05 September 2022

Burkina Faso: According to president Damiba, ongoing talks with armed jihadist have progressed significantly and “beyond what was expected”. By this, he seems to mean that several dozens have “agreed to lay down their arms.” It seems that that’s pretty much all that the junta has achieved since it took power over seven months ago.
At the same time, aid groups warn that more people have had to flee from their homes in the first half of 2022 than in all of 2021 and 600,000 are threatened by acute food insecurity.
BBC Africa Live 05 September 2022. 8:01

South Africa: Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment, decided in 2003, was meant to redress historical imbalances in the economy and society by means of employment equity, skills development, preferential procurement, enterprise development (with respect to ownership and management representation). But it “has been hijacked and repurposed by individuals and factions within the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for the purpose of corruption and self-enrichment”. The latest proof for this was provided by how procurement of personal protective equipment in Covid times was handled.
https://theconversation.com/only-south-africas-elite-benefits-from-black-economic-empowerment-and-covid-19-proved-it-189596




04 September 2022

Nigeria: Foreign models and voice-over artists in adverts released in the country will be banned from 1st of October onwards so as to develop “local talent, inclusive economic growth, and (to) grow(…) the Nigerian advertising industry”. In her Letter from Africa, Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani reflects on the effects this ban could have, seen that many Nigerians who have never set foot abroad have British or American accents and that it is desirable for many to have such an accent. Are there parallels to the ban on foreign rice imposed some time ago by Abuja?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-62717066