Africa – Page 329 – MIL Africa Engine

March 26, 2026

Ice Shock is a novel about passionate love in a time of climate crisis

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Rodwell Makombe, Professor of English Literary and Cultural Studies, North-West University

South-African born writer and world literature scholar Elleke Boehmer’s sixth novel, Ice Shock, is a breathtaking story about two lovers who, soon after they meet, find themselves separated to pursue different career choices in different parts of the world.

Niall Lawrence spends 14 months at a polar institute in Antarctica while Leah Nash pursues a writing career in London. This relationship, which starts when the two meet on a London train, sets in motion a philosophical interrogation of love, career choice and the sustenance of both in a turbulent world.

Through this love story told across two continents, Boehmer paints, in broad strokes, a picture of a planet in crisis, reflected through the melting ice in Antarctica, the Fukushima disaster in Japan and the volcanic eruptions that disrupt global air travel.

Karavan Press

In this new world, the old distinctions between “here” and “there” – the centre and the periphery – are disrupted and new ways of inhabiting the planet are imagined. The changing climate intrudes into and disrupts private lives as Leah and Niall struggle to communicate across vast distances and in hostile weather conditions.

Ice Shock asks serious questions about choice, decision-making and the extent to which the unforeseen and the coincidental interrupt and change the courses of our lives. The central question is how the two manage to strike a balance between commitment to love and to career.

How is it that two people who are not looking for love become so strongly connected that their lives take a completely different turn? Is it possible some people are meant for each other? Soulmates?

Leah and Niall are entangled, we are told, like particles in quantum physics, which, once they have interacted, “remain intrinsically linked even when separated by astronomically large distances”. Their birthdays come one after the other – on 31 December and 1 January – and even their initials (NL and LN) interconnect.

As a literary scholar with an interest in travel and migration, I read my colleague’s new book as a radical re-examination of taken-for-granted distinctions such as north and south, here and there, us and them.

This book brings into sharp focus the urgency of the heating planet, showing that its effects are disrupting the most mundane human activities, incuding love relationships.

In Ice Shock, Boehmer combines the teasing style of romance fiction with the contemplative edge of a modernist novel to write about how both the global and the local are making an impact on the way people live, work and love.

Modernist novel

When I first read the book, my impression was “this is a modernist novel”. The modernist novel, which became popular at the turn of the 1900s, radically broke away from the traditional, realistic way of telling stories.

Modernist novels experimented with new narrative styles like stream of consciousness and fragmentation. Modernist writers such as Virginia Woolf and James Joyce wrote novels that were not only interested in telling stories but also engaging with ideas and exploring the minds of their characters.

The backdrop of Boehmer’s story (global disasters and a warming planet) mirrors the backdrop of the modernist novel (massive industrialisation, technological innovations and global catastrophe in the form of the first world war).

Ice Shock deploys a non-linear narrative style and an open-ended plot. Typical of the modernist novel, it refuses to speak about anything with certainty.

It recalls Woolf’s 1925 novel, Mrs Dalloway, not only because of how it explores, in explicit detail, the minds of the characters but also because of the intensity of the relationship between Niall and Leah. Like Niall in Ice Shock, Peter in Mrs Dalloway loves Clarissa to the point of suffocation.

Epic love story

Ice Shock seems to ask the basic question about what it means to love. Is love the intense emotional connection between two people? Is it sacrifice? Faithfulness? Can one love without being faithful?

This is not only a story about the beauty of love but also the pain of it. Niall and Leah may be entangled like particles in quantum physics, but they are still human beings susceptible to human frailties.

They enter into and keep various flirtatious relationships and fateful romantic entanglements from each other and, somehow, readers are complicit because we do not want to see the lovebirds separate.

Still, they remain powerfully connected. The constant friction between them seems to be the fuel that keeps them going. Boehmer suggests that love, especially between soulmates, thrives in a state of constant but productive tension.

Leah is a free-spirited, self-driven personality while Niall is thoughtful and considerate. They both know and understand each other telepathically, without words. Across vast distances, they communicate with each other through the stars and the moon.

In her review of Ice Shock, South African literary scholar Barbara Boswell describes it as “a novel saturated with extremes”.

The lovers know their relationship is moving too fast, but they do not know how to slow it down. Is this a reflection of the preoccupation with speed in the contemporary world or the fast pace with which the planet is warming?

Perhaps the question that Boehmer is asking is how much love is enough to maintain a healthy relationship. Ice Shock is an intrusive novel that captures the inner thoughts (and reflections) of the characters in a way that blurs the distinction between fiction and reality, self and other.

Burning planet

Niall and Leah’s intense, ferocious love affair, in a sense, mirrors the seemingly irreversible catastrophe of global warming – as if to say, we all know the effects of unsustainable human activity on the planet but somehow, we keep going with the same ferocity and intensity. Leah and Niall’s love, like the warming planet, has no reverse gear.

Ice Shock is an attempt to rethink and rewrite how we inhabit the planet.

– Ice Shock is a novel about passionate love in a time of climate crisis
– https://theconversation.com/ice-shock-is-a-novel-about-passionate-love-in-a-time-of-climate-crisis-277016

March 26, 2026

Makemation: a Nollywood movie that shows AI in action in Africa

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Tinashe Mushakavanhu, Assistant Professor, Harvard University

A new feature film, Makemation, is an African coming-of-age story set in a time of artificial intelligence (AI).

