NEARLY 50 AFRICAN LEADERS AND DELEGATES ARE IN WASHINGTON, DC, FOR THE THREE-DAY SUMMIT, WHICH IS MEANT TO RESET AND IMPROVE U.S. RELATIONS WITH AFRICAN COUNTRIES. This week, nearly 50 African leaders and delegates are in Washington, DC., for the US-Africa Leaders Summit. President Biden is hosting this important three-day summit, which is the centerpiece of a…
Category: BIZTECH
African leaders head to Washington as US hosts summit to resuscitate ties

At a time of growing Chinese, and Russian presence, the US says it wants to deepen partnerships with African nations Several African heads of state have traveled to the US for a three-day summit starting Tuesday that Washington says “will underscore the importance of US-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared global priorities.” President Joe…
Paul Biya has been Cameroon’s president for 40 years – and he might win office yet again

At 89 years old, one of the oldest leaders in the world, President Paul Biya of Cameroon has marked 40 years as head of state. He assumed office in 1982. He is the second longest-serving leader in Africa. The longest is Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema, in power since 1979. Cameroon experienced a long spell of political stability under Biya’s…
Cameroon: Paul Biya to Discuss Anglophone Crisis with Joe Biden

Announced at the US-Africa leaders’ summit, the President of the Republic hopes to snatch the first tête-à-tête with his American counterpart Joe Biden, to discuss humanitarian issues in the English-speaking regions. The President of the Republic, Paul Biya, left Cameroon this afternoon for Washington, where he is expected to take part in the US-Africa leaders’…
Lomé to host an international exhibition of African textiles next month

(Togo First) – This year, Togo will host the SITA, the International Exhibition of African Textiles. This edition, the eighth, will be held in Lomé from November 4 to 6. Last year, it was held in Djibouti. The theme picked for the upcoming exhibition is “The fabric industry in Africa”. Among others, it will feature…
Coups are back in fashion, but are they good for Africa?

Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba. PHOTO | COURTESY Summary Zitto is a sound man and a keen student of history. That’s why his overly dogmatic stance against coups is quite baffling, given that many examples in contemporary history show that coups can be transformational. When a coup occurs, it is customary for people to speak out against…
Cameroon: Paul Biya, Corrupt Dictator in Power for Over 38 Years

By Giuseppe Liguori On 13 February 2021, Paul Biya turns 88: he is one of the oldest presidents in the world. Since he has been in power for over 38 years, it’s more accurate to say that he is one of the oldest dictators in the world. On 6 November 1982, following the resignation of…
Cameroon’s Forgotten Civil War Is Getting Worse
Infighting among Anglophone separatists and denial by the Cameroonian government is escalating the ongoing conflict. By R. Maxwell Bone, a writer whose reporting and analysis have been published in the New Humanitarian, African Arguments, and other publications. Cameroonian army soldiers at a polling station in Lysoka, near Buea, southwestern Cameroon, on October 7, 2018. MARCO LONGARI/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES…
Press censorship in Cameroon: a cycle of fear

Press censorship in Cameroon: a cycle of fear Writer in-residence Mimi Mefo speaks to fellow journalists from Cameroon about their concerns on World Press Freedom Day For the past three years, practicing journalism has become a daunting task for journalists in Cameroon’s conflict-hit regions as the war tearing the English-Speaking community apart from the rest…
Chalhoub Group takes majority stake in Threads Styling

Photo: Threads Styling The largest retail operator in the Middle East has acquired the UK-based personal shopping platform for an undisclosed sum. Chalhoub Group’s chief investment officer Sharmila Murat and Threads Styling’s founder Sophie Hill discuss what’s next. BY KATI CHITRAKORN Chalhoub Group, the retail operator and distributor that represents more than 300 fashion brands in…
Meet the 30 leading African startups in healthcare supply chains selected by Investing in Innovation (i3) for their new $7 million fund

Each start-up will receive at least $50,000 from the program.Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the program aims to bridge the gap between African-led businesses, investors, and donor agencies.The program is also sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, AUDA-NEPAD, and AmerisourceBergen. Investing in Innovation…
Vlisco commits €7.3m to environmental, social issues

VLISCO has committed to spending €7.3 million in the next five years on initiatives that will add value to textiles and expansion of production in Africa. “We have materialised this commitment via 15 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives built under seven of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are: quality education, reduce inequality,…
Oracle, Uni. Of Mauritius develop breast cancer awareness app

Over a thousand students from the University of Mauritius have benefited from a three-year skills development program in the latest cloud computing technologies organized by the database management company Oracle. Oracle and the University of Mauritius announced the successful completion of the program on Thursday, April 21. As part of the program, the student entrepreneurs…
LOOK & WATCH: Thebe Magugu wants to empower women with his debut Adidas collection

Johannesburg – Renowned South African designer Thebe Magugu might be making massive strides in the fashion world but he attributes much of his success to the women in his life. The influence of his mother, aunt and grandmother has now come to life in his new and innovative ‘Finding Beauty’ collection in collaboration with Adidas.…
Digital Thrill: A Nigerian Virtual Fashion House Goes “Meta”

At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Alexander Erinle couldn’t help thinking about how the fashion world had ground to a halt because of self-isolation and social distancing. This led to the creation of Thrill Digital, a Nigerian tech start-up that seeks to revolutionise fashion in the digital world and with it, an…
Chinese firms committed to investing in African supply chain: CABC

Chinese companies are committed to investing in five important drivers of the African supply chain: inventory, production, location, transportation and information, according to a new report about China’s investments in African countries released recently by the China-Africa Business Council (CABC), which feels Chinese firms have been a positive and productive part of the African market.…
Online fashion store creates opportunity for employment for youth-owned businesses

Annual Fashion Shows are planned as part of phase two of the programme. Image: Supplied. Youth with a passion for the fashion industry can grow their fashion business and gain job opportunities with the launch of a South African online fashion store. Headways Investment Group is launching Headways e-Shop, an online marketplace to help African…
All the Glamorous Moments from Debonair Afrik’s “Visionaries Fashioning Africa” Gala

Debonair Afrik bounced back this year after the COVID-19 break with its institutional event, Style Lounge Weekend 2022 (#SLW22). This year’s event started with the Creators Soiree at The Mix Design Hub. The black tie event was well-attended by fashion personalities and enthusiasts alike. This event is tailored to celebrate creatives in the African fashion…
Here’s Why Kigali, Rwanda Belongs On Your 2022 Travel List, Thanks Frances Theodore

At this point, we are all probably in awe of travel vlogger Frances Theodore and her adventurous lifestyle as she consistently feeds us with exciting travel content. In her latest vlog, she takes over Kigali, Rwanda, with her crew, The Geng, capturing breathtaking moments with stunning scenery, people, cuisines and Rwanda’s rich culture. Want to…
China forgives debt for 17 African nations

China has pledged to forgive 23 interest-free loans for 17 African countries and will also provide food assistance to the struggling nations. China will forgive 23 loans for 17 African nations, China’s foreign minister Wang Yi has announced. “China will waive the 23 interest-free loans for 17 African countries that had matured by the end…