Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Download logoDespite a successful presidential election and other noteworthy progress, the Central African Republic (CAR) continues to be plagued by violence and volatility, the UN peacekeeping chief told the Security Council on Tuesday.  Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, praised the peacekeeping mission in the country, MINUSCA, in providing security to thousands of internally displaced, helping to safeguard democratic order and protecting civilians “in the face of persisting attempts by the armed group coalition to asphyxiate the country”.  However, notwithstanding these “outstanding efforts”, he upheld: “The situation remains very volatile”.  Alarming humanitarian situation   At the same time, insecurity has blocked the passage of more than a thousand trucks carrying lifesaving supplies, food and medical necessities, to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.  Ongoing violence has also resulted in “significant renewed displacement and increased humanitarian needs and pushed civilians to again seek refuge in neighbouring countries”, said Mr. Lacroix.   The Central African Republic “is now the most dangerous place for humanitarian work”, he added, noting it that it accounted for over 46 per cent of worldwide incidents registered by international non-governmental organizations last month.    Glimmer of hope  And yet, in “a major achievement”, the country is on track to successfully conclude a democratic transfer of power within the constitutional timeline, according to the UN official.    Two years since its signing, the Political Agreement remains “the only viable framework for peace”, said Mr. Lacroix.   “It is now essential that these democratic gains are preserved by completing the electoral process and advancing a peaceful resolution to the crisis”, he asserted.  To start “healing the national trauma”, the UN peacekeeping chief advocated for “inclusive and meaningful dialogue…without delay” and for the international community to support national efforts by “promoting cooperation and coherence in the peace process”.    Bolstering the mission  Mr. Lacroix told the Council that as “the main guarantor of security for the civilian population”, MINUSCA is addressing the volatile situation and responding to increased protection needs.  However, warning that the mission is being overstretched, he recommended the addition of 2,750 military and 940 police personnel to “strengthen MINUSCA’s ability to implement its priority mandated tasks…namely, to protect civilians, create the conditions for progress in the political process, and to facilitate the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance”.   Against the backdrop of seven peacekeepers killed in hostile attacks during electoral violence and two others in the line of duty during the same period, Mr. Lacroix upheld that an augmentation would also contribute to safeguarding UN staff.   A reinforcement would “address increased needs, as well as the existing capacity of MINUSCA”, he continued, pointing to ongoing efforts to optimize the peacekeeping mission’s performance.   Advancing peace  Mr. Lacroix painted a picture of rising human rights violations, increased civilian abductions and killings. Attacks against humanitarian workers, extrajudicial executions and conflict-related sexual violence are also on the rise, and he said that advancing peaceful dialogue must be coupled with fighting impunity, including for grave crimes committed in the electoral period.    “This will require a commitment by national authorities to pursue accountability for violations by State and non-State actors, while safeguarding human rights and preserving and expanding civic space”, he said.  The UN peacekeeping chief underscored the importance of reviewing and adjusting security needs with a view to re-establishing operational readiness for national defence and internal security forces.   “The Central African people have suffered so much and deserve our steadfast support and attention”, he said, while also recognizing the “bravery and sacrifice” of MINUSCA personnel in this “exceptionally challenging context”. Other voices  Meanwhile, Rita Laranjinha, Managing Director for the European External Action Service in Africa, outlined for ambassadors her support for all efforts to end impunity for rights abuses, as a key component of reconciliation and a sign of respect to and justice for victims and their families.    She stressed that official corruption must end and urged prompt attention to the “disinformation” and hate speech that endanger peacekeepers and undermine trust in governance.  Kessy Martine Ekomo-Soignet, Director of youth-led peacebuilding organization URU, spoke of a climate of “fear” that permeates much of CAR society, but maintained that the cry for peace was still being heard, loud and clear.  “Our hopes are stronger than our fears”, she said, calling for redoubled efforts to “silence the guns” and honour the dreams of communities for peace.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

Central African Republic ‘very volatile’, despite important progress – UN peacekeeping chief