Makemation was produced by Nigerian AI-developer-turned-filmmaker Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji. As conversations about AI are dominated by external global powers, his film offers a different vantage point: an AI story rooted in African realities.

After a successful run in Nigerian cinemas in 2025, it’s now touring internationally and I attended a screening at the Harvard Center for African Studies. It was followed by a discussion with its producer and economist Ebehi Iyoha, who researches AI in Africa. The evening foregrounded precisely what the film so deftly dramatises: that the future of AI can also be imagined, contested and built on the African continent.

Makemation is about a young girl, Zara, who discovers AI as a tool not just for personal advancement, but for transforming her community. She must navigate poverty, gender expectations and limited access to science, technology, engineering and maths education. In the process, her journey becomes a powerful reflection on youth innovation, digital inclusion and the possibilities of homegrown technology in Africa.

As a scholar of literature and cultural studies, I see Makemation as a vital intervention that challenges the dominance of western techno-narratives. It places AI within local histories of inequality, aspiration and improvisation.

My work also examines popular media as cultural archives through which African futures are imagined and debated. Makemation expands the archive through which we study who gets to imagine and write African futures.

African tech futures

The title of the film is a blending of words that combines “make” and the suffix “–mation” to evoke ideas like automation, transformation and imagination. It captures the film’s central claim: that young Africans are not passive consumers of AI, but active makers of it.

Makemation asks: who gets to shape the AI revolution? Who benefits from it? And what does innovation look like in places where infrastructure is fragile? Where formal employment is scarce, and ingenuity is often born of necessity?

It does not treat Africa as a technological afterthought. Much of the global AI debate remains abstract and heavily mediated by the concerns of major technology companies or the governments of China and the US: existential risk, large language models, automation at scale.

These conversations, while important, often obscure the material realities of communities where access to electricity, stable internet or quality education cannot be taken for granted. In many African cities, largely informal and dynamic, young people are already improvising with technology in ways that challenge narrow definitions of innovation.

The cast of the educational film.

Makemation demonstrates this vividly. Informality is not depicted as absence or lack, but as a site of creativity. The protagonist captures this tension when she says, “My father is a welder and my mother sells akara (street food).” She goes on to explain that she believes education and innovation can create opportunities. Lines like this connect the film’s discussion of AI to everyday forms of labour, grounding its ideas in the realities of family, work, and aspiration.

In the discussion after the screening, Akerele-Ogunsiji spoke about the importance of storytelling in shaping technological futures. If narratives about AI continue to centre only a handful of geographies and demographics, they risk entrenching existing inequalities.

Africa’s youth bulge

Africa, according to the UN, is home to one of the youngest populations in the world. This demographic reality has profound implications for AI adoption, labour markets and education systems.

If supported by inclusive policies and meaningful access to digital tools, this film tells us, this generation could shape AI in ways that reflect local priorities rather than imported assumptions.

At the heart of the film lies a set of intertwined questions about access and privilege. Who has the bandwidth, literally and figuratively, to participate in AI development? Who has the confidence to imagine themselves as technologists?

The young protagonist’s journey is not simply about mastering code or winning a competition. It’s about negotiating gender expectations, economic precarity and the psychological barriers that tell many young African girls that technology is not for them.

In this sense, Makemation is as much about social infrastructure as it is about digital infrastructure. Mentorship, community support and visible role models matter. The film does not romanticise hardship. Instead, it shows how structural constraints shape technological possibility.

Makemation works not only because of its idea but also because it is well made. The camera often stays close to the characters, and the soft colours create a reflective mood. The slow editing gives the story time to develop.

Its most important message is to destabilise the idea that meaningful AI conversations happen only in elite spaces. Makemation demonstrates that debates about AI technologies and opportunities that come with them are already unfolding in classrooms, community centres and informal neighbourhoods across Africa.

– Makemation: a Nollywood movie that shows AI in action in Africa
– https://theconversation.com/makemation-a-nollywood-movie-that-shows-ai-in-action-in-africa-277693

March 26, 2026

Statement of the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission on the Adoption of United Nations (UN) General Assembly Resolution A/80/L.48 declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity

Source: APO

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission warmly welcomes the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of resolution A/80/L.48, led by the Republic of Ghana, declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.

The AUC Chairperson commends H.E. the President of the Republic of Ghana for this important leadership, which reflects Africa’s longstanding and principled call for the full recognition of the slave trade and its enduring consequences.

“This historic decision marks an important step toward truth, justice, and healing, and reinforces the urgent need to address the enduring legacy of slavery,” the Chairperson stated.

The AUC Chairperson reiterated the African Union’s call for comprehensive acknowledgment of the historical and contemporary impacts of slavery, including the pursuit of reparative justice, in line with Agenda 2063 and relevant Assembly decisions.

The African Union remains committed to working with the United Nations, Member States, and partners to advance historical justice and ensure that such crimes are neither forgotten nor repeated.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).

