. Africa One is on a European Union blacklist.

The article reports on the criticism over the long-delayed budget proposal because of the massive funding gap. The Democratic Republic of the Congo post-transition budget for the 2007 fiscal year faced much criticism both from the parliamentary opposition and from within the majority party. The budget, presented to the National Assembly, represents a 15% increase over the previous budget.

The article discusses on the latest development of telecommunication services industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The presence of war in the republic for the previous years had affected telecommunication services in the Republic. It was manifested by the downfall of some of the mobile services provider. Some plans offered by other to countries to restructure the mobile service had vanished and some have been realized had initiated ways to make their services accessible to everyone.

Reports on the series of government scandals in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Outrage of the public on the alleged purchase of new vehicles for legislators of the transitional parliament; Speculation concerning the disappearance of money from the Congolese Central Bank; Impact of the scandals on the state of public administration in the country.

The article discusses the highlights of the 11th Summit of Heads of State of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) in Brazzaville, Congo on July 25, 2012.

This section offers news briefs about World Bank loans in African countries. The World Bank has approved a 90 million U.S. dollars International Development Association )IDA) grant to boost cotton exports in Burkina Faso. The World Bank has signed a 10 million U.S. dollars credit agreement for a forest and economic diversification project (PFDE) in the Republic of Congo. The Shire River Basin in Malawi will receive 125 million U.S. dollars to improve land and water management.

The article reports on a tree-planting programme in the Republic of Congo which aimed to guard against the effects of deforestation and soil degradation in many African states.

The article reports on the territorial conflict between Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) that was believed to revolve around border demarcations and disagreements in oil and other resources sharing.

The article reports on the decision of the Democratic Republic of Congo to restructure its external debt after the approval by the International Monetary Fund of a new three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility on December 11, 2009.

The article reports on a government-sponsored working group's recommendation that Democratic Republic of Congo should cancel more than three quarters of its logging deals for failure to meet necessary standards. The country has launched a World Bank-backed review of all timber contracts in an effort to recover lost taxes and clean up a business rife corruption. The review showed that only 29 of the 159 logging deals met the minimum standards required.

The article reports on the infrastructure deal between the China and the Democratic Republic of Congo estimated to be valued at U.S. $9.2 billion. The agreement secures 10.62 million tones of copper and 620,000 tons of cobalt for resource-hungry industries. Congo will benefit from the construction of hundreds of clinics, hospitals and schools, two hydroelectric dams, and more than 3,000 kilometers of road and railway. The major routes to be built by the Chinese in Congo would link the mineral-rich south to its ports in the west and connect the north to the south.

The article announces that the World Bank approved the IDA grant of 50 million-dollars for high-priority roads re-opening and maintenance in Congo.

The article offers news briefs related to the oil and gas industries in Africa. A contract to quadruple capacity at the CORAF refinery of the Republic of Congo has been won by Saudi Arabia's Rawabi Holding Co. The Equitorial Guinea government has reached an agreement with Marathon Oil, Japan's Mitsui and Co. and Marubeni Corp. The contract for the construction of an oil refinery in Mauritania has been awarded to Canadian company Winfield Resources Ltd.

The article reports that the Maya-Maya international airport in Congo will be rehabilitated by a Chinese bank. It mentions that the rehabilitation, which includes the construction of a new runway and a new terminal, will cost about one hundred sixty million dollars. The article features Congolese Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Emile Ouosso, who comments that the rehabilitation of the airport will help improve its security. The rehabilitation will be done in two months by two Congolese companies.

The article reports that a plane carrying tin ore crashed in the Democratic Republic of Congo after take-off. It mentions that thirteen people were killed in the crash while a man and a baby survived. The incident happened in the presence of concerns on the safety of flights carrying mineral cargo. The article mentions that the plane, which carried cassiterite minerals, was destined for Goma city in North Kivu province. The incident led to the suspension of other mineral flights to Goma due to safety concerns regarding the lack of appropriate take-off runways.

Reports that the World Bank has approved a 20 million dollar grant to revamp the war-ravaged educational sector of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Explains that the International Monetary Fund noted that the Democratic Republic of Congo has implemented far-reaching structural reforms but it will take 45 years to reach the 1990 level of development. Creating an environment conducive to private-sector development and economic recovery; Deceleration of inflation; Rehabilitation of key infrastructure; Improvements in the social sectors and regulatory bodies.

Reports on problems facing the diamond mining industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. Angola's deportation of some 60,000 illegal diggers mostly from the DR Congo; Angola's major crackdown on clandestine diamond prospecting by foreigners in December 2003; DR Congo government's insistence that mass smuggling of stones is continuing; Angola's decision to step up security along the nation's borders with DR Congo, Namibia and Zambia.

Reports on 2003 financial results posted by Copperbelt Energy Corp. PLC, a supplier of hydro-electricity to Zambia's copper and cobalt mines as well as other mines in Democractic Republic of Congo. Increase in annual turnover; Dividends per ordinary share; Significant progress in the renovation of the high voltage interconnector powerline between Zambia and the Demoractic Republic of Congo.

Reports that the British government has been criticized for failing to act to investigate four British companies accused of being involved in breaching United Nations guidelines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Names of the accused companies; Excuse given by the British government for not taking action on the issue.

Reports that South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a bilateral agreement worth ten billion dollars on January 14, 2004. Areas covered by the agreement; Congo's entry into deals with the South African Chamber of Commerce for the rehabilitation of state-owned mining concern Gecamines and for the management of two hotels; Congo's mining resources.