<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="719" height="480" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image002.png" alt="" class="wp-image-602043" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image002.png 719w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image002-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image002-135x90.png 135w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 719px) 100vw, 719px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">UAE officers participated in Operation Jungle Shield, jointly with officers from the Lusaka Agreement Task Force (Credit: UAE Ministry of Interior)</figcaption></figure>



Lt. Col. Dana Humaid, Director General of the International Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Interior, United Arab Emirates. 



Modern criminal networks operate with increasing sophistication, their operations unconstrained by national borders. Law enforcement agencies are rising to meet these challenges through collaborative approaches.&nbsp;&nbsp;



As Director General of the International Affairs Bureau at the UAE Ministry of Interior and Secretary of the International Security Alliance, I&#8217;ve witnessed the remarkable effectiveness of coordinated security responses. Africa stands as an inspiring example of transnational police collaboration—pioneering a model for successfully tackling global crime in our interconnected world.&nbsp;



The evidence for this approach is compelling. Criminal enterprises thrive on the inability of national agencies to coordinate. A trafficker stopped in Lagos reroutes through Mombasa; funds stolen in Johannesburg finance extremism in Mogadishu within hours. Yet when law enforcement agencies pool intelligence and resources, the results are transformative.&nbsp;



Through the International Security Alliance, I have witnessed first-hand how the power of coordinated action can disrupt networks in ways that isolated efforts never could.&nbsp;



Interpol’s Operation Screen West Africa provides a striking example. Over 12 nations united in a joint effort that conducted 1.3 million database checks, unearthing 82 individuals traveling with fraudulent documents and arresting 11 internationally wanted criminals. Drug traffickers, counterfeit medicine suppliers, and stolen vehicle syndicates saw their operations dismantled. These figures translate into real-world security: safer streets, disrupted crime rings, and lives protected.&nbsp;



Technology plays a crucial role. Mobile devices linked to INTERPOL’s databases now allow border officers to verify travelers’ identities against international criminal records in seconds. A once-vulnerable border post is transformed into a security stronghold.&nbsp;&nbsp;



But the true value of such tools lies in sustainable capacity-building, not dependency. The advanced technological training initiatives I have personally overseen focus on equipping police forces with the skills to use these systems effectively, creating long-term security capabilities rather than short-term solutions.&nbsp;



Security collaboration flourishes when built on a foundation of trust, with technology serving as a powerful enabler. African nations have shown remarkable progress in overcoming historical hesitations about international partnerships. When officers train together, share intelligence, and conduct joint operations, they forge professional relationships that transcend political boundaries. In my experience, these human connections are proving just as valuable as the cutting-edge tools they employ—creating a powerful synergy that strengthens security cooperation across the continent.&nbsp;



Protecting the vulnerable is another area where international cooperation is making a real impact. As the overseer of the UAE Ministry’s Child Protection Centre, I have witnessed how well-coordinated global efforts can dismantle human trafficking networks. A recent example is INTERPOL’s Operation Liberterra II, which brought together 15 specialized units from INTERPOL’s General Secretariat, along with partner organizations, national agencies, and NGOs. Through cross-border coordination, the operation rescued 3,200 potential trafficking victims. These are not just statistics—they are lives forever changed.&nbsp;



By fostering relationships between specialized units and enhancing cross-agency collaboration, such operations not only provide immediate relief but also build long-term capacity for countries to tackle these difficult and complex issues.&nbsp;



Environmental crime, too, demands a collaborative response. The Congo Basin, a vital carbon sink, is under assault from illegal logging and poaching. Operation Jungle Shield, a 2024 initiative led by the International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC), saw agencies from seven African nations unite to combat environmental destruction. The results: 2,111kg of ivory, 34kg of pangolin scales, and $11.2 million in illicit goods seized; 58 arrests; and the disruption of criminal operations responsible for deforestation equivalent to 728 football fields.&nbsp;



The remarkable success of existing collaborative initiatives provides a strong foundation for even greater achievements ahead. Continued investment in African law enforcement capacity is opening new horizons of possibility. I&#8217;ve witnessed the transformative impact of specialized training—from environmental protection investigations to seaport resilience strategies—empowering officers to confidently tackle emerging threats. INTERPOL&#8217;s Support Programme for the African Union (ISPA) is already delivering impressive results in strengthening transnational crime-fighting capacity, showcasing the tremendous potential for future growth.&nbsp;



The groundwork for a safer, more prosperous Africa is being established through enhanced intelligence-sharing, successful joint operations, and deepening mutual trust. The frameworks are firmly in place, ready to be energized by political will and commitment to extend these capabilities across the continent. As Africa experiences accelerating economic growth, robust security cooperation serves as a catalyst for protecting and amplifying these gains. Secure borders, safe cities, and trusted law enforcement create the ideal environment for investment, trade, and development to flourish.&nbsp;



The vision of an Africa where police agencies collaborate seamlessly, where criminal networks find no refuge, and where citizens move freely without fear is now within our grasp. Realizing this inspiring future requires the continuation of our shared commitment to security excellence. By strengthening cross-border cooperation, leveraging innovative technology, and investing in world-class training, we ensure that Africa&#8217;s security partnerships today will powerfully drive its prosperity tomorrow.&nbsp;

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Building a Safer Africa Through Global Police Cooperation

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="3605" height="2572" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/57G3VEKNUJPP3CRC4HB3EXGSLY.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-602039"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A satellite images shows the presidential palace, in Khartoum, Sudan, March 21, 2025. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



DUBAI, March 26 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;The Sudanese army is encircling Khartoum airport, two military sources told Reuters on Wednesday, as it battles to oust its rival Rapid Support Forces from a last foothold in the capital, though the war looks far from over.