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March 26, 2026

Afreximbank lance la première cohorte de l’Accelerator Programme en vue de développer l’écosystème du commerce numérique africain

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

La Banque Africaine d’Import-Export (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) a officiellement lancé la première cohorte de l’Afreximbank Accelerator Programme, qui réunit huit start-ups à fort potentiel issues de toute l’Afrique et de la diaspora pour une semaine de lancement intensive qui se tiendra au Caire du 23 au 27 mars 2026.

Sélectionnée parmi plus de 1 600 candidatures, cette cohorte regroupe certaines des entreprises les plus prometteuses du continent qui développent des infrastructures numériques pour le commerce intra-africain. Ces start-ups évoluent dans des secteurs clés tels que les paiements transfrontaliers, la logistique numérique, les plateformes d’exportation agricole, les solutions d’entreprise axées sur l’IA, le financement de la chaîne d’approvisionnement et la mobilisation des investissements de la diaspora.

Participent à cette cohorte les startups Fincart.io (Égypte) ; OnePort 365 qui est présente au Nigeria, au Ghana et au Kenya ; Timon (entité panafricaine présente dans 15 pays) ; Zowasel (Nigeria, Kenya et Tanzanie) ; Gebeya (entité éthiopienne et panafricaine) ; Fluna (startup panafricaine présente dans 10 pays) ; Capsa Technologies (Nigeria) ; et Daba Finance qui couvre l’Afrique francophone.

Dans le cadre de ce programme, conçu, développé et mis en œuvre par Afreximbank, les startups éligibles bénéficieront d’un investissement pouvant atteindre 250 000 dollars US, sous réserve de critères d’investissement standard et d’une vérification préalable. Ce soutien sera complété par un accompagnement, un accès au marché et des partenariats stratégiques visant à accélérer leur expansion en Afrique.

La semaine de lancement au Caire, qui a débuté au siège d’Afreximbank le 24 mars 2026, est marquée par une série d’échanges de haut niveau avec la direction de la Banque, des experts du secteur, des mentors et des partenaires de l’écosystème. Cette semaine s’achèvera par une soirée de réseautage exclusive au Grand Musée égyptien, reliant symboliquement le riche patrimoine de l’Afrique à son avenir en matière d’innovation et en pleine mutation.

Façonner l’avenir du commerce numérique de l’Afrique

S’exprimant lors de la réunion de lancement, M. Haytham Elmaayergi, vice-président exécutif d’Afreximbank, en charge de Global Trade Bank, a souligné l’importance de l’événement : « Aujourd’hui, nous passons de la promesse à l’action, car nous comprenons une vérité fondamentale : le commerce ne se fait pas sur le papier des documents politiques. Le commerce se réalise grâce aux entreprises. Il se réalise grâce aux entrepreneurs. Il se réalise grâce aux bâtisseurs. Ce qui m’enthousiasme le plus chez cette cohorte, ce n’est pas seulement qui vous êtes, mais ce que vous représentez. Vous construisez les infrastructures numériques qui définiront la manière dont l’Afrique commercera au XXIe siècle ».

Il a ajouté : « L’Accelerator Programme s’inscrit dans une ambition bien plus large : une Afrique où les start-ups se développent naturellement à l’échelle du continent, où les entreprises commercent sans difficulté au-delà des frontières, et où le continent fonctionne comme une véritable force économique intégrée. Afreximbank est fière d’être un partenaire, un facilitateur et une partie prenante engagée dans le succès de la prochaine génération de champions du commerce africains ».

Outre les sessions principales, les huit start-ups ont rencontré le Président d’Afreximbank, Dr George Elombi, ainsi que l’équipe de direction, pour assister à des séances d’information animées par des experts sur divers sujets.

L’Accelerator Programme offre une proposition de valeur unique en combinant :

Un accès direct au réseau panafricain d’Afreximbank, composé de gouvernements, d’institutions financières, d’entreprises et de partenaires commerciaux ;
Des opportunités d’accès aux marchés et de facilitation des transactions sur les principaux corridors commerciaux africains ;
Des conseils en matière de réglementation et de politique, tirant parti des relations de la Banque avec les banques centrales et les régulateurs ;
Des voies d’intégration dans l’écosystème de commerce numérique de la Banque, notamment l’Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) et le Système panafricain de paiement et de règlement (PAPSS).

Cette approche positionne Afreximbank comme un catalyseur stratégique du commerce transfrontalier et à l’échelle continentale, aidant les jeunes entreprises à s’orienter dans les procédures d’autorisation, de conformité et d’accès aux marchés dans de multiples juridictions. En outre, la Banque joue un rôle central dans le développement de l’écosystème du commerce numérique africain, en combinant accès aux marchés, partenariats et infrastructures pour soutenir la croissance de solutions évolutives à l’échelle du continent.

Ce programme souligne le rôle croissant d’Afreximbank en tant que catalyseur de l’écosystème du commerce et de l’innovation en Afrique, en fournissant une plateforme structurée pour identifier et développer des projets à fort impact. Grâce à cette initiative, la Banque contribue activement au développement de l’infrastructure numérique qui sous-tend la mise en œuvre de l’accord sur la la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAf), se positionnant ainsi à l’avant-garde des efforts visant à stimuler le commerce intra-africain, l’intégration des marchés et la transformation économique à travers le continent.