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Sixteen patients have been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 in tests carried out today at Quarantine Centers in the Central, Gash Barka and Southern Regions. Out of these, thirteen patients are from Quarantine Centers in Asmara, Central Region; two in Omhajer, Gash Barka Region; and one in Adi-Keih, Southern Region. On the other hand, fourteen patients who have been receiving medical treatment in the Central (9), and Anseba (5) Regions have recovered fully and have been discharged from these facilities. The total number of recovered patients to-date has accordingly risen to 2,173 while the number of deaths stands at seven. The total number of confirmed cases in the country to-date has increased to 2,789.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Eritrea: Announcement from the Ministry of Health (24 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Daily: Laboratory test: 6,089 Severe cases: 386 New recovered: 387 New deaths: 12 New cases: 977 Total: Laboratory test: 2,108,406 Active cases: 19,478 Total recovered: 133,438 Total deaths: 2,316 Total cases: 155,234Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Ethiopia.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
New cases: 189 Total active cases: 12,562 Total currently admitted: 106 (15 new) Total number of tests conducted: 190,269 (2,485 new) Total confirmed cases: 31,295* Total recovered: 17,570 (126 new) New discharges from treatment units: 14 Total deaths: 1,029 (5 new) *Out of these, 134 lost to follow-up.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health and Population, Republic of Malawi.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
FIFA (www.FIFA.com) President Gianni Infantino concluded his visit to Morocco by thanking his highness, King Mohammed VI, the Moroccan government and Moroccan Football Association (FRMF) for their commitment and continuous support for the development of football in the country and beyond. “I would like to thank everyone who has accompanied us on this visit, firstly his majesty King Mohammed VI, for his interest and passion for football, and for his support and ambition to grow the sport even further in Morocco,” the FIFA President said. “Without him, and without the support of both the government and everyone at the federation, this development would not be possible. We were able to discuss openly and to identify concretely the projects for the future development of not only Moroccan football, but of African football, and football across the world, especially as Morocco plays a pivotal role in the global game.” While in Rabat, the FIFA President also had the opportunity to meet CAF presidential candidate Jacques Anouma, who is also visiting the country. “I was very happy to have the chance to discuss with Jacques Anouma his plans for the future of African football and how can FIFA, CAF and the African member associations work together, hand in hand, to bring African football to the very top level it deserves to be,” the FIFA President said. In recent days, during his trip to several African countries, the FIFA President has met with four candidates to for the upcoming CAF presidential elections, namely Jacques Anouma, Patrice Motsepe, Augustin Senghor and Ahmed Yahya. The trip, which has spanned nine countries to date, will also include visits to Mali and Benin. A visit to Ivory Coast was also foreseen, but it will be rescheduled for a later occasion primarily because a meeting with head of state, President Alassane Ouattara, could not be facilitated on the originally planned date.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Fédération internationale de football association (FIFA).Media filesDownload logo

FIFA President&apos;s African visits continue

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Tests conducted: 8,967,460 Positive cases identified: 1,507,448 Total recoveries: 1,422,622 Total deaths: 49,523 New cases: 1,862Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa, Department of Health.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – South Africa: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Download logoMinister of Health Lizzie Nkosi announces two new COVID-19 deaths in Eswatini, taking total deaths to 649. &#8220;May their souls rest in peace.&#8221; New cases: 58 Total cases: 16,897 Active cases: 2,389 New recoveries: 188 Total recoveries: 13,801 New deaths: 2 Total deaths: 649Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
655 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria; Lagos-240 Ogun-88 Rivers-56 FCT-51 Kaduna-43 Kano-25 Plateau-21 Taraba-19 Edo-17 Abia15 Delta-13 Nasarawa-11 Akwa Ibom-10 Kwara-10 Oyo-10 Kebbi-9 Borno-5 Bayelsa-4 Gombe-4 Ekiti-2 Osun-2 153,842 confirmed 130,818 discharged 1,885 deathsDistributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Results of COVID-19 tests done on 24 February 2021 confirm 39 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 40,300. The breakdown of the new cases are: 36 contacts and alerts: Soroti (12) Wakiso (10) Kampala (9) Mbale (2) Gulu (1) Lyantonde (1) Tororo (1); 3 Truck Driver: Elegu (2) Mutukula (1).Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health &#8211; Republic of Uganda.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Uganda: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
By Charné Hundermark Mozambique is experiencing an influx of investment across energy, agriculture, tourism, construction and mining sectors, positioning the country for transformative economic growth. The benefits of ongoing megaprojects, however, have the potential to extend beyond government revenues and critical infrastructure and to local capacity building and the assurance of sustainable socioeconomic improvement. In a bid to increase country-wide living standards and boost local participation in expanding sectors, Mozambique is prioritizing the expansion of local content policies and leveraging large-scale developments to capitalize on skills transfer and training initiatives. Promoting Participation Through Policy In response to large-scale developments taking place across the country, the Government of Mozambique has enacted several local content requirements to ensure that the flow of capital extends to local communities and economies. Notably, the country is in the process of passing a revised Local Content Law, which aims to increase local participation through the enforcement of a minimum percentage requirement, ensure preference is given to local suppliers, encourage technology transfer and require the presentation of a local content plan by enterprises to relevant authorities on an annual basis, among other key provisions. Additionally, the Local Content Law will be monitored and managed by an independent public entity that will determine certification of companies and specific local content requirements. The Law aims to significantly increase indigenous participation across sectors, with a view to driving employment and the creation of local industries. Mozambique already has a series of laws in place that contain local content provisions. Namely, in the petroleum sector, the Mozambican Petroleum Law and the Mega Project law provide for the mandatory registration of oil and gas companies on the Mozambique Stock Exchange; concessionaires are required to obtain Mozambican participation in their share capital between five and 20%; and when public interest requires, holders of oil or gas exploration rights shall give preference to the Mozambican Government in the acquisition of petroleum produced in the concession area. In the mining sector, the Mining Law requires concessionaires to also obtain Mozambican participation in their share capital; the acquisition of goods and services of MZN 15 million ($200,000) or more are to be executed through public tender; and titleholders and contractors are to give preference to Mozambican goods and services when available.   Capacity as a Key Determinant One of the primary challenges hindering the realization of local content policies, however, is a lack of local capacity. Despite enforcement of policies that promote inclusivity of and increased participation by the local workforce, the lack of a highly skilled workforce, characteristic of industries such as mining and extractives, continue to reduce compliance. Therefore, the transfer of skills, knowledge and technology from foreign entities to local counterparts has emerged as a key priority. In fact, the proliferation of multi-sector developments in Mozambique presents unique opportunities for international companies to utilize projects as an avenue for capacity building. Many large-scale developments rely on an international workforce; by re-injecting knowledge and transferring skills to the local community, projects can significantly expand their available resources, spurring long-term and sustainable economic growth in the process. Secondly, local content requirements imposed by government can help facilitate regional networks, otherwise underutilized. Since partnerships with local companies are already required under current local content regulations, integration and collaboration with the local workforce can ensure enhanced cooperation across the value chain. Notably, projects such as the Total’s Mozambique LNG are establishing a series of high-impact initiatives and education-based programs in a bid to transfer knowledge and spearhead local capacity building. To fully realize industry objectives and ensure long-term, sustainable project development, the establishment and enforcement of local content is necessary, but only in conjunction with adequate capacity building initiatives. With effective capacity building in tow, which aims to strengthen the local workforce and drive local participation, multi-sectoral success can be translated into socioeconomic improvements. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Oil &#038; Power Conference.Africa Oil &#038; Power (www.AfricaOilandPower.com) is working with the Mozambican government to promote investment in energy and diverse sectors, including agriculture, industry, tourism, construction and logistics in 2021. On March 8-9, AOP will host a Presidential Award ceremony (invite only) and Workshops Day in Maputo, preceding the Mozambique Gas &#038; Power 2021 conference and exhibition. If your organization would like to host a workshop, please email sales@africaoilandpower.com. To register to attend, please visit: https://bit.ly/3kqMHro. Media filesDownload logo