The army seized the presidential palace in downtown Khartoum after fighting on Friday, an important symbolic advance after two years of a conflict that is splitting the massive country into rival zones of control.



On Wednesday, the army said it had gained control of Tiba al-Hassanab camp south of the capital, which it described as the RSF&#8217;s last base in central Sudan and last stronghold in Khartoum State.



The military sources said the army was encircling the airport, which is located in the city centre, and surrounding areas. Witnesses said the RSF had focused its troops in southern Khartoum, apparently to secure their withdrawal from the city via bridges to the neighbouring city of Omdurman.



Recent army gains in central Sudan, retaking districts of the capital and other territory, come as the RSF has consolidated its control in the west, hardening battle lines and threatening to move the country towards a de facto partition.



The war, which erupted two years ago as the country was attempting a democratic transition, has caused what the U.N. calls the world&#8217;s largest humanitarian crisis, with famine in several areas as well as outbreaks of disease.



It has driven 12.5 million people from their homes, many of them seeking refuge in neighbouring countries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eruption-of-warfare">ERUPTION OF WARFARE</h2>



The army and RSF had at one point been in a fragile partnership together, jointly staging a coup in 2021 that derailed the transition from the Islamist rule of Omar al-Bashir, a longtime autocrat who was ousted in 2019.



They had also fought on the same side for years in the western state of Darfur under Bashir&#8217;s government.



The RSF, under Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, developed from Darfur&#8217;s janjaweed militias and Bashir developed the group as a counterweight to the army, led by career officer Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.



After they seized power together in 2021, the two sides clashed over an internationally backed plan aimed at launching a new transition with civilian parties that would require them both to cede powers.



Major points of dispute included a timetable for the RSF to integrate into the regular armed forces, the chain of command between army and RSF leaders, and the question of civilian oversight.



When fighting broke out, Sudan&#8217;s army had better resources including air power. However, the RSF was more deeply embedded in neighbourhoods across Khartoum and was able to hold much of the capital in an initial, devastating burst of warfare.



The RSF also made rapid advances to gain control of its main stronghold of Darfur and over El Gezira state, south of Khartoum, a big farming area.



With the army now re-establishing its position in the capital, it is making a new push to cement its control in the centre of Sudan.



(Reporting by Khalid Abdulaziz and Tala Ramadan; Writing by Jana Choukeir and Angus McDowall; Editing by Toby Chopra, Frances Kerry and Alex Richardson)

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Sudan army surrounds Khartoum airport, sources say, in battle for capital

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="782" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/KJPI5CCCKBMFFMGZUYUMW4RVBE.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-602002"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Duke of Sussex visits the Kasane Health Post, run by the Sentebale charity, in Kasane, Botswana, September 26, 2019. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



LONDON, March 26 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Britain&#8217;s Prince Harry said he was &#8220;in shock&#8221; after quitting as a patron of Sentebale, a British charity he set up to help young people with HIV and Aids in Lesotho and Botswana, following a row between trustees and the chair of the board.



Harry, the younger son of King Charles, co-founded Sentebale in 2006 in honour of his mother Princess Diana nine years after she was killed in a Paris car crash. Sentebale means &#8216;forget-me-not&#8217; in the local language of Lesotho in southern Africa.



Co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, as well as the board of trustees, joined Harry in leaving Sentebale following a dispute with chair Sophie Chandauka, who has taken legal action to try to retain her position.



&#8220;It is devastating that the relationship between the charity&#8217;s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation,&#8221; Harry and Seeiso said in a joint statement published on Sky News on Wednesday.



Harry, who lives in California with his wife Meghan and two children, stopped working as a member of the royal family in 2020. He has been heavily involved in causes in Africa for many years and visited Nigeria last year.



The trustees had acted in the best interests of the charity in asking the chair to step down, the joint statement said.



&#8220;Although we may no longer be Patrons, we will always be its founders, and we will never forget what this charity is capable of achieving when it is in the right care,&#8221; it added.



Reuters has contacted Britain&#8217;s Charity Commission and Sentebale for comment.