Les huit jeunes entreprises opèrent dans plus de 15 pays africains, couvrant les principaux corridors commerciaux d’Afrique de l’Ouest, de l’Est, du Nord et australe. Leur dynamisme témoigne de l’ampleur et du potentiel de l’innovation africaine. Fluna a facilité plus de 50 millions de dollars US d’échanges commerciaux dans 10 pays. Capsa a traité plus de 70 milliards de nairas dans le domaine du financement de la chaîne d’approvisionnement. OnePort 365 relie les corridors commerciaux Nigeria-Ghana-Kenya. Timon prend en charge les paiements dans 15 pays et prévoit de s’étendre à 40 pays, tandis que Zowasel a mis en relation plus de 4 000 coopératives et entreprises agroalimentaires vérifiées.

Ensemble, ces entreprises construisent les infrastructures numériques du commerce intra-africain, accélèrent la mise en œuvre de la ZLECA et ouvrent de nouvelles voies pour l’intégration économique à travers le continent et le réseau Global Africa (Afrique mondiale) au sens large.

Distribué par APO Group pour Afreximbank.

Contact Presse :
Vincent Musumba
Responsable des communications et de la gestion événementielle (Relations presse)
Courriel : press@afreximbank.com

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À propos d’Afreximbank :
La Banque Africaine d’Import-Export (Afreximbank) est une institution financière multilatérale panafricaine dédiée au financement et à la promotion du commerce intra et extra-africain. Depuis 30 ans, Afreximbank déploie des structures innovantes pour fournir des solutions de financement qui facilitent la transformation de la structure du commerce africain et accélèrent l’industrialisation et le commerce intrarégional, soutenant ainsi l’expansion économique en Afrique. Fervente défenseur de l’Accord sur la Zone de Libre-Échange Continentale Africaine (ZLECAf), Afreximbank a lancé les le Système panafricain de paiement et de règlement (PAPSS) qui a été adopté par l’Union africaine (UA) comme la plateforme de paiement et de règlement devant appuyer la mise en œuvre de la ZLECAf. En collaboration avec le Secrétariat de la ZLECAf et l’UA, la Banque a mis en place un Fonds d’ajustement de 10 milliards de dollars US pour aider les pays à participer de manière effective à la ZLECAf. À la fin de décembre 2024, le total des actifs et des garanties de la Banque s’élevait à environ 40,1 milliards de dollars US et les fonds de ses actionnaires s’établissaient à 7,2 milliards de dollars US. Afreximbank est notée AAA par China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI), A par GCR, A- par Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) et Baa2 par Moody’s. Au fil des ans, Afreximbank est devenue un groupe constitué de la Banque, de sa filiale de financement à impact appelée Fonds de développement des exportations en Afrique (FEDA), et de sa filiale de gestion d’assurance, AfrexInsure, (les trois entités forment « le Groupe »). La Banque a son siège social au Caire, en Égypte.

Pour de plus amples informations, veuillez visiter www.Afreximbank.com

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March 26, 2026

Afreximbank Launches Inaugural Accelerator Programme Cohort to Scale Africa’s Digital Trade Ecosystem

Source: APO

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has officially launched the inaugural cohort of its “Afreximbank Accelerator Programme,” bringing together eight high-potential startups from across Africa and the diaspora for an intensive kick-off week taking place in Cairo from 23-27 March 2026.

Selected from a highly competitive pool of over 1,600 applications, the cohort represents some of the most promising ventures building digital infrastructure for intra-African trade from across the continent. These startups operate across key sectors including cross-border payments, digital logistics, agri-export platforms, AI-powered enterprise solutions, supply chain finance and diaspora investment mobilisation.

Participating in the cohort are the startups Fincart.io of Egypt; OnePort 365, which operates in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya; Timon, a pan-African entity active in 15 countries; Zowasel, also active in Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania; Gebeya, which is both Ethiopian and pan-African; Fluna, also a pan-African startup active in 10 countries; Capsa Technologies of Nigeria; and Daba Finance whose operations cover Francophone Africa.

Under the programme, which has been conceptualised, designed, and operated by Afreximbank, qualifying startups will be supported with investment of up to US$250,000, subject to standard investment criteria and due diligence, complemented by mentorship, market access, and strategic partnerships designed to accelerate their expansion across Africa.

The Cairo kick-off week, that commenced at Afreximbank’s headquarters on March 24, 2026 features a series of high-level engagements with the Bank’s leadership, industry experts, mentors and ecosystem partners. The week will culminate in an exclusive Social Mixer at the Grand Egyptian Museum, symbolically linking Africa’s rich heritage with its rapidly evolving innovation future.

Driving Africa’s Digital Trade Future

Speaking during the kickoff meeting, Mr. Haytham Elmaayergi, Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank at Afreximbank, highlighted the significance of the event: “Today, we move from promise to execution, because we understand a fundamental truth: trade does not happen within the pages of policy documents. Trade happens through businesses. It happens through entrepreneurs. It happens through builders. What excites me the most about this cohort is not only who you are, but what you represent. You are building the digital rails that will define how Africa trades in the 21st century.”

He added: “This Accelerator Programme is part of a much broader ambition: an Africa where start-ups scale across the continent as a matter of course, where businesses trade seamlessly across borders, and where the continent operates as a truly integrated economic force. Afreximbank is proud to be a partner, an enabler and a committed stakeholder in the success of the next generation of African trade champions.”