Local Content Rises to Top of Mozambique’s Developmental Agenda (By Charné Hundermark)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Total cases: 18,443 (+118) Recovered: 17,264 (+13) Active cases: 925 In critical condition: 12 Tests: 991,917 (+5,252) Test positivity rate: 2.2% Recovery rate: 93.6% Deaths: 254 (+1) | 1.3% Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Download logoAs Ebola immunization scales up in Guinea, the country’s neighbouring nations are on high alert, urgently preparing to detect, isolate and manage any cases and quickly stamp out potential cross-border outbreaks. Nine cases, including five deaths have been reported in Guinea. While no confirmed cases of Ebola have been recorded outside of the country, the latest outbreak in N’Zerekore prefecture is close to porous borders with Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d&#39;Ivoire. All six nations bordering Guinea are finalising their national preparedness and readiness operational plans in line with a WHO readiness assessment tool. The overall state of readiness in the six countries is nearly 66% which is still lower than the benchmark of 80%. Surveillance and screening are being stepped up at border crossing points and in high-risk communities. Rapid response teams are being deployed to border areas to support preparedness plans of health districts. Testing and treatment facilities are being scaled up and work to ensure communities take full ownership and rally around public health responses is underway. So far 20 alerts of suspected cases have been reported in three countries. All tested negative for Ebola. “We’ve learned the hard lessons of history and we know with Ebola and other health emergencies preparedness works. It’s act now or pay later in lives lost and economies ruined. Systematic surveillance, comprehensive preparations and strong, cross-border coordination are crucial to detecting any cases and ensuring that they are quickly isolated, treated and that vaccination of high-risk contacts begin quickly,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. Guinea has moved rapidly to start providing the Ebola vaccine to people at high risk, launching a vaccination drive in Gouecke, N’Zerekore prefecture, the outbreak’s epicentre, a little over a week after the first case was reported. As of today, WHO reports find that 225 people have been vaccinated in Guinea, including 66 high-risk contacts. WHO has disbursed US$ 1.25 million to support the response in Guinea and to reinforce Ebola readiness in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone. The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund has also released US$ 15 million to support the response to the Ebola outbreaks in Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as preparedness in the neighbouring countries. In Guinea itself, around 65 WHO international and national experts are on the ground and the government has supported a special flight to bring in doses of the rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine, ultra-cold chain containers, personal protective equipment and other medical supplies from Conakry to N’Zerekore. In the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province there have been eight confirmed cases of Ebola and four deaths in the latest outbreak that was declared on 7 February. Persistent insecurity, tragically illustrated by the recent death of Italian Ambassador Luca Attanasio in the region, is hampering efforts to detect cases and trace the contacts of those infected. More than 650 people have been vaccinated so far. About 8000 vaccine doses were still available in the country at the end of the 11th Ebola outbreak. Another 4320 doses are expected to arrive early next week.  Ebola Virus Disease is a severe, lethal illness that typically kills around half of those infected. It spreads between people through direct contact with blood and bodily fluids of infected people and from surfaces and materials contaminated with these fluids. The 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak began in Guinea and spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. When it was finally brought under control there were about 28 000 cases and 11 000 deaths, making it the deadliest since the virus was first detected in 1976. Dr Moeti spoke during a virtual press conference today facilitated by APO Group. She was joined by Dr Bachir Kanté, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Health, Guinea, and Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director of Public Health, Ghana Health Service. Also on hand to answer questions were Dr Richard Mihigo, Immunization and Vaccine Development Programme Coordinator, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Dr Nsenga Ngoy, Emergency Response Programme Manager, WHO Regional Office for Africa, and Dr Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi, Regional Virologist, WHO Regional Office for Africa.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