(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Kate Mayberry)

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UK’s Prince Harry ‘in shock’ after quitting his African Aids charity

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="573" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/QS64ZYEOH5M5XIIVOXIAGD6OTY-820x573.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-601968" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/QS64ZYEOH5M5XIIVOXIAGD6OTY-820x573.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/QS64ZYEOH5M5XIIVOXIAGD6OTY-300x210.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/QS64ZYEOH5M5XIIVOXIAGD6OTY-129x90.jpg 129w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/QS64ZYEOH5M5XIIVOXIAGD6OTY-768x537.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/QS64ZYEOH5M5XIIVOXIAGD6OTY-1536x1074.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/QS64ZYEOH5M5XIIVOXIAGD6OTY-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">FILE PHOTO: Delegates walk past the MTN logo at the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2024 conference in Cape Town, South Africa February 7, 2024. REUTERS/Esa Alexander/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



JOHANNESBURG, March 26 (Reuters) &#8211; MTN Group and Airtel Africa have struck a deal to share mobile phone network infrastructure in Uganda and Nigeria, they said on Wednesday, aiming to save on investments while still increasing service coverage.



Mobile operators in Africa are seeing sustained demand for digital and financial services, but building and maintaining networks are expensive, especially for fast 5G connections.



&#8220;There are opportunities within regulatory frameworks for sharing resources to drive higher (operational) efficiencies and improve returns,&#8221; MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita said in a statement.



Airtel Africa Chief Executive Officer Sunil Taldar said the agreement would avoid duplication of expensive infrastructure.



Sharing infrastructure allows operators to extend their network coverage more quickly, especially in rural or less densely-populated areas where it might not be economically viable to build separate networks.



Following the conclusion of agreements in Uganda and Nigeria, MTN and Airtel Africa will explore various opportunities in other markets, including Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda and Zambia, the companies said.



Among the deals under consideration are radio access network sharing, the largest portion of the cost in network deployment and operation; commercial and technical agreements for fibre infrastructure sharing; and, if necessary, the construction of fibre networks, they added.



&#8220;This engagement does not preclude the parties from collaborating with other operators in any respective market,&#8221; the companies said.



(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Mark Potter)

Investing in African Mining Indaba 2024 conference in Cape Town

MTN Group and Airtel Africa agree to share networks in Uganda and Nigeria

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/101416618-rand-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-373504" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/101416618-rand-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/101416618-rand-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/101416618-rand-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/101416618-rand-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/101416618-rand-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/101416618-rand-1110x740.jpg 1110w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/101416618-rand-696x464.jpg 696w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/101416618-rand-1068x712.jpg 1068w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/101416618-rand-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/101416618-rand-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



JOHANNESBURG, March 26 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;South Africa&#8217;s rand edged higher early on Wednesday, as investors mulled over U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s reciprocal tariff plans which they fear will cause an economic slowdown.



At 0707 GMT, the rand traded at 18.25 against the dollar, about 0.2% stronger than its previous closing level.



The dollar&nbsp;=USD&nbsp;was little changed against a basket of currencies.



Investors feared that Trump&#8217;s reciprocal tariffs, expected to take effect on April 2, are likely to be inflationary, potentially slowing economic growth and intensifying trade tensions.



However, Trump said on Monday that not all of his threatened duties would be imposed next week and some countries may get breaks.



&#8220;Increasingly, one gets the sense that the US economy is slowing and that the Trump administration does not want to exacerbate a downturn through the harsh imposition of tariffs,&#8221; ETM Analytics said in a research note.



Like other risk sensitive currencies, the rand often takes cues from global drivers like U.S. policies and economic data, in the absence of major local drivers.



On the stock market, the Top-40 index was up about 0.1%.



South Africa&#8217;s benchmark 2030 government bond was marginally stronger in early deals, with the yield down 0.5 basis point to 9.14%.



(Reporting by Sfundo Parakozov; Editing by Bhargav Acharya and Andrew Heavens)

101416618-rand

South African rand gains amid unease over Trump’s tariff plans

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="612" height="357" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400669" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg 612w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1-300x175.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">World map with charts and graphs as symbols of global finance</figcaption></figure>



March 26 (Reuters) &#8211; The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Wednesday.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-events">EVENTS:</h2>



Kenya&#8217;s Finance Minister John Mbadi will launch the government&#8217;s medium term strategy, laying out his plans to keep the government afloat amid high debt service costs and squeezed revenues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-markets">GLOBAL MARKETS</h2>



Asian stocks followed Wall Street higher on Wednesday and the U.S. dollar meandered as markets awaited clarity on President Donald Trump&#8217;s trade policy ahead of a new round of tariffs next week.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-oil-prices">WORLD OIL PRICES</h2>



Oil prices climbed on Wednesday in early Asia trade on concerns of tighter supplies after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs against countries importing oil and gas from Venezuela and after U.S. crude inventories fell more than expected.



South Africa&#8217;s rand gained on Monday as investors awaited clarity on the next round of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-markets">KENYA MARKETS</h2>



The Kenyan shilling was stable on Tuesday, supported by inflows of foreign exchange from several sectors including horticulture, traders said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sudan-politics">SUDAN POLITICS</h2>



A Sudanese paramilitary force locked in a war with the army has placed new constraints on aid deliveries to territories where it is seeking to cement its control, including areas where famine is spreading, humanitarian workers say.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-congo-security">CONGO SECURITY</h2>



Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo battled militiamen allied with the government on Tuesday as regional countries tried to give fresh impetus to faltering peace initiatives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-sudan-security">SOUTH SUDAN SECURITY</h2>



South Sudan&#8217;s First Vice President Riek Machar has accused Uganda of violating a United Nations arms embargo by entering the country with armoured and air force units, and conducting airstrikes there.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-burundi-security">BURUNDI SECURITY</h2>



Burundi&#8217;s President Evariste Ndayishimiye said he had seen &#8220;credible intelligence&#8221; that Rwanda has a plan to attack his country, whose forces have battled Rwandan-backed rebels in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.



((Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom))

World map with charts and graphs as symbols of global finance

African Markets – Factors to watch on March 26

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GA7DA74QSJKXFKRCPNMRKUIEWI-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-601938" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GA7DA74QSJKXFKRCPNMRKUIEWI-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GA7DA74QSJKXFKRCPNMRKUIEWI-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GA7DA74QSJKXFKRCPNMRKUIEWI-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GA7DA74QSJKXFKRCPNMRKUIEWI-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GA7DA74QSJKXFKRCPNMRKUIEWI-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GA7DA74QSJKXFKRCPNMRKUIEWI.jpg 2027w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Roasted coffee beans are seen on display in Bogota, Colombia June 5, 2019. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez/</figcaption></figure>



KAMPALA, March 26 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;The volume of Uganda&#8217;s coffee exports rose 27.9% in February, compared to the same month a year ago, as high prices pushed traders to release larger quantities from their inventories, the agriculture ministry has said.



Uganda is Africa&#8217;s largest coffee exporter followed by Ethiopia, and primarily cultivates the robusta variety.



In February, the east African country shipped 555,756 60-kilogram bags of coffee, which was 27.9% more than the same month last year, the ministry of agriculture said in a report published late on Tuesday.



Uganda earned $167.7 million from coffee exports in February, more than double received during the same period last year, the ministry said.



&#8220;The prevailing high prices at the international scene prompted exporters to release their stocks,&#8221; the report said.



Uganda earned $1.7 billion from exports in the twelve months to February, compared to around $1 billion in the previous year, according to the ministry.



(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Hereward Holland and Eileen Soreng)

GA7DA74QSJKXFKRCPNMRKUIEWI

Uganda’s February coffee exports jump 28% y/y on high prices

Trump

Trump, the bitcoin reserve and the future of crypto

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="414" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DIL08644-820x414.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-601712" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DIL08644-820x414.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DIL08644-300x152.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DIL08644-160x81.jpg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DIL08644-768x388.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DIL08644-1536x776.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DIL08644-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



By Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Kimberley Process (KP) Chair 2024 – 2025 and Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre)



In response to a recent article published on CNBC Africa, titled, <a href="https://cnbcafrica.com/2025/the-kimberley-process-an-illusion-of-ethics/">’The Kimberley Process: An Illusion of Ethics?’</a>, I’ve been compelled to pen a response that not only corrects its false narratives and commentary, but also takes the opportunity to clarify certain underlying facts about the KP’s successes, challenges and responsibilities since its foundation, almost 25 years ago.&nbsp;



Originating in May 2000 in Kimberley, South Africa, as an item on the agenda of the 55th session of the UN General Assembly, the Kimberley Process (KP) was first discussed as a mechanism to mitigate the damaging social effects of the trade in conflict diamonds, and how a framework could be established to reduce these influences. Three years later, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was launched as a joint government, industry, and civil society initiative that to date, <a href="https://dmcc.ae/ecosystems/diamonds/kimberley-process">has stemmed the flow of 99.8% of the global production of conflict diamonds</a>.



In the opening paragraph of the ‘Illusion of Ethics’, the writer, Dr. M&#8217;zée Fula-Ngenge, chairman of the African Diamond Council, states that the KPCS “is beset by a confluence of structural, operational, and ethical deficiencies that collectively undermine its legitimacy, efficacy, and relevance within the global diamond industry. These challenges are not merely incidental but are deeply entrenched in the Kimberley Process’ (KP) institutional framework, rendering it ill-equipped to address the evolving demands of ethical sourcing, transparency, and accountability. A critical examination of these issues reveals that the KP’s failures are systemic, necessitating transformative reforms to restore its credibility and ensure its continued relevance.”



Underpinned by United Nations mandate, the KPCS is widely documented as the only successful, collaborative effort to reduce the circulation of conflict diamonds from above 15 per cent in the 1990s, to well under 1 per cent today. Additionally, the KPCS is the only reason for an international framework for regulating the trade of rough diamonds. For these reasons alone, I contest that the KPCS’s significant achievements to date, and its ongoing development have only been possible courtesy of its structural, operational, and ethical strengths, which have demonstrably delivered on its mission of stemming the flow of conflict diamonds into wider circulation – a role it continues to fulfil and refine.



Stating that the KP should be “confronting its limitations, failures, and the broken promise of a ‘Year of Delivery’,” I would like to clarify that 2024 included several significant milestones, namely, the admittance of Uzbekistan as a new KP member, and the readmittance of the Central African Republic to the body following its decade-long ban. The ‘Year of Delivery’ also included the UAE’s initiative of a proof-of-concept for the digitalisation of the KP certification process, one of its key objectives.