In addition to the core sessions, the eight startups met with Afreximbank President, Dr. George Elombi and the senior leadership team for expert-led briefings on a variety of topics.

The Accelerator Programme offers a differentiated value proposition by combining:

Direct access to Afreximbank’s pan-African network of governments, financial institutions, corporates, and trade partners
Market access and deal facilitation opportunities across key African trade corridors
Regulatory and policy guidance, leveraging the Bank’s relationships with central banks and regulators
Integration pathways into the Bank’s digital trade ecosystem, including the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) and the Pan-African Payments and Settlement System (PAPSS)

This approach positions Afreximbank as a strategic enabler of cross-border trade and continental scale, helping startups navigate licensing, compliance and market entry across multiple jurisdictions. Beyond this, the Bank plays a central role in shaping Africa’s digital trade ecosystem, combining market access, partnerships, and infrastructure to support the growth of scalable, continent-wide solutions.

The programme underscores Afreximbank’s growing role as a catalyst for Africa’s trade and innovation ecosystem, providing a structured platform to identify and scale high-impact ventures. Through this initiative, the Bank is actively enabling the development of the digital infrastructure underpinning the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, positioning itself at the forefront of efforts to drive intra-African trade, market integration and economic transformation across the continent.

Collectively, the eight start-ups operate across more than 15 African countries, spanning key trade corridors in West, East, North and Southern Africa. Their traction highlights the scale and potential of African innovation. Fluna has facilitated more than US$50 million in trade across 10 countries. Capsa has processed over NGN70 billion in supply chain finance. OnePort 365 connects the Nigeria-Ghana-Kenya trade corridors. Timon supports payments in 15 countries, with plans to expand to 40 countries, and Zowasel has connected more than 4,000 verified cooperatives and agribusinesses.

Together, these ventures are building the digital rails for intra-African trade, accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA and unlocking new pathways for economic integration across the continent and the wider Global Africa network.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), GCR (A), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-), and. Moody’s (Baa2). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

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March 26, 2026

Minister Barry Faure meets with Equatorial Guinean Counterpart ahead of the 11th Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Summit

Source: APO

Mr. Barry Faure, Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora of Seychelles, met with Minister Simeon Oyono Esono Angue, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Diaspora of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea ahead of the 11th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). Minister Faure is representing Seychelles President, Dr. Patrick Herminie at the 11th OACPS Summit.

The focus of the discussions between the two Ministers revolved around the Summit and both countries’ membership to the OACPS and various bilateral matters. Some of the key outcomes that both sides agreed to pursue are:

The establishment of a legal framework for cooperation
A visa waiver Agreement
The proposal for a Joint Commission to explore cooperation in specific sectors such as the Blue Economy, tourism management, maritime security, hydrocarbons and the Diaspora

Seychelles and Equatorial Guinea will be celebrating 33 years diplomatic relations in April 2026. Like Seychelles, it is a member of the African Islands States Climate Commission, a member of La Francophonie, and it is this year the Co-Chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

The other members of the Seychelles Delegation participating in the Summit are Ambassador Kenneth Racombo, Seychelles Ambassador in Brussels accredited to the OACPS, Mr. Marco Larsen, First Secretary and Desk Officer for the OACPS and Mr. Rodney Sinon, Second Secretary at Seychelles Embassy in Brussels.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Republic of Seychelles.

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March 26, 2026

Simelane calls for scaled partnerships to tackle housing backlog

Source: Government of South Africa

Simelane calls for scaled partnerships to tackle housing backlog

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has called for urgent, large-scale collaboration between government, the private sector, and financial institutions to address South Africa’s housing backlog, which currently stands at approximately 2.6 million units affecting more than 12 million people.

Delivering a keynote address at the Second Local Government Residential Property Summit held on Thursday in Modderfontein, Johannesburg, Simelane said the scale of the challenge requires a fundamental shift in how housing is delivered.

“The State cannot address this challenge alone. Delivery at scale requires structured and sustained partnership with the private sector and other industry role players,” the Minister said.

She highlighted that South Africa is operating within a complex environment marked by rapid urbanisation, rising construction costs, infrastructure constraints and increasing climate-related risks.

Citing global projections, the Minister noted that between 68% and 70% of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas by 2050, with Africa among the regions most affected – a trend that will place additional pressure on cities such as Johannesburg.

Despite these challenges, Simelane reaffirmed government’s constitutional obligation to progressively realise access to adequate housing.

“The question before us is not whether we deliver, but how we deliver differently, more efficiently, and at scale.,” the Minister said.

Shift towards partnerships and innovation

Simelane described the summit as a critical platform to align government, developers and financiers, and to advance innovative public-private partnerships capable of accelerating delivery.

Central to this shift is the 2024 White Paper on Human Settlements, which reinforces the role of the private sector as a key delivery partner and promotes diversified housing delivery models and a transition towards integrated and spatially just human settlements.

“This requires a move towards programme-based implementation, outcome-driven planning, and stronger intergovernmental coordination,” the Minister said.

While noting significant progress in expanding opportunities for women, youth and emerging contractors in the construction sector, the Minister stressed the need for deeper, systemic transformation.

