August 6, 2021
ECA Trains Cameroonian Officials in Use of New Development Planning and Reporting Toolkit
Twenty Cameroonian civil servants drawn from a wide range of ministries have affirmed their commitment to fully appropriate the Integrated Planning and Reporting Toolkit (IPRT), developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), to help the country systematically implement its 2030 national development strategy. This follows a four-day training on the IPRT.
Old Friends and Colleagues Build New African Law Firm
The ambition of Africa’s newest international law firm is to build a commercial legacy on the back of continental trade, foreign investment and cross-border relationships. “We were all based in Paris 15 years ago and we have all known each other for quite some time,” says Salimatou Diallo of the four lawyers who founded North and West African law firm ADNA in June of 2021.
U.S. Invests in West African Businesses
A trio of Senegalese businesses have received a USD 9.9 million investment to create new employment opportunities and help rebuild the economy back to pre-COVID-19 levels. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed to helping three Senegalese food companies via grant funding provided by USAID West Africa Trade & Investment Hub, demonstrating the U.S.’ support for economic recovery in West Africa. Female-led Senegalese food company Biosene is one of the benefitting companies, in receipt of USD 2.18 million from USAID. It plans to use the funds to make its supply chains in Senegal and West Africa stronger, as well as to develop an e-commerce channel.
Cape Verde Makes Significant Changes to its Data Protection Law
Aissatou Sylla of Hogan Lovells and José Maria de Pina of Cape Verde’s data protection authority comment on the new amendment to the country’s Data Protection Act. The Republic of Cape Verde has recently passed a new law amending the Data Protection Act of 2001. With the development of interconnected files, cross-border data transfers, cloud services, social media, e-commerce, profiling and artificial intelligence, among other technological trends, and the global reinforcement of privacy rights, the Cape Verdean Parliament deemed it necessary to update the country's data protection legal framework to adjust it to international standards and provide individuals with meaningful protection.
U.S. Hails Sudan’s Economic Transition and Promises to a Civilian-Backed Government
U.S. aid chief Samantha Power recently hailed Sudan's transition during a visit to Khartoum where she discussed with officials the country's urgent economic and humanitarian needs. Sudan has been going through a rocky transition since the ousting in April 2019 of president Omar al-Bashir. USAID said ahead of Power’s visit that Western nations sought to support the civilian-backed transitional government after decades of authoritarian rule. "My emphasis in this trip ... is squarely on Sudan's economic development needs and the ongoing humanitarian needs," she told a news conference in the Sudanese capital.
Abandoned Tanker in Red Sea Threatens Africa - Trade Bloc IGAD
The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) - a trade bloc representing eight African countries - has expressed concern over the potential environmental disaster posed to the Red Sea by the FSO Safer, an ageing vessel moored off Yemen. Experts say the Red Sea ecosystem will severely be affected if the rusting oil tanker, loaded with over a million barrels of crude oil, breaks up or explodes and catches fire. The East African reports that IGAD Executive Secretary Dr Workneh Gebeyehu says an oil slick would exacerbate existing economic and humanitarian crises in Yemen and that the region, including IGAD member states on the western shores of the Red Sea. Djibouti, Eritrea and Somalia could be directly affected.
As Africa continues to make huge technological advancements, the question remains as to whether fintech regulation in East Africa is progressing at the same level, according to an event held by Bowmans and Afriwise. Fintech Regulation in East Africa, an event co-hosted by African law firm Bowmans and online information platform Afriwise on August 4th, discussed the extent to which fintech legislation and regulations have been adopted across East Africa.
Tanzania Maize Exports to Kenya Surge Sixfold After Suluhu Visit
Maize imports from Tanzania jumped more than sixfold to 118,329 bags in May on the back of President Samia Suluhu’s visit to Kenya that saw Dar and Nairobi reach a deal to lift a ban that had been put in place. The Agriculture ministry says the volumes jumped from 16,137 bags in April to a monthly record of 118,329 in May after Ms Suluhu and her Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta reached a bilateral deal to abolish the restrictions that Nairobi had imposed on Tanzanian maize. Kenya had banned maize imports from Tanzania and Uganda in April, citing a high level of aflatoxin beyond the required minimum of 10 parts per billion.