The author goes on to cite that the KP’s “inability to address well-documented cases of non-compliance among member states, such as the infiltration of conflict diamonds from regions like the Central African Republic (CAR), demonstrates a systemic failure to enforce its own mandate. This lack of accountability is compounded by operational inefficiencies, including mismanagement and a lack of transparency, which further erode the KP’s credibility.”



As one of the KP’s key accomplishments, it was my personal pleasure to visit the CAR on behalf of the KP in order to fast-track the country’s reintegration in light of an improving security situation – an achievement that was not only widely supported by Jaff Bamenjo of the Civil Society Coalition, but also Feriel Zerouki, President of the World Diamond Council.



Moving onto what Dr. Ngenge referred to as the KP’s “over-reliance on consensus-based decision-making [[which]] exacerbates these issues by stifling critical thinking and suppressing dissenting viewpoints”, while consensus can slow decision-making, it is also what makes the Kimberley Process unique as a rare example of what a truly global multi-stakeholder initiative looks like. Without consensus, the process would risk becoming another top-down regulatory body that lacks the buy-in of key participants, particularly diamond-producing nations in Africa. The Kimberley Process was designed to ensure that all voices are heard, including those from artisanal mining communities. A unilateral approach dictated by a few dominant nations (like the G7) would be far less effective and could potentially alienate the very countries that need the KP the most, i.e., Africa’s diamond-producing nations.



Ngenge’s remaining criticisms can be addressed in a single statement, which can also serve as an important reminder to both diamond industry stakeholders and critics, who remain unclear about the KP’s function.



In brief, Ngenge states that “The economic downturns and shifting consumer preferences have further exposed the KP’s inadequacies in the most unexpected manner”, that the “glaring structural flaws in the KP’s framework is its narrow regulatory scope, which focuses exclusively on rough natural diamonds” and “the KP’s failure to address issues such as smuggling and fraudulent certification.”



It has become common place among detractors to criticise the KP for not being a universal solution for the diamond sector’s global challenges, including, as illustrated by Dr. Ngenge’s comment, what it’s not mandated to do. As a result, I feel this is a timely opportunity to remind the international community that one of the KP’s many key strengths is its function of fitting into a far wider network of organisations that play complementary roles in ethical diamond sourcing.



Let me be absolutely clear: The Kimberley Process was never designed to be a global financial watchdog, an anti-money laundering agency, or a tax enforcement mechanism. Expecting the KP to solve challenges outside its jurisdiction is as illogical as blaming Interpol for failing to regulate corporate tax fraud. Yet, the debate surrounding the KP has taken on an emotional tone, particularly in claims that it is a &#8220;massive greenwashing operation&#8221; or that it &#8220;certifies blood diamonds as legitimate.&#8221; These statements are false and misleading. They do not serve the interests of responsible stakeholders seeking real reform. For the sake of clarity, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) focuses on the trade of rough diamonds, not polished diamonds. Once rough diamonds are cut and polished, they fall outside the scope of the KPCS.



While I am in admiration of Dr. Ngenge’s commitment to transparency, I am concerned about his promotion of Authentia.io, a yet-to-be-developed traceability platform for which he has claimed to have worked with its developers over the past three-and-a-half years. While this may be true, it indicates a clear conflict of interest, with his ADC standing to gain from its implementation. By positioning the ADC as an authority in diamond traceability while promoting a specific platform, I have several concerns about whether his advocacy is driven by industry ethics or business interests.



Contrary, Dr. Ngenge fails to recognise the Kimberley Process’s recent advances in digitalisation and traceability, particularly through its Verifico platform. Currently in proof-of-concept for digitalisation of the KP, Verifico represents a major step forward in strengthening supply chain integrity by leveraging modern technology. By implementing blockchain and other digital tools, Verifico enhances the tracking and certification of diamonds, making it more difficult for illicit stones to enter the legitimate supply chain. Ignoring this development significantly undermines the credibility of arguments that the KP is outdated or ineffective.



Towards the end of the article, Dr. Ngenge states that “The KP must implement stronger enforcement mechanisms to remove non-compliant members and ensure accountability. This could include the establishment of an independent monitoring body with the authority to investigate and sanction violations, which the ADC is willing to set up and assist with.”



This neatly brings me onto the credibility of Dr. Ngenge and the African Diamond Council.



In the world of African diamond governance, two organisations are often erroneously confused: the African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA) and the African Diamond Council (ADC). While the ADPA is indisputably recognised as the legitimate intergovernmental body for African diamond-producing nations, the ADC remains a lesser-known and often controversial entity. At the centre of the ADC is Dr. Ngenge, a self-proclaimed diamond industry strategist who has made bold claims about his role in shaping the industry, including asserting that he was instrumental in the formation of the DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre). However, the truth about the ADC, its legitimacy, and Dr. Ngenge&#8217;s claims reveal inconsistencies, self-promotion, and potential vested interests.