“The task ahead is to ensure that transformation is systemic, sustainable, and embedded across the value chain. Most importantly it must be impactful in improving the quality of lives of the historically marginalised,” the Minister said.

Innovative building technologies gain momentum

The Minister pointed to the recent Innovative Building Technologies (IBT) Summit, held at NASREC in February, as a turning point for the sector.

The summit confirmed that IBTs are no longer experimental. They are a strategic necessity for delivering durable housing at the required scale, speed, and quality.

Key outcomes included regulatory alignment across institutions, commitments to ring-fenced funding, and the integration of IBTs into climate-resilient housing delivery.

A multi-stakeholder implementation forum, a programme management office within the department, and structured monitoring systems have been established to ensure these commitments translate into delivery.

The Minister emphasised that scaling delivery will depend on a responsive financing ecosystem, including ensuring that IBT housing qualifies for financing and insurance, and strengthening partnerships with development finance institutions and private investors.

“Predictable demand, supported by aligned funding mechanisms, will be essential to unlocking scale,” the Minister said.

From dialogue to delivery

The Minister urged stakeholders to move beyond engagement to implementation, and ensure that the summit produces tangible outcomes, including bankable projects and partnerships that are structured with clear delivery pipelines.

“We must move collectively from dialogue to delivery, from planning to implementation,” the Minister said.

In conclusion, Simelane said South Africa stands at a pivotal moment for the human settlements sector, where convergence of policy reform, technological innovation, private sector capability and local government leadership, is indispensable in providing lasting solutions the property sector challenges.

“If we succeed, we will not only address the housing backlog, but we will also drive economic growth, create jobs, and build inclusive and sustainable communities.

“Let us act with urgency, purpose, and collective resolve. The time for incremental change has passed. The time for scaled, coordinated implementation is now,” she said.

The summit brings together key stakeholders across government, industry, and finance to collectively confront one of the most pressing challenges, housing delivery at scale. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Thu, 03/26/2026 – 15:36

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March 26, 2026

O Afreximbank lança o primeiro grupo do programa acelerador para expandir o ecossistema de comércio digital em África

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

O Banco Africano de Exportação e Importação (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) lançou oficialmente o primeiro grupo do seu “Programa Acelerador do Afreximbank”, que reúne oito startups de elevado potencial de toda África e da diáspora para uma semana intensiva de lançamento, a decorrer em Cairo, de 23 a 27 de Março de 2026.

O Banco Africano de Exportação e Importação (Afreximbank) lançou oficialmente o primeiro grupo do seu “Programa Acelerador do Afreximbank”, que reúne oito startups de elevado potencial de toda África e da diáspora para uma semana intensiva de lançamento, a decorrer em Cairo, de 23 a 27 de Março de 2026. Estas startups operam em sectores importantes, incluindo pagamentos transfronteiriços, logística digital, plataformas de exportação agrícola, soluções empresariais com base em IA, financiamento da cadeia de abastecimento e mobilização de investimento da diáspora.

Participam no grupo as startups Fincart.io, do Egipto; a OnePort 365, que opera na Nigéria, no Gana e no Quénia; a Timon, uma entidade pan-africana activa em 15 países; a Zowasel, igualmente activa na Nigéria, no Quénia e na Tanzânia; a Gebeya, que é simultaneamente etíope e pan-africana; a Fluna, igualmente uma startup pan-africana activa em 10 países; a Capsa Technologies, da Nigéria; e a Daba Finance, cujas operações abrangem a África francófona.

No âmbito do programa, que foi concebido, desenhado e gerido pelo Afreximbank, as startups elegíveis receberão apoio com um investimento de até 250.000 USD, sujeito a critérios de investimento padrão e diligência devida, complementado por mentoria, acesso ao mercado e parcerias estratégicas destinadas a acelerar a sua expansão por toda África.

A semana de lançamento de Cairo, que teve início na sede do Afreximbank a 24 de Março de 2026, inclui uma série de encontros de alto nível com a liderança do Banco, especialistas do sector, mentores e parceiros do ecossistema. A semana culminará com um evento social exclusivo no Grande Museu Egípcio, ligando simbolicamente o rico património de África ao seu futuro de inovação em rápida evolução.

Impulsionar o Futuro do Comércio Digital de África

Ao intervir na reunião de lançamento, o Sr. Haytham Elmaayergi, Vice-Presidente Executivo para o Comércio Global do Afreximbank, destacou a importância do evento: “Hoje, passamos da promessa à execução, porque compreendemos uma verdade fundamental: o comércio não acontece nas páginas dos documentos políticos. O comércio acontece por meio das empresas. Acontece por meio dos empreendedores. Acontece por meio dos criadores. O que mais me entusiasma neste grupo não é apenas quem vocês são, mas o que representam. Vocês estão a construir os trilhos digitais que definirão a forma como África faz o comércio no século XXI.”

Acrescentou ainda que: “Este Programa Acelerador faz parte de uma ambição muito mais ampla: uma África onde as startups se expandam por todo o continente como algo natural, onde as empresas negociem sem obstáculos além-fronteiras e onde o continente funcione como uma força económica verdadeiramente integrada. O Afreximbank orgulha-se de ser um parceiro, um facilitador e uma parte interessada empenhada no sucesso da próxima geração de líderes do comércio africano.”

