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Biden signed an executive order on May 4th that broadens authority to impose sanctions on those responsible for "threatening the peace, security, and stability of Sudan" and "undermining Sudan's democratic transition", the US leader said in a statement without naming potential targets. In a briefing on May 1st, the top UN aid official in Sudan, Abdou Dieng, warned that the situation was turning into "a full-blown catastrophe". Agnes Nandutu, State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, was among 26 ministers and 31 legislators named in connection with the case, which unusually for a corruption scandal involving high-profile figures has drawn an earnest response from the government. B As war takes hold, humanitarian concerns are raised. b Fierce fighting between rival generals raged in Sudan on May 2nd despite a truce, as warnings multiplied of the potential for a "catastrophic" humanitarian crisis with hundreds of thousands of refugees. [Extracted from the article]

B Burkina Faso: b Eleven mining sites have stopped activities in Burkina Faso as insecurity takes its toll, the privately-owned I Le Faso i website reported I (13/4) i . In 2019, for instance, only 40% of mining firms fully complied with mining standards. Of these, 20 are large-scale mining licences, 71 are medium-scale mining licences and 41 are small-scale mining licences. [Extracted from the article]

In another interview with pro-government TV host Amr Adeeb, Maait said there is "clear prejudice" against Egypt. B The Fitch Ratings move is deemed to be politically motivated. b Egyptian local media outlets have discussed a recent report by finance and insurance company Fitch Ratings in which it downgraded the country's credit rating. [Extracted from the article]

It was the latest migrant tragedy off North Africa, after a migrant boat sinking earlier in April west of Tripoli killed at least 34 people. B A diplomatic spat breaks out over deported migrants. b Comoros said on April 24th it had refused to allow a boat carrying migrants from B Mayotte b , where French authorities have announced a controversial operation against illegal migrants, to dock. With 920% more migrants reaching Italy from Tunisia in the first three months of 2023 than in the same period in 2022, Tunisia has replaced neighbouring B Libya b as the top departure point for migrant boats arriving in Italy. [Extracted from the article]

I (RFI Portuguese website 24/3) i B South Africa: b The government on April 5th terminated the State of Disaster it implemented just two months previously to deal with the country's rolling power blackouts energy crisis. B Benin: b The World Bank Group on March 24th approved US$100m in financing from the International Development Association ( B IDA b ) to strengthen the social protection system and expand the coverage of poor households in the productive social safety net. The government noted that after the state of disaster was declared, a range of regulations were put in place to support the Energy Action Plan and ensure an integrated response across government. It is rare for such a senior official to face prosecution for graft and Kitutu is the highest-profile government figure hauled before the corruption court in years. [Extracted from the article]

B The Gulf state stands accused of "non-cooperation" in the affair. b A Dubai court has dismissed a request to extradite Atul and Rajesh Gupta who were arrested in June 2022 in connection with money laundering, fraud and corruption charges in South Africa. SOUTH AFRICA - UAE: Gupta Extradition Refused I (© AFP 7/4 2023) i IN BRIEF B Algeria - Uganda: b The two countries signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and five bilateral agreements on March 12th during a state visit by Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni to Algeria, state news agency I APS i reported. [Extracted from the article]

B Corruption at the top is fuelling Eskom's woes. b The South African authorities on February 22nd removed from office the power utility firm Eskom's chief a month before completing his notice following his resignation in December 2022, privately-owned I Daily Maverick i website reported I (23/2) i . I (africabusinesscommunities.com 23/2) i B Senegal: b The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Senegalese electricity company Ndar Energies S.A. have signed a framework agreement to finance the development of a 250-megawatt combined cycle gas turbine power plant and a gas pipeline in Saint Louis, Senegal, for an amount of €430m. CEO André De Ruyter was "released from his position with immediate effect" following an interview with I e.TV i where he alleged the cabinet had knowledge of corruption at the power firm. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports on the first official visit of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to the U.S. on July 19-20, 2015. Topics covered include how the visit was aimed to renew Nigeria-U.S. relations, the meeting of Buhari with U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch for a plan to repatriate the estimated 150 billion U.S. dollars of stolen state funds deposited in U.S. financial firms and the donation by the U.S. of 1 million U.S. dollars to help Africa get rid of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The article reports on the signed agreement of Resident Representative Abdul Kamara of African Development Bank (AfDB) to provide financial assistance to the empowering novel agri-business led employment for the youth (ENABLE Youth) in Sudan.

The article focuses on the Uganda's 2014-2015 budget presented by Maria Kiwanuka, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development under the theme "Maintaining the Momentum: Infrastructure Investment for Growth and Social Economic Transformation." It mentions four interventions, which are the basis of budget strategy, vision to restore real gross domestic product (GDP) growth to seven percent per annum and transport, projection of communication and electricity as growth promoters.

The article discusses the budget presented by the Minister of Finance in Tanzania, Saada Mkuya Salum on June 12, 2014 for the years 2014-2015 which focuses on improving revenue collection and cutting tax exemptions. Topics include the aim of the budget to reduce the cost of living and tax exemptions, the plan of the government to borrow money from both domestic and external source and budget aimed at increasing domestic revenue to 18.8 percent of gross domestic product.

A country report for several African countries is presented from publisher John Wiley & Sons Ltd., with topics including the economic growth in Morocco, welfare assistance payments provided by Nigeria to poor people, and the impact of rapid urbanisation on the food security in Rwanda.

The article offers information on the financial, economic, and political issues of various African countries including Nigeria, Algeria, and Angola.

The article offers information related to Africa including the 2017 budget in Algeria, the 11th African Economic Conference (AEC) in Abuja, Nigeria on December 7, 2016, and the funding committed by the World Bank Group to support the economic development of Madagascar until 2020.