West African countries ramp up Ebola preparedness

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
By Andres Vega, International Associate at Centurion Law Group. Angolan lawmakers last week approved the revision of current legislation, allowing for oil and gas pre-exploration studies to be carried out in some areas previously designated as natural reserves. The government however stressed, that this law was by no means a relaxation of the stringent environmental provisions required for oil exploration in Angola that already exist. According to H.E Diamantino Pedro Azevedo, Minister of Mineral Resources and Petroleum, less than 3% of the zones previously designated as protected are likely to be affected by this provision. Angola’s constitution and applicable presidential decrees all mandate that oil and gas exploration only be carried out in a manner that is environmentally friendly.  The proposed new law secured a majority of over 70% in Angola’s parliament. The adoption of the new law by such a strong majority, despite earlier concerns, is an acknowledgement of the role oil has played in bringing prosperity to Angola. It is also an endorsement of the sectors’ regulator, the Agência Nacional de Petróleo, Gás e Biocombustíveis (ANPG), which is charged with ensuring that the highest environmental standards are adhered to during oil and gas exploration and production. Following the achievement of independence from Portugal in 1975, and a protracted civil war that went on for decades, Angola has been able to rebuilt its infrastructure, improve institutional capacity, governance, public financial management systems, human development indicators and living conditions of its 31.8 million population in record time. Coupled with a pragmatic and business friendly approach to governance under the administration of President João Lourenço, private sector-led oil growth is expected to continue playing a powerful role in fuelling long-term national development. From first oil production at the Benfica-2 well in 1956 to the deep-water discovery of the Girassol field in Block 17 in 1996, Angola has risen to become sub-Saharan Africa’s second-largest crude producer, after Nigeria. Producing 1.4 million barrels per day pre-COVID-19, with a peak production of over two million barrels per day in 2010, oil accounts for close to 90% of domestic exports. Around one-third of Angola’s GDP is rooted in the oil industry, while crude oil, natural gas and refined oil account for almost all national exports, with the value of crude oil exports totalling USD 35.5 billion in 2018.  As a result, crude oil production has had a sizeable impact on GDP and per capita wealth. In fact, Angola is home to one of the fastest-growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa and has witnessed a meteoric rise in socioeconomic development aligned with the expansion of its energy industry. In the 20-year period between 1999 and 2019, Angola’s GDP grew by 1,344%, reaching a peak of $145 billion in 2014, in line with the global crude oil bull market. Per capita wealth has seen a similar trajectory over the same period, growing by 619% and reaching $2,791 in 2019 pre-COVID-19, as well as peaking at $5,408 in 2014. Importantly, the rise in government revenue has enabled the provision of enhanced public services, including health care, education, critical infrastructure and utilities. Angola’s Ministry of Education, in partnership with UNESCO, developed a National Strategy on Literacy and School Recovery aimed at rebuilding the national education system following the end of the civil war and improving literacy rates across the country, which currently stands at 77% for adults, significantly higher than the sub-Saharan average of 65%. In recent years, with the help of oil revenue, the Government has opened five new universities, 45 health worker training schools and a myriad of health clinics. The establishment of private health services and facilities by International Oil Companies for their employees has also been a key factor in the improvement of healthcare, with many Angolans benefiting from these provisions. Infrastructure expenditure was also prioritized, especially electricity provision. This led to the building of additional generation capacity such as the Laúca dam which is one of Africa’s largest. Upon completion and full commissioning, it is expected to provide affordable and reliable power for over 8 million Angolans and spur the creation of heavy industry and associated jobs. Angola’s oil wealth has by no means spared it from criticism about the unfair distribution of wealth, inequality in society and, in some cases, the misappropriation of state funds. These concerns are legitimate and should be looked at by the state. Where people are found to have profited unduly, it is important that they be held accountable and that justice be unbiasedly served as per the law and in the name of the People of Angola. The sector’s ability to generate wealth for Angola in itself is not the problem. Neither is the oil sector’s ability to generate that wealth at all in question. Concerns are rather centered around the use of the revenues generated and its fair distribution. These concerns should be addressed adequately by the relevant authorities. However, all sections of Angolan society and Angola’s international partners should continue to support the country’s oil and gas sector, to ensure that it continues to generate revenues for the development of the country. This is ever more important, given growing competition globally from new frontiers like Guyana, shale in the USA, and a global transition discourse that is adversely affecting the financing of oil exploration projects in Africa. A Reform-Driven Approach In addition to key socioeconomic indicators, hydrocarbon development in Angola has set in motion a reformist approach to oil and non-oil sectors alike. Notably, in positioning its petroleum sector as an attractive investment destination for international operators, Angola has initiated greater transparency, environmental sustainability and decentralization across its economy, which has also bred diversification and growth of non-energy industries. Following the general election of President Lourenço in 2017, the country’s administration embraced bullish reforms, in part driven by the oil sector, in a way that is perhaps best encapsulated by its National Development Plan 2018-2022 (PDN), which comprises 25 strategic policies and 85 action programs. The PDN is based on five main pillars: 	sustainable, diversified and inclusive economic development 	infrastructure needed for development 	peace-building. 	strengthening of the democratic state and governance. 	state reform and decentralization. In addition to outlining the way in which oil production will reach an estimated production of 1.5 million barrels per day, it provides for the privatization and divestment of state-owned Sonangol through the sale of 195 non-core assets between 2019 and 2022. Along with raising capital for the State, the divestment program seeks to refocus Sonangol on its core activities on hydrocarbon exploration, production and marketing and make it more efficient. This same privatization and efficiency drive was quickly extended to other sectors of the economy. This has led to reforms of public utilities, tariffs and subsidies, and to the privatization or liquidation of state-owned assets through the Angolan Institute for State Asset and Holdings Management &#8211; or IGAPE &#8211; an expenditure surveillance unit &#8211; in June 2018. Angola has also taken several measures to encourage foreign investors to engage with economic diversification initiatives beyond its oil sector. Pre-COVID-19, the PDN forecast that Angola would achieve three percent economic growth by 2022, associated with the growth of other non-oil critical sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, construction, services and tourism. Two new laws have been approved and adopted to harness that growth. The private investment law and the antitrust law both aim to enhance private sector-led growth and the competitiveness of Angola’s industrial sector, in turn making substantial strides toward creating more inclusive development and stability. The government also created the national Agency for Private Investment and Promotion of Exports (AIPEX) which serves to identify key products to stimulate exports, promote private investment and the internationalization of companies outside of the oil and gas sector. These vital new programs and institutions benefit from financing generated by the oil sector. AIPEX currently holds two flagship programs: one that focuses on attracting private investment, and another that focuses on exports and the internationalization of companies, with a view toward providing a “one-stop shop” resource for private investment across sectors and for the export business. As the oil and gas sector continues to attract private sector players, an investor-friendly environment opens the door for multinationals to enter the market and establish other, non-energy businesses in their portfolio in Angola, as well.  In short, the impact of Angola’s oil boom on national development cannot be measured in dollars, nor limited to socioeconomic indicators. Instead, the continued growth of the petroleum industry has served to bring sustainability, transparency and improved governance to the country, as it rightfully assumes its position as one of the largest economies in sub-Saharan Africa. The oil industry is one of the most dynamic globally, constantly changing due to innovations and technology improvements. Angola and the ANPG under the leadership of H.E. Paulino Jerónimo must continue to respond in real time to these industry changes in order to stay competitive and attractive for investment. A competitive Angolan oil and gas sector will drive reforms in other sectors of Angola’s economy, and inevitably benefit the lives of all Angolans. Andres Vega is an International Associate at Centurion Law Group and has extensive experience in the implementation, development and financing of oil and gas and energy projects in some of the most important energy markets in the world. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Oil &#038; Power Conference.The Angolan Agency for Oil, Gas and Biofuels counts on Africa Oil &#038; Power (www.AfricaOilandPower.com) – the continent’s leading energy investment platform – as a consultant. Please contact Joao@africaoilandpower.com for further information. Media filesDownload logo