Para além das sessões principais, as oito startups reuniram-se com o Presidente do Afreximbank, Dr. George Elombi, e com a equipa de liderança sénior para sessões informativas ministradas por especialistas sobre diversos temas.

O Programa Acelerador oferece uma proposta de valor diferenciada ao combinar:

Acesso directo à rede pan-africana do Afreximbank de governos, instituições financeiras, empresas e parceiros comerciais
Oportunidades de acesso ao mercado e facilitação de negócios nos principais corredores comerciais africanos
Orientação regulamentar e política, aproveitando as relações do Banco com os bancos centrais e as entidades reguladoras
Vias de integração no ecossistema de comércio digital do Banco, incluindo o Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) e o Sistema Pan-Africano de Pagamentos e Liquidação (PAPSS)

Esta abordagem posiciona o Afreximbank como um facilitador estratégico do comércio transfronteiriço à escala continental, ajudando as startups a navegar pelo processo de licenciamento, conformidade e entrada no mercado em várias jurisdições. Para além disso, o Banco desempenha um papel central na definição do ecossistema de comércio digital de África, combinando acesso ao mercado, parcerias e infra-estruturas para apoiar o crescimento de soluções escaláveis a nível continental.

O programa sublinha o papel crescente do Afreximbank como catalisador do ecossistema de comércio e inovação em África, proporcionando uma plataforma estruturada para identificar e expandir projectos de alto impacto. Através desta iniciativa, o Banco está a promover de forma activa o desenvolvimento da infra-estrutura digital subjacente à implementação do acordo da Zona de Comércio Livre Continental Africana (ZCLCA) e a posicionar-se na vanguarda dos esforços para impulsionar o comércio intra-africano, a integração de mercados e a transformação económica em todo o continente.

Colectivamente, as oito startups operam em mais de 15 países africanos, abrangendo os principais corredores comerciais da África Ocidental, Oriental, do Norte e Austral. O seu impacto destaca a escala e o potencial da inovação africana. A Fluna facilitou mais de 50 milhões de USD em comércio em 10 países. A Capsa processou mais de 70 mil milhões de NGN em financiamento da cadeia de abastecimento. A OnePort 365 liga os corredores comerciais Nigéria-Gana-Quénia. A Timon presta apoio a pagamentos em 15 países, com planos de expansão para 40 países, e a Zowasel ligou mais de 4000 cooperativas e empresas do sector do agro-negócio verificadas.

Juntas, estas iniciativas estão a construir as bases digitais para o comércio intra-africano, acelerando a implementação da ZCLCA e abrindo novos caminhos para a integração económica em todo o continente e na rede mais ampla da África Global.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Afreximbank.

Contacto para a Imprensa:
Vincent Musumba
Gestor de Comunicações e Eventos (Relações com a Imprensa)
Correio Electrónico: press@afreximbank.com

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Sobre o Afreximbank:
O Banco Africano de Exportação e Importação (Afreximbank) é uma instituição financeira multilateral pan-africana com mandato para financiar e promover o comércio intra e extra-africano. Há mais de 30 anos que o Banco utiliza estruturas inovadoras para oferecer soluções de financiamento que apoiam a transformação da estrutura do comércio africano, acelerando a industrialização e o comércio intra-regional, impulsionando assim a expansão económica em África. Apoiante firme do Acordo de Comércio Livre Continental Africano (ACLCA), o Afreximbank lançou um Sistema Pan-Africano de Pagamento e Liquidação (PAPSS) que foi adoptado pela União Africana (UA) como plataforma de pagamento e liquidação para sustentar a implementação da ZCLCA. Em colaboração com o Secretariado da ZCLCA e a UA, o Banco criou um Fundo de Ajustamento de 10 mil milhões de dólares para apoiar os países que participam de forma efectiva na ZCLCA. No final de Dezembro de 2024, o total de activos e contingências do Afreximbank ascendia a mais de 40,1 mil milhões de dólares e os seus fundos de accionistas a 7,2 mil milhões de dólares. O Afreximbank tem notações de grau de investimento atribuídas pela China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), pela GCR (A), pela Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) e pela Moody’s (Baa2). O Afreximbank evoluiu para uma entidade de grupo que inclui o Banco, a sua subsidiária de fundo de impacto de acções, denominada Fundo para o Desenvolvimento das Exportações em África (FEDA), e a sua subsidiária de gestão de seguros, AfrexInsure (em conjunto, “o Grupo”). O Banco tem a sua sede em Cairo, Egipto.

Para mais informações, visite: www.Afreximbank.com.

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March 26, 2026

Repo rate remains unchanged at 6.75%

Source: Government of South Africa

Repo rate remains unchanged at 6.75%

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.75%, citing heightened global uncertainty following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East and its impact on inflation and growth.

With just a few weeks into the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago noted that leading central banks have generally kept rates unchanged, as they wait for more information.

“The fact is, we are still only a few weeks into this crisis. The coming months will be crucial for assessing the longer-term inflation consequences. Given current forecasts, we see inflation risks to the upside.

“Against this backdrop, the committee decided to keep the policy rate unchanged, at 6.75%. The decision was unanimous,” Kganyago said on Thursday during a media briefing in Pretoria.

He added that the ongoing Middle East conflict was a clear instance of a supply shock, which raises prices while weakening demand.