The African Diamond Council presents itself as “Africa’s official diamond governing body”, supposedly composed of the heads-of-state from Africa’s diamond-producing countries. It claims to have been founded in January 2000 in Luanda, Angola, with a mission to regulate Africa’s diamond trade. It also frequently positions itself as the supreme authority, even referring to the ADPA as “a continental branch of ADC”. However, no legal or governmental documentation supports this claim.



Unlike ADPA, an intergovernmental body, <a href="https://www.kimberleyprocess.com/observer-groups-and-roles">formally recognised as one of the KP’s Observer Groups</a>, the ADC is not officially acknowledged by any major international regulatory body. It operates as a private advocacy group, relying on self-proclaimed authority rather than government backing. The African Union and other multinational African institutions do not officially recognise the ADC, and there is no evidence of heads-of-state formally convening under the ADC’s leadership.



<a href="https://www.kimberleyprocess.com/observers/african-diamonds-producers-association">The African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA),</a> on the other hand, was officially established in 2006 via the Luanda Declaration and serves as a recognised intergovernmental organisation headquartered in Angola. It consists of the mining ministers from its member states and represents African diamond-producing nations in global forums. It also actively participates in the Kimberley Process, influencing policies that govern the trade of rough diamonds. In total, ADPA includes at least 15 African nations, including major producers such as Angola, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.



In contrast, the ADC has no formal government membership and is not involved in policy-making. Additionally, it isn’t listed as an observer in the Kimberley Process and holds no official standing in diamond trade governance. Its underlying authority and credibility comes almost exclusively from self-published materials and the reputation of its chairman, Dr. Ngenge.



In his capacity as chairman of the ADC, Dr. Ngenge has presented himself as an influential figure in African diamond policy. Previous claims include pivotal roles in:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The establishment of the Kimberley Process (KP) – he states that he was “Chief Administrative Developer” in 2000 and “Project Launch Team Coordinator” in 2001.</li>



<li>Shaping Dubai’s diamond industry and founding DMCC – he has asserted that he was a “principal trustee and decisive proponent” in forming the DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) in 2002.</li>



<li>Advocating for diamond traceability and governance reforms – he promotes the ADC as a leading authority in shaping Africa’s diamond sector.</li>
</ul>



While his involvement in early Kimberley Process discussions may be partially accurate, there is no tangible evidence to support this claim – nor is there any verifiable evidence to support his claims regarding the formation of DMCC.



DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) was established in May 2002 by a royal decree issued by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai. The official DMCC narrative credits Dubai’s leadership and executives, including myself, as the primary forces behind its creation. Nowhere in DMCC’s official records, government statements, or founding documents does Dr. Ngenge’s name appear.



DMCC categorically denies Dr. Ngenge’s involvement in its founding or the establishment of the Dubai Diamond Exchange. Courtesy of these revelations, I am pleased to confirm that Rough &amp; Polished has deleted its reference to Dr. Ngenge&#8217;s false claim about DMCC from the English version of its website.



While I cannot speak for the reasons behind Ngenge’s OpEd, his outspoken criticism coincides with his attempts to participate in the KP’s Intersessional meeting in May 2024, where he was removed by security for attempting to enter closed sessions without verifiable invitation.



In the same way that the KP should be held to account and scrutiny, the industry should also pay close attention to those that criticise it, including their status, credibility, and potential motivations for undermining it. While I will be the first to admit that no organisation is perfect, the KP’s empirical status as the only vehicle of collaborative efficacy in the diamond industry’s global fight against conflict diamonds should not be underestimated, nor disposed of due to ‘room for improvement’.



As we continue with the ‘Year of Best Practice’, I once again look forward to welcoming back all credible members of the diamond community, where we will continue to uphold our mission in stemming conflict diamonds from our global supply chains.

DIL08644

The Kimberley Process: The only demonstrable vehicle of collaborative efficacy in the diamond industry’s global fight against conflict diamonds

What’s Stopping The U.S. From Pumping More Oil?

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="4012" height="2932" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4MJWUG2Y4BLLRMY5UP5QQD5V6Y.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-601607"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Women walk past a PEP Home store in Johannesburg, South Africa, November, 22, 2022. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



JOHANNESBURG, March 25 (Reuters) &#8211; South Africa&#8217;s Pepkor said on Tuesday it will buy fashion businesses Legit, Swagga and Style and homewares brand Boardmans from privately owned retail group Retailability, as part of its expansion into the adult clothing market.



Pepkor, which also sells electronics and furniture, already owns the PEP and Ackermans clothing brands which have given it a dominant share of the children&#8217;s clothing and school uniform markets in South Africa.



The total purchase consideration payable on the closing of the proposed deal represents less than 2% of Pepkor&#8217;s market capitalisation subject to relevant net working capital adjustments, Pepkor said in a statement. It will be settled in cash



According to LSEG data, Pepkor&#8217;s market capitalisation was 97 billion rand ($5 billion) at Monday&#8217;s close, making the deal worth around 1.94 billion rand, or $107 million.



The businesses to be bought by Pepkor operate 462 stores across South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini. They will be incorporated into Pepkor&#8217;s Speciality business unit, which has 941 stores across the same countries.