Angola&apos;s 65 Years of Oil History has been Good for Angola Despite Some Challenges (By Andres Vega)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Download logoWITH the number of Africa’s participants to increase in the upcoming Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), the period between now and 2025 will be a pivotal one for football in the continent. This adds to the significance of what is set to be the most fiercely contested elections for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The watershed elections are set for Rabat, Morocco on March 12. In a podcast at the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA), visiting FIFA President, Gianni Infantino underlined the magnitude of the upcoming elections. “It is clear that elections are always an important milestone for an organisation like CAF,” Infantino said. “Let us not forget that in 2026, Africa will have nine or ten (dependent on play-off winners) participants at the World Cup. And in 2023, Africa will have four instead of three participants at the Women’s World Cup.” He said this highlighted why the upcoming years would be essential for the ‘Beautiful Game’ in the continent. “Before this (increase in participants), a lot of organisation needs to take place,” Infantino said. “This means that the period from 2021 to 2025 will be a crucial one for African football, because you want to go to these events and play a protagonist’s role, not just go, play and come back after two or three games.” Infantino, who has embarked on a tour of the continent, said to compete at the highest level, the organisation must be done in a certain way. He appealed for unity. “Reforms need to be implemented, everyone is aware of that, and the unity in the continent needs to be found, backing these projects that go from good governance to infrastructure development, to new competitions, and academy development for young players,” the FIFA president said. CAF, with 54 member associations, is FIFA’s biggest confederation in terms of country members. Presidential elections will be held to choose the successor to Madagascan, Ahmad Ahmad. The candidates are Jacques Bernard Daniel Anouma (Ivory Coast), Patrice Motsepe (South Africa), Augustine Emmanuel Augustine Senghor (Senegal) and Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania. The winning candidate will automatically become a FIFA Vice President. Infantino attended the recent COSAFA AGM held in Johannesburg. COSAFA Chairman, Philip Chiyangwa agreed with Infantino that African football was at a crucial stage. “What is required is strong and decisive leadership. That is how we will grow the game and provide the future we all want to see for African football,” Chiyangwa said. To listen The COSAFA Show, read this link: https://iono.fm/e/1001196 – CAJ News Read the article: https://bit.ly/3pUD0lSDistributed by APO Group on behalf of CAJ News Africa.