“The standard response to a supply shock is to look through first-round effects, which are unavoidable and cannot be stopped by interest rate changes. At the same time, central banks should be alert to second-round effects, where an initial shock triggers broad price increases. Getting policy right means ensuring that the price response to supply shocks is transitory, and not persistent,” the Governor said.

Looking at South Africa’s latest data, the economy grew further in the fourth quarter of 2025, with output rising by 1.1% for the year as a whole.

“This is better than recent years but still well below longer-run averages. We have been encouraged by green shoots such as rising confidence and stronger investment, but the ongoing war could interrupt the growth recovery.

“For the time being, our growth projections are largely unchanged. There have been data revisions which lowered 2025 growth, making 2026 look a bit stronger in comparison.

“This offsets some of the impact from the current shock. We still have growth rising to around 2% over the next few years, but we now see downside risks to the outlook,” Kganyago said.

Moving to prices, inflation was 3.0% for February, with core inflation also at 3.0%, which is in line with the SARB target.

“Higher energy prices will raise inflation in the near term. We expect headline will soon accelerate to around 4%, with fuel inflation over 18% for the second quarter. Our baseline forecast then has a gradual unwinding of the shock, taking inflation back to 3% late next year,” he said.

Given global uncertainty, the Reserve Bank looked at two alternatives, both with more adverse assumptions than its baseline.

“The first scenario assumes that the conflict lasts another two months or so, with oil prices averaging nearly US$100 per barrel for this period and the rand about 5% weaker against the dollar. The second, more extreme scenario has the war lasting over a year, with oil prices staying above US$100 per barrel and the rand 10% weaker,” the Governor said.

In both scenarios, inflation is higher, exceeding 4% in the first version and 5% in the second.

“Both call for higher interest rates this year, with one hike in the first scenario and several more in the other.

“Inflation then slows as oil prices start easing and the policy response takes effect. In the first scenario we are back to target during 2027. In the second scenario this only happens in 2028. In both cases, growth is weaker initially, but there is some catch-up later,” Kganyago said.

He mentioned that South Africa has made important macroeconomic progress recently, with a lower inflation target, improved fiscal prospects and steadier growth.

“Prudent monetary policy will help sustain these gains, despite difficult global conditions. Further support would come from reaching a prudent public debt level, lowering administered price inflation, and continuing structural reforms that raise potential growth,” the Governor said. –SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Thu, 03/26/2026 – 15:25

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March 26, 2026

South Africa’s first table grapes shipment arrives in the Philippines

Source: Government of South Africa

South Africa’s first table grapes shipment arrives in the Philippines

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has welcomed the successful arrival of the first official shipment of South African table grapes to the Philippines, marking a significant milestone following the granting of market access in 2025.

The inaugural shipment represents the culmination of several years of sustained technical engagement between the South African and Philippine governments, underpinned by close collaboration with industry stakeholders and regulatory authorities.

It reflects a shared commitment to science-based phytosanitary standards and the steady expansion of agricultural trade between the two countries.

Steenhuisen said the arrival of the first shipment is more than a commercial transaction.

“It is the opening of a new trade corridor between South Africa and the Philippines. It demonstrates what can be achieved through sustained cooperation, mutual trust, and a shared ambition to grow our agricultural sectors.”

The Philippines is among the top 20 global importers of table grapes, with imports estimated at approximately 74,000 tonnes in 2024, equivalent to around 16 million cartons (4.5kg cartons). With a population of over 118 million people, a rapidly expanding middle class, and increasing urbanisation, the market presents a significant long-term opportunity for South African producers.

South Africa’s table grape industry continues to show steady growth. According to the department, in the current 2025/26 season to date, exports have reached 76.6 million cartons, reflecting both the resilience of the sector and its ability to respond to evolving global demand.

Steenhuisen emphasised that South Africa views the Philippines not simply as a destination market, but as a long-term partner in food security, trade, and agricultural development.

“We see this as the beginning of a sustained partnership. South Africa remains committed to being a reliable, predictable supplier of high-quality, safe agricultural products, and to working closely with our Philippine counterparts to build a consistent and growing presence in this market over time,” Steenhuisen said in a statement on Thursday.

The Minister also noted that expanding into new markets such as the Philippines forms part of South Africa’s broader strategy to diversify export destinations, strengthen resilience, and reduce over-reliance on traditional trading partners.

“Southeast Asia represents a dynamic and increasingly important region for South African agriculture. Our approach is not to replace existing markets, but to broaden our footprint in a way that supports long-term growth, stability, and opportunity for our producers,” he said.

The Minister said the table grape industry will now focus on establishing a firm foothold in the Philippine market during South Africa’s supply window, with a view to expanding volumes, varietal offerings, and market integration over the next three to five years.

Steenhuisen expressed his appreciation to all stakeholders who contributed to this achievement, including the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI), the Department of Agriculture, the South African Embassy in the Philippines led by Her Excellency Ambassador Bartinah Ntombizodwa Radebe-Netshitenzhe, as well as the Philippine Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Plant Industry.

“This milestone is the result of coordinated effort across government and industry. It lays a strong foundation for deeper cooperation, expanded trade, and shared prosperity between our two nations,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Thu, 03/26/2026 – 14:30

102 views