&#8220;The proposed transaction will add significant additional scale to Pepkor Speciality and expand its product offering in the adult market, especially in womenswear through the Legit brand,&#8221; Pepkor said.



Pepkor has been growing its adultwear categories over the past year through the recent acquisition of Choice Clothing and the launch of its new Ayana womenswear brand.



Retailability, which sells affordable apparel and lifestyle products across a number of brands in Southern Africa, bought department store chain Edgars from struggling parent Edcon in 2020 after it entered into a form of bankruptcy protection.



The Edgars, Edgars Beauty, Red Square, Kelso and Keedo businesses will continue to be operated by Retailability, Pepkor said.



($1 = 18.2675 rand)



(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Joe Bavier)

4MJWUG2Y4BLLRMY5UP5QQD5V6Y

South Africa’s Pepkor to buy Retailability adult clothing businesses

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="461" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1x-1-2-820x461.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400641" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1x-1-2-820x461.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1x-1-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1x-1-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1x-1-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1x-1-2-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A collection of mixed denomination South African rand coins sit in an arranged photo in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday, June 22, 2017. South Africas inflation rate rose for the first time this year in May after food-price growth quickened from the slowest pace since December 2015. Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



JOHANNESBURG, March 25 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;South Africa&#8217;s rand edged higher early on Tuesday as markets focussed on U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s tariffs and awaited the country&#8217;s key indicator data due later in the day.



At 0608 GMT, the rand traded at 18.23 against the U.S. dollar, about 0.2% stronger than Monday&#8217;s close.



Local investors will focus on South Africa&#8217;s leading indicator for January at 0700 GMT, which collects data on vehicle sales, business confidence, money supply and other factors in Africa&#8217;s most industrialised economy.



The dollar was little changed against a basket of currencies as investors awaited clarity on the next round of Trump tariffs expected to take effect on April 2.



South Africa&#8217;s benchmark 2030 government bond was slightly weaker, with the yield up 2 basis points to 9.155%.



(Reporting by Sfundo Parakozov; Editing by Tannur Anders and Sumana Nandy)

South African Economy As Inflation Rate Rises For First Time In 2017

South African rand firms as markets await leading indicator data

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/108120681-1742877286599-gettyimages-2206472137-vcg111556724938-820x547.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-601538" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/108120681-1742877286599-gettyimages-2206472137-vcg111556724938-820x547.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/108120681-1742877286599-gettyimages-2206472137-vcg111556724938-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/108120681-1742877286599-gettyimages-2206472137-vcg111556724938-135x90.jpeg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/108120681-1742877286599-gettyimages-2206472137-vcg111556724938-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/108120681-1742877286599-gettyimages-2206472137-vcg111556724938-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/108120681-1742877286599-gettyimages-2206472137-vcg111556724938-scaled.jpeg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Attendees pose for a group photo before the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum 2025 at the Diaoyutai Guesthouse on March 23, 2025, in Beijing. China News Service | China News Service | Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



BEIJING — China courted the executives of major U.S. businesses at an annual conference this week in a sign of how Beijing seeks to offset trade pressures, rather than retaliate forcefully.



China has long sought to attract foreign investment as a way to bolster growth, while tapping business interests for potential influence on the White House, particularly under U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. has twice increased tariffs across all Chinese goods since January, but Beijing has only announced targeted duties and restrictions on a handful of American companies.



Conversation on the sidelines of the state-organized China Development Forum this week in Beijing reinforced a more conciliatory stance than official rhetoric this month about how China is prepared to fight “any type of war” with the United States.



Chinese conference attendees weren’t that focused on what can be done to respond to U.S. tariffs, Stephen Roach, senior fellow at Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center, told CNBC.



“The questions I’ve been getting more [are], why is Trump doing this? What is he trying to achieve? What does he think it takes to really make America great?” Roach said. He has attended the event since the early 2000s.



“My answer is this is an unprecedented period for America’s role in the world economy. We’re going back to a tariff regime that history tells us can be extremely destructive,” Roach said, adding he expects more policy uncertainty in the U.S. and around the world “for a long, long time.”



U.S. stocks have swung in recent weeks as investors try to assess the economic impact of Trump’s changing plans for tariffs on major U.S. trading partners. U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell last week said tariffs could delay progress on lowering inflation in the U.S.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-message-of-reassurance"><a></a>A message of ‘reassurance’</h2>



At this week’s conference, China was trying to send a message of “reassurance” — on how it plans to boost consumption and how the country is headed in a “modestly positive direction” relative to what is happening in the U.S., said Scott Kennedy, senior advisor and trustee chair in Chinese business and economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank based in Washington, D.C.



If the U.S. imposes significantly large tariffs in early April, “then you go from managing costs and de-risking to possibly de-coupling,” Kennedy told CNBC. “And then that might mean the game is up. So I think the level of anxiety is pretty high. And that’s why China is trying to provide this message of reassurance.”



The Trump administration has threatened a swath of new tariffs on major trading partners starting early April. China has increased its trade with Southeast Asian countries and the European Union, but the U.S. remains Beijing’s largest trading partner on a single-country basis.