African football at crucial stage with Confederation of African Football (CAF) polls imminent

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Victor Campenaerts, Dimitri Claeys and Sander Armée will lead the local charge for Team Qhubeka ASSOS (www.TeamQhubeka.com) for cycling’s iconic “Opening Weekend” of racing in Belgium. The trio will be taking to their home roads on Saturday for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (200.6km), with Campenaerts and Claeys then also set to compete in Sunday’s Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne (199.2km). In Saturday’s race, in which Jasper Stuyven is the defending champion, they will be supported by Dane Emil Vinjebo, Lukasz Wisniowski from Poland, the USA’s Sean Bennett and Austrian road captain Michael Gogl. At this point, there is one change slated for Sunday’s line-up with Spain’s Carlos Barbero set to come into the line-up with Armée making way for the race in which Giacomo Nizzolo placed second in 2020. Omloop Het Nieuwsblad lineup [squad numbers]: 	Victor Campenaerts [55] 	Dimitri Claeys [29] 	Sander Armée [32] 	Emil Vinjebo [34] 	Lukasz Wisniowski [99] 	Sean Bennett [31] 	Michael Gogl [07] Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne lineup [squad numbers]: 	Victor Campenaerts [55] 	Dimitri Claeys [29] 	Carlos Barbero [91] 	Emil Vinjebo [34] 	Lukasz Wisniowski [99] 	Sean Bennett [31] 	Michael Gogl [07] Victor Campenaerts I’m really looking forward to doing my first opening classics; my first cobblestone races as a Belgian rider. In Belgium the opening weekend is really important so at one point in your career you should go ahead and give it a try. And that’s what I will do now, I’m really well prepared, I have been training on the parcours so often – I live on it – so it’s not hard to go on it at all. I’m really forward as I know it by heart and I’m super-motivated to go with a great, strong team there, let’s go for this. Dimitri Claeys I am very happy to race on my home roads, it is so special as Belgian rider to be able to do so – it feels in so many ways that the season starts now. As a group, we’ve already created a good atmosphere following the “recon” and we’ll be prepared for some very exciting racing over the course of the weekend. Lars Michaelsen – Sports Director The Opening Weekend is always a special moment in the season, and as a team we of course are just so thankful for being a part of it. The team has prepared well, spending time together as a group including a really good portion of time looking at the respective parcours. For the likes of Victor, Dimitri and Sander, racing at home will be an added motivation and we look forward to supporting them in that regard. As is to be expected, the field promises to be of a very high-quality so we will look to play our part in what will no doubt be an exciting start to the Classics season as we shift towards the next phase of our season. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka ASSOS.Media Contact: Jean Smyth (Head of Communications) Email: jean@ryder.co.za Mobile: +27 63 4701 1710 or +31 625 739 033 About Team Qhubeka ASSOS: Team Qhubeka ASSOS (www.TeamQhubeka.com) is a purpose-led, high-performance team, fighting to win on the world&#39;s biggest stage, to inspire hope and create opportunity. Founded in 2007, Team Qhubeka ASSOS (formerly NTT Pro Cycling) became the first-ever African cycling team to gain a UCI WorldTour license, in 2016. We achieved our first major win in 2013 when Gerald Ciolek won Milan-San Remo, one of the five Monuments of cycling. We have competed in six Tour de France’s and notched up 7 stage wins, with Mark Cavendish wearing the coveted Yellow Jersey at the 2016 Tour de France. We are a multicultural, diverse team with bases in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. There are 19 nationalities represented across our World Tour and continental feeder team rosters. Our focus on developing African cycling has resulted in more than 55 riders from the African continent be given the opportunity to race on the world stage, since the team&#39;s inception. We race to help people to move forward with bicycles through our relationship with Qhubeka Charity. Through our work with Qhubeka, we have contributed to the distribution of over 30 000 bicycles in communities in South Africa. About Qhubeka: Qhubeka (www.Qhubeka.org) is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles.  People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs. A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go.  All images attached to the press release can be used with the respective image credit in combination to this release. Media filesDownload logo

Homecoming for Campenaerts at Belgium&apos;s “Opening Weekend”

