02 April 2022
Africa & Ukraine war: Estimations of this year’s growth in global trade have been reduced from 4.7% to 2.5% because of the war in Ukraine. Though only about 2.5% of global merchandise exports come from Russia and the Ukraine, major disturbances and price increases are already noticeable. The WTO head Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is afraid that a food crisis may be brewing and it will affect poor countries most. 35 of 55 African countries “imported wheat and other grains from Russia and Ukraine and 22 imported fertiliser”.
Arms from Russia: 49% of the continent’s imports of military equipment so far came from Russia – “major arms” like battle tanks, warships, fighter aircraft and combat helicopters as much as “small arms” like pistols, assault rifles (e.g. Kalashnikov AK-200 series rifle), with Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco and Uganda the biggest importers. With the sanctions against Russia (especially its suspension from global financial systems) “insecurity of supply of essential spares, disruption of the operational and training plans for the defence forces that are using Russian equipment, and high cost of sustaining equipment already deployed in operations” may now arise. As far as maintenance is concerned, indigenous African defence industry experts may be able to fill some of the gaps. If sanctions last, new suppliers will have to be approached – unless arms can be produced domestically.
https://theconversation.com/sanctions-against-russia-will-affect-arms-sales-to-africa-the-risks-and-opportunities-180038
Africa’s neutrality in the Ukraine war: According to the article’s author, there are five main reasons why many African countries (26 of 54 UN members) decided to stay neutral and not condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine when the UN General Assembly in early March voted on a resolution against Russia’s aggression: “scepticism towards the North Atlantic Treat Alliance (NATO), and its motives; growing reliance among some countries on Moscow for military support past decade; growing dependence on wheat and fertiliser imports; and a sense that this is a return of the Cold War” and finally the perception that African countries’ “traditional western allies only care about their own economies and people, and would only assist if it is in their interest or falls within the liberal agenda”.
https://theconversation.com/russias-war-with-ukraine-five-reasons-why-many-african-countries-choose-to-be-neutral-180135
Somaliland: Firefighters took all night to extinguish a fire broken out around 20:00 yesterday Friday in the capital Hargeisa and which destroyed hundreds of businesses in the main market.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-60967458
01 April 2022
Boko Haram: Boko Haram as well as the government’s responses to terrorism are hampering economic activity (fishers, farmers, traders, transporters). Women are particularly concerned. People have reacted and adapted in many different ways, some have started to deal with Boko Haram. Quite a few find themselves “entirely dependent on governments and NGOs”. The article has some suggestions how to improve people’s economic situation. Securing farms, markets and transport routes would be important, rebuilding infrastructure including markets where they were destroyed. Grants need to be available to rebuild livelihoods. Excesses of government employees need to be curbed and taxes lowered. People also need training to improve productivity. “Rebuilding local economies will (…) make communities less vulnerable to co-option by violent extremists.”
https://issafrica.org/iss-today/rebuilding-local-economies-can-help-defeat-boko-haram
https://issafrica.org/research/west-africa-report/lake-chad-basin-socio-economic-resilience-in-the-shadow-of-boko-haram
eSwatini/SADC: “(T)he national dialogue Ramaphosa persuaded King Mswati III to hold is threatening to be stillborn” – the king seems to want to do it Sibaya (an advisory council) style, where traditionally he “talks down to his people and they listen in silence”. In March, the Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF), eSwatini’s most representative political group including political parties, civil society, churches, businesses, etc., in an open letter called for a “genuine all-inclusive political dialogue, not the Sibaya Monologue”. SADC has neglected its duties agreed in the July agreement with the king last year – it will have to weigh in on the king to get a real national dialogue between the king and his people going.
https://issafrica.org/iss-today/will-sadc-stand-up-to-mswati
South Africa/Xenophobia: As “(o)rganised groups such as Operation Dudula increasingly target African immigrants in South Africa” and to help “extinguish the flames of xenophobic sentiment before it is too late”, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) is organising an online event on 12th of April “How to extinguish South Africa’s flames of xenophobia”.
https://issafrica.org/events/how-to-extinguish-south-africas-flames-of-xenophobia
Sudan/Darfur: Between Tuesday and Thursday, clashes between the Rizeigat (Arabs) and Fallata (= Fulbe) communities have killed dozens and injured hundreds in Darfur – the article does not state in which part of Darfur.
BBC Africa Live 01 April 2022. 6:47
Sudan: At yesterday Thursday’s protests, 1 was shot dead, more than 50 suffered gunshot wounds. Security forces use guns “which fire shells that contain multiple pellets” – according to local medics, removing of these projectiles “can require complex surgery”.
BBC Africa Live 01 April 2022. 13:01
Angola: The government says the indefinite nationwide strike started last week by the National Union of Angola Medical Doctors to obtain higher wages and which has paralysed public health services is illegal. It has suspended the salaries of the more than 5,000 striking doctors.
BBC Africa Live 01 April 2022. 14:29