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CONFIDENTIALLY SPEAKING

The Africa Confidential Blog

Displaying 31-40 out of 496 results.

  • 5th October 2023

Will 'earthquake diplomacy' work at the IMF and World Bank meeting in Marrakech?

Africa Confidential

Out of the phenomenon known as 'earthquake diplomacy' – as practised in Fukushima, Bali and l'Aquila – natural disasters have given grand multilateral meetings a shot in the arm and a sense of purpose. That is what the what the Moroccan government hopes w...

  • 22nd September 2023

Africa states its case as demands for UN reform grow

Blue Lines

The 40 African leaders at this week's UN General Assembly contrasts with the absence of four leaders of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and points to an imbalance in multilateralism. Geopolitics helps explain it. Russia's invasion of...

  • 7th September 2023

Will Africa's G20 membership produce a breakthrough on climate finance?

Blue Lines

In the absence of Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping, the European Union will hold an informal 'mini-summit' with the African Union on the margins of the G20's summit in New Delhi on 9-10 September. That is being marketed as a political win in...

  • 24th August 2023

After Prigozhin, what next for Wagner in Africa?

Blue Lines

The crash of a plane on 23 August with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Russia's mercenary Wagner Group, said to be on board will do little to resolve the questions surrounding the company since its thwarted march on Moscow. Prigozhin and his deputy, Dmit...

  • 3rd August 2023

Sahel crisis needs fast political rethink

Blue Lines

Niger's putsch of 26 July ousted the last but one elected president in the Sahel region. Only Mauritania retains an elected leader, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. All the other countries are run by military governments and are at war. The junta in Mali has lost ...

  • 20th July 2023

Will Ruto rethink his austerity plan as protests spread?

Blue Lines

The political costs of the financial crisis in developing economies are emerging centre stage but not in predictable places. Debt-laden Ghana and Zambia are nearing the end of their tortuous debt restructuring negotiations while citizens take the brunt of...

  • 6th July 2023

What Zambia’s new deal means for countries in debt traps

Blue Lines

The deal to restructure over US$6 billion of Zambia's foreign debt is a triumph for President Hakainde Hichilema, under whose government the country will save billions in repayments if, as is now much more likely, he secures a second term. Much kudos shou...

  • 22nd June 2023

Sierra Leone's Maada Bio faces election test

Blue Lines

About 3.4 million Sierra Leoneans are expected to vote in a general election on 24 June in which incumbent President Julius Maada Bio is seeking a second and final term. Although 13 candidates will be on the ballot paper, the poll is widely expected to be...

  • 8th June 2023

Can Ajay Banga fix the World Bank?

Blue Lines

When Ajay Banga went on his campaign tour, government and financial leaders were keen to meet the former Mastercard chief executive and tout his credentials as the reformist needed to shake up a sclerotic World Bank. Now installed as President, Banga will...

  • 25th May 2023

Will carbon trading help Africa's revenue woes?

Blue Lines

The launch of the African Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI) following last November's UN COP27 summit in Egypt was a major milestone towards making climate finance available and expanding clean energy across the continent. Governments are now setting out t...

Displaying 31-40 out of 496 results.