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Millions of Manchester United fans in Africa will gain access to MUTV under an agreement with StarTimes (www.StarTimesTV.com), the continent’s leading digital TV operator. StarTimes will distribute MUTV to subscribers in over 30 countries across sub-Saharan African, representing the biggest agreement of its kind by Manchester United in the region. Viewers in countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana will receive exclusive Manchester United content 24 hours-a-day via StarTimes platforms. MUTV is the world’s leading football club TV channel, featuring first team and Academy games, live manager’s press conferences, player interviews, award-winning documentaries and news. StarTimes has 13 million subscribers through its DVB digital TV service and 20 million users of its OTT streaming service, widening access to top-quality digital entertainment throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Phil Lynch, Chief Executive of Media, Manchester United, said: “We are proud to have hundreds of millions of passionate fans in Africa and this long-term agreement will allow them to get closer to the club through MUTV’s exclusive, round-the-clock content from Old Trafford and the AON Training Complex. “MUTV is one of our most important channels for engaging with fans around the world, whether through linear or direct-to-consumer streaming platforms, and we are excited to be significantly increasing its reach through our new partner, StarTimes, in Africa.” Kristen Miao, Sports Deputy Director, StarTimes, said: “Manchester United is one of the most iconic football clubs in the world. We are delighted to share MUTV with football fans across Africa as part as our commitment to enhancing our subscribers’ experience.” Distributed by APO Group on behalf of StarTimes.Media Contact: Andrew Ward +44 (0) 161 868 8872 Manchester United andrew.ward@manutd.co.uk David Courbe +86 13241486997 StarTimes dcourbe@startimes.com.cn About Manchester United: Manchester United (www.ManUtd.com) is one of the most popular and successful sports teams in the world, playing one of the most popular spectator sports on Earth. Through our 142-year heritage we have won 66 trophies, enabling us to develop the world’s leading sports brand and a global community of 1.1 billion fans and followers. Our large, passionate community provides Manchester United with a worldwide platform to generate significant revenue from multiple sources, including sponsorship, merchandising, product licensing, new media &#038; mobile, broadcasting and match day. About StarTimes: StarTimes (www.StarTimesTV.com) is the leading digital TV operator in Africa, serving 13 million DVB subscribers and 20 million OTT users in over 30 countries. StarTimes owns a content platform featuring over 630 channels, including African local channels (75%) and international channels (25%). The company&#39;s vision is to ensure that every African family can access, afford, watch and share the beauty of digital TV. Media filesDownload logo

Manchester United announces partnership with StarTimes to offer MUTV in Africa

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Today, GIZ, (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), Orange (www.Orange.com), the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, the Ethiopian Investment Commission and the Industrial Parks Development Corporation are launching the Addis Ababa Orange Digital Center, an ecosystem that is entirely dedicated to digital skills and innovation. The launch took place in the presence of H.E Dr. Abraham Belay, Minister of Innovation &#038; Technology, H.E Lelise Neme, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission, H.E. Sandokan Debebe, CEO at Industrial Parks Development Corporation, Mr. Alioune Ndiaye, C.E.O of Orange Middle East &#038; Africa, Mr. Peter Palesch, GIZ Country Director, H.E Stephan Auer, German Ambassador in Ethiopia and H.E Rémi Maréchaux, French Ambassador in Ethiopia. Following launches in Tunisia and Senegal, Ethiopia will be home to the third Orange Digital Center in Africa and the Middle East. Occupying a space of 500m2, it is the first center in East Africa that will operate as a strategic network, allowing experiences and expertise to be shared between countries and offering a simple and inclusive approach to strengthen the employability of young people, to encourage innovative entrepreneurship and to promote the local digital ecosystem. The purpose of Orange Digital Centers is to bring together several strategic programmes under the same roof: a coding school, a “FabLab Solidaire”, a startup accelerator “Orange Fab” and Orange Ventures Africa, the Group&#39;s investment fund. All of the programmes provided are free-of charge, open to all and include digital training for young people, 90% of which are practical training, start-up acceleration, guidance for project bearers and investment. Orange and GIZ are working together in a development partnership of the develoPPP.de programme, which GIZ implements on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project is supported by BMZ’s Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation, which also operates under the brand Invest for Jobs. The know-how of Orange in training and supporting young people in the field of digital skills and innovation will be complemented by GIZ&#39;s extensive experience and local expertise in addressing the challenges inherent in the employability and entrepreneurship of young Ethiopians. Together with the Ethiopian partners, the GIZ and Orange hope to achieve their shared vision of greater youth employability –- including more women and girls in ICT jobs –- while supporting the country&#39;s sustainable growth and digital transformation. &#8220;Building the &#8220;Digital and Innovation Ecosystem&#8221; is a multi-stakeholders agenda that requires holistic policy envisioning, vibrant enabling system and innovative and efficient collaboration among stakeholders like this &#8220;Responsible&#8221; move of Orange and parties involved: I must acknowledge and encourage, indeed it is an initiative worth investing on.&#8221; Said H.E Dr. Abraham Belay, Minister of Innovation &#038; Technology. “Ethiopia has a young, dynamic and trainable workforce, as well as supportive policies to enable the launching of a project as Orange Digital Center. We therefore welcomed this initiative with great enthusiasm and have been supporting it since day one. Young Ethiopians will have the opportunity to develop world-class technological skills here. Young people, innovation and technology are key to shaping the future of Ethiopia.” Said H.E Lelise Neme, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission. “We are excited about the launching of an Orange Digital Center at the IPDC&#39;s ICT park. We are working hard in order to create world class ICT industries in Ethiopia. We believe that the skills that will be developed here will be very precious to support the IPDC&#39;s goal of making ICT park as a central hub to Africa, place of technological knowledge transfer, an opportunity for IT base job creations and a base for country&#39;s progress towards becoming the middle-income economy.&#8221; Said H.E. Sandokan Debebe, CEO at Industrial Parks Development Corporation. “I am very proud to launch with all our partners the third Orange Digital Center in Addis-Ababa, which will be part of a network of 32 Orange Digital Centers based across two continents: Africa/Middle East and Europe. With the support of GIZ, Orange supports East Africa’s digital ecosystem by providing young Ethiopians with all its technological know-how to create more job opportunities. This program will be complemented by two ODC Clubs that will be deployed swiftly in different regions to reach out to even more young people. I would like to remind you that we are planning to launch other Orange Digital Centers by the end of the year in Africa and the Middle-East.” Said Mr. Alioune Ndiaye, CEO of Orange Middle East &#038; Africa. “The Orange Digital Center contributes to Ethiopia&#39;s digital transformation while creating local employment prospects for young people. It shows Germany’s and the EU´s commitment to promote inclusive and human-centred digitization worldwide.” Said H.E Stephan Auer, German Ambassador in Ethiopia. Orange is present in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East and has 128 million customers at of 31 December 2020. With 5.8 billion euros of revenues in 2020, Orange MEA is the first growth area in the Orange group. Orange Money, its flagship mobile-based money transfer and financial services offer is available in 17 countries and has more than 50 million customers. Orange, multi-services operator, key partner of the digital transformation provides its expertise to support the development of new digital services in Africa and the Middle East.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Orange.Press Contact: Agence Cactus Tegest Desalgn events@prologueethiopia.com +251911745474 Orange Khadija Komara khadija.komara@orange.com +33 6 76 45 96 18 Nathalie Chevrier nathalie.chevrier@orange.com +33 1 44 44 93 93 GIZ Communications and PR GIZ Ethiopia communications-eth@giz.de About Orange: Orange (www.Orange.com) is one of the world’s leading telecommunications carriers with a turnover of €42 billion in 2019 and 143,000 employees as at 30 September 2020, of which 83,000 are in France. The Group has a total customer base of 256 million customers worldwide at 30 September 2020, including 212 million mobile customers and 21 million fixed broadband customers. The Group is present in 26 countries. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the brand Orange Business Services. In December 2019, the Group presented its new &#8220;Engage 2025&#8221; strategic plan, which, guided by social and environmental accountability, aims to reinvent its operator model. While accelerating in growth areas and placing data and AI at the heart of its innovation model, the Group will be an attractive and responsible employer, adapted to emerging professions. Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN). To find out more (online and via your mobile device), go to: www.Orange.com, www.Orange-business.com or to follow us on Twitter: @orangegrouppr. Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited. About GIZ, develoPPP.de &#038; Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation: The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (www.GIZ.de) is a federal enterprise with worldwide operations. It supports the German Government in the fields of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education. GIZ supports people and societies in shaping their own futures and improving their living conditions. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has set up the develoPPP.de program to foster the involvement of the private sector at the point where business opportunities and development policy initiatives overlap. To this end, BMZ offers financial and technical support for companies that want to do business or have already begun operating in developing and emerging-market countries. GIZ acts as one of two official partners who implement the programme on behalf of BMZ. www.developpp.de In Ethiopia, the Orange Digital Center is supported by BMZ&#39;s Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation. The Special Initiative, which operates under the brand Invest for Jobs, supports German, European and African companies in investment activities that have a high impact on employment in Africa. The objective is to create good jobs and apprenticeships and to improve working conditions in the following African partner countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt (in preparation), Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia. www.invest-for-jobs.com/en.Media filesDownload logo

