Author: Priscilla Agyeman-Duah

At the recently held Clean Cooking Summit in Paris in 2024, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the seven-decade-old African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, reiterated the pressing need for clean cooking solutions in Africa. Highlighting an alarming situation, Adesina referred to a statistic of 900 million African people who are bereft of clean cooking facilities, leading to a surge in premature deaths due to indoor pollution. 

South Africa has appealed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to advance its probe into the claimed genocide by Israel against the Palestinian population. This call comes after the ICC’s decision in March to investigate possible war crimes in occupied territories including the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. 

The African Development Bank’s (AfDB) midterm review of its Country Strategy Paper (CSP) 2022-2026 for Madagascar marks substantial strides in supporting the nation’s agricultural and infrastructure development. The review confirms success in two key areas of focus: helping agricultural transformation aimed at restoring food security promoting employment and building infrastructure to facilitate inclusive growth.

Washburn University, located in Topeka, Kansas, is stepping onto the global stage by announcing its hosting of a major conference tailored for African business development leaders. The event is intended to illustrate the evolving business landscape on the African continent, offering insights into potential investment, entrepreneurship, and sustainability opportunities.

Amazon, the global E-commerce giant, has expanded its footprint with the opening of a full-scale African headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa. This strategic move aims at offering localized experiences and seamless access to the vast global Amazon marketplace for its South African customers.

Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya and newly appointed African Union’s (AU) Special Envoy for Infrastructure Development, has confirmed that his recent AU role will not interfere with his ongoing political activities in Kenya. 

In a recent surge of extreme weather conditions, the Kilimanjaro region in Tanzania is reeling from the aftermath of torrential downpours. The expanded rainfall significantly disrupted the land transportation infrastructure, causing the sweeping away of critical bridges and rendering numerous roads impassable. 

In a significant move that will invigorate tourism sector recovery in Africa, the United Kingdom has decided to lift the travel restrictions on the most frequented tourist destinations on the continent. Following an assessment of the COVID-19 situation and progress in vaccination rates, beginning 11 October, travelers from countries including South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Tanzania will no longer be required to undertake the ten-day hotel quarantine upon arrival in the UK.

In a significant bid to boost Africa’s access to vital COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments, The African Union (AU) has entered into an agreement with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). The collaboration aims to strengthen the negotiation abilities of African nations and further expedite the implementation of vaccination plans across the continent. 

In a significant diplomatic venture aimed at shaping global economic policy, the African Union has secured participation at the prestigious G20 forum. This development is seen as pivotal in amplifying Africa’s voice in world affairs and emphasizing its importance and relevance on the international stage.