B The disbursement of funds to provide budgetary support is approved. b On December 16th the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a 46-month arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Egypt in an amount of about US$3bn. The CBE's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) raised the overnight deposit rate and overnight lending rate to 16.25% and 17.25% respectively, the privately owned website I Youm7 i reported I (21/12) i . The pound skyrocketed to 32 against the dollar on January 11th and then settled at 29.7 by the end of the day in tandem with the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) adopting a flexible exchange rate in accordance with the terms of the IMF financial support package. [Extracted from the article]

B Unions reject less than inflation pay rises. b Thousands of public sector workers embarked on a nationwide strike on November 22nd, demanding better wages. The "National Day of Action" came after wage negotiations between trade unions and the government collapsed; the government offered a 3% pay hike, but unions are demanding 10% amid rising inflation. Meanwhile I Scrolla i reported I (5/12) i a meeting of the top leadership of the ANC had decided to support President Ramaphosa and reject the report of the Section 89 Panel. [Extracted from the article]

The article offers news briefs related to Africa which include the economic growth of Ethiopia, the 2016 African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in Nairobi, Kenya on September 9, 2016, and the dispute on maritime border between Kenya and Somalia.

The article discusses various topics related to African countries, as of October 2016, including the African Ministerial Conference on Ocean Economies and Climate Change in Mauritius; international trade agreements of Egypt, and hosting of refugees from South Sudan by Uganda.

The health and wellness minister, Kailesh Jagutpal, said the 400 Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), costing between $1,000 and $3,000, will help patients to have easier access to this non-invasive therapy for lung diseases. B The president slams a hospital demonstration. b President Cyril Ramaphosa on August 30th condemned anti-immigrant protests that had prevented foreigners from accessing a hospital in the capital, fuelling concerns about rising xenophobia. "CPAP therapy has emerged as a treatment option for improving oxygen levels in some people with Covid-19", he said. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports on the issue concerning the potential government take over of productive land and declare them into a national asset in South Africa. It presents the views of Joe Phaahla, Deputy Minister for Rural Development, regarding the misinformation associated with the proposal under the department's Land Reform Strategic Plan about agricultural land becoming a national asset. Phaahla relates that the problem came from land speculators who hold massive tracts of land.

The article provides an outlook for economic condition of Tanzania. It forecasts that the economy will recover in 2010. It relates that economic experts expect a real gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5.7% in the country in 2010, compared with 5.0% last year. Moreover, the Treasury attempts to drive down the annual inflation rate to 6.0% by June 2010.

The article discusses the report from financial services provider African Development Bank (ADB) indicating poor governance, political instability and security concerns throughout the continent as well as the 14th replenishment of the African Development Fund (ADF).

The article discusses the Africa Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Forum that was held Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire from March 21-22, 2016.

The article reports that the Bank of Tanzania and World Bank Group (WBG) organized a stakeholder panel in February 2016.

The article reports on the move of Zambia to resume its power exports despite a deficit. According to Rhodnie Sisala, managing director of state power utility Zesco company, the government had given the firm $49 million to speed up rehabilitation works at two major power stations. It states that the country has power deficit but has surplus power to export at night when most copper mines and industry reduce their demand. Sisala added that the country was importing 30MW of power from the DRC to fill a 150 MW gap of power required for the copper mines.

The article reports on the call of Christian Folly-Kassi, Secretary-General of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), that African states must improve their aviation safety. AFRAA has organized a two-day air disaster management training aimed at preparing various African airlines on emergency responses to air crashes. According to Vinod Chidambaram, African regional vice-president, the biggest problem facing Africa's aviation industry is the lack of regulation in many countries. It also states that the lack of equipment and technology are also to blame.

The article reports on investments in the water sector of Africa. It mentions that Africa depends on donor organizations to fund water projects including the World Bank, African Development Bank, and Germany KfW bank. Although there is an increase in the funding of water development projects, the lack of communication between donor organizations may lead to a misuse of resources. To address this issue, African states are adopting more focused approaches in investment. In Tanzania, donated funds are collected and allocated for each project. The article also discusses the efforts for cooperation between African states.

The article reports that the IFC, the World Bank's Foreign Investment Advisory Service, and the government of Mozambique, have launched an investment program that aims to help develop the tourism sector in the country. The Mozambican Tourism Anchor Investment Programe is a joint initiative of the IFC and the Ministry of Tourism in Mozambique. It has four strategic anchor sites along the country's Indian Ocean coastline. The sites are expected to generate over $1 billion investment for Mozambique.

The article reports on the fall of shares prices in South Africa. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) all share index noted an abrupt drop in share prices during the second half of March 2008, mainly because of the crumpling of mining stock prices and hedging of the rand. According to the "Financial Mail," the JSE all share is only five percent short compared to its all time record high. This is primarily due to the boom of commodities and the weakness of the rand in the market. Also, these factors aided in the lift of the resource index despite shortage in electricity during the start of 2008.

The article reports on the crash of a Congolese domestic airliner. It is said that more than 70 people were killed when a Congolese domestic airliner taking off from the eastern city of Goma crashed into a crowded market district and caught fire. It is also said that at least six people on board survived the crash of the Hewa Bora Airways passenger jet in Goma. It is further stated that more than 45 people were injured in the crash, the latest aviation disaster to hit the vast central African state which has one of the world's worst air safety records.

The article offers African news briefs. Egypt's number one telecommunications company, Telecom Egypt, reported an increase in profits for 2007 on March 13. Kenya's Safaricom will begin the sale of a quarter of its United States $3 billion worth of equity to investors. South African firm Altech acquired 51% controlling stake in Aameer ICT Limited.