GIZ and Orange launch an Orange Digital Center in Ethiopia, the 3rd in the Africa and Middle East region, to train young people in digital technology and boost their employability

APO

Central African Republic ‘very volatile’, despite important progress – UN peacekeeping chief

Coronavirus – Eritrea: Announcement from the Ministry of Health (24 February 2021)

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

FIFA President's African visits continue

Coronavirus – South Africa: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Coronavirus – Uganda: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Local Content Rises to Top of Mozambique’s Developmental Agenda (By Charné Hundermark)

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

West African countries ramp up Ebola preparedness

Angola's 65 Years of Oil History has been Good for Angola Despite Some Challenges (By Andres Vega)

African football at crucial stage with Confederation of African Football (CAF) polls imminent

Homecoming for Campenaerts at Belgium's “Opening Weekend”

Manchester United announces partnership with StarTimes to offer MUTV in Africa

GIZ and Orange launch an Orange Digital Center in Ethiopia, the 3rd in the Africa and Middle East region, to train young people in digital technology and boost their employability

News Tips

Advertise With Us

APO

Central African Republic ‘very volatile’, despite important progress – UN peacekeeping chief

Coronavirus – Eritrea: Announcement from the Ministry of Health (24 February 2021)

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

FIFA President's African visits continue

Coronavirus – South Africa: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Coronavirus – Uganda: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Local Content Rises to Top of Mozambique’s Developmental Agenda (By Charné Hundermark)

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

West African countries ramp up Ebola preparedness

Angola's 65 Years of Oil History has been Good for Angola Despite Some Challenges (By Andres Vega)

African football at crucial stage with Confederation of African Football (CAF) polls imminent

Homecoming for Campenaerts at Belgium's “Opening Weekend”

Manchester United announces partnership with StarTimes to offer MUTV in Africa

GIZ and Orange launch an Orange Digital Center in Ethiopia, the 3rd in the Africa and Middle East region, to train young people in digital technology and boost their employability

News Tips

Advertise With Us

Newsletters