The China Development Forum ran Sunday and Monday. Apple CEO Tim Cook was among the executives who attended, but Tesla CEO Elon Musk was not.



“The increased optimism this year compared to last year at the CDF has been just so heart warming,” Ken Griffin, CEO of hedge fund Citadel, said during an official panel at the forum.



Trump “is committed to American companies having access to a global market,” Griffin said. “And the President is willing to use tariffs to seek to enforce this worldview.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-step-toward-xi-trump-meeting"><a></a>First step toward Xi-Trump meeting?</h2>



Also on Sunday, U.S. Republican Senator Steve Daines met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing — the first time a U.S. politician has visited China since Trump began his latest term in January.



“This was the first step to an important next step, which will be a meeting between President Xi and President Trump,” Daines told the Wall Street Journal. “When that occurs and where it occurs is to be determined.”



The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



Li urged cooperation and said no one can gain from a trade war, according to state media.



FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam, Boeing Senior Vice President Brendan Nelson, Cargill CEO Brian Sikes, Medtronic CEO Geoffrey Martha, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, UL Solutions CEO Jennifer Scanlon and U.S. China Business Council President Sean Stein were also present at Daines’ meeting with Li, according to a foreign media pool report.



China, the world’s second-largest economy, remains a significant source of revenue for many multinational corporations, not to mention a major part of their supply chains.



Despite its efforts to bolster international business ties, the country has warned of countermeasures on U.S. tariffs and taken incremental steps.



Following U.S. sanctions on Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei during Trump’s first term as president, Beijing launched an unreliable entities list that restricts foreign business activity with China.



China added Calvin Klein parent PVH and a few other U.S. companies to the list after this year’s tariff increases. On Monday, China also said it would soon reveal new measures that would give it a legal basis for countering foreign pressure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-economic-factors"><a></a>Economic factors</h2>



For U.S. companies in China, the state of the economic recovery has also been an important factor for local business plans.



Since late September, China has stepped up efforts to support the economy. Top policymakers earlier this month affirmed stimulus plans and a recent effort to encourage private-sector tech entrepreneurs in the wake of DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence breakthroughs.



“This year, you feel a lot of positive momentum beginning in China. So I feel like recovery is underway,” Wendell P. Weeks, CEO of Corning, told CNBC.



However, China’s economy has struggled with deflationary pressure and a real estate slump, weighing on regional growth prospects for international businesses.



Even Beijing’s push to support high-tech manufacturing has so far only added an average 1.1 percentage points to gross domestic product growth in each of the last three years — not enough to offset the 1.7 percentage point drag from real estate during that time, according to Goldman Sachs estimates.



“We will remain optimistic because the role of technology is important, I think more than ever,” Qualcomm’s Amon told CNBC. “I think technology is going to be part of economic growth.”

108120681-1742877286599-gettyimages-2206472137-vcg111556724938

China invites U.S. business leaders to Beijing as it tries to decipher Trump’s trade plans

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="612" height="357" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400669" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg 612w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1-300x175.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">World map with charts and graphs as symbols of global finance</figcaption></figure>



March 25 (Reuters) &#8211; The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Tuesday.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-events">EVENTS:</h2>



Kenya Airways releases its full year 2024 financial results.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-markets">GLOBAL MARKETS</h2>



Asian stocks rose on Tuesday, taking cues from the Wall Street, as the prospect of narrower-than-feared U.S. tariffs boosted risk appetite, while the dollar hovered near three-week highs after upbeat economic data provided some comfort.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-oil-prices">WORLD OIL PRICES</h2>



Oil prices barely moved on Tuesday as investors weighed the impact of U.S. tariffs on countries buying oil and gas from Venezuela against the effect of tariffs on industries such as automobiles on the global economy and oil demand.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-africa-markets">SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS</h2>



South Africa&#8217;s rand gained on Monday as investors awaited clarity on the next round of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-markets">KENYA MARKETS</h2>



Kenya&#8217;s shilling was broadly stable against the dollar on Monday, data from the London Stock Exchange Group showed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ghana-inflation">GHANA INFLATION</h2>



Ghana&#8217;s new central bank governor said on Monday that inflation remains uncomfortably high and would require a balanced monetary policy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-imf">KENYA IMF</h2>



Kenya has applied for a new lending programme from the International Monetary Fund that will factor in unused money from the current programme which both sides walked away from last week, Finance Minister John Mbadi said on Monday.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-senegal-economy">SENEGAL ECONOMY</h2>



The International Monetary Fund said on Monday that talks on a new programme for Senegal could not go ahead until the government addressed the misreporting of key economic data under the previous government.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-congo-security">CONGO SECURITY</h2>



A de facto ceasefire between Congolese forces and Rwandan-backed rebels in the eastern Congo town of Walikale appeared to have broken down on Monday, with the rebels going back on a pledge to withdraw and accusing the army of violating its own commitments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sudan-diplomacy">SUDAN DIPLOMACY</h2>



South Sudan and Chad have condemned threats made by a top Sudanese general, warning of the risk of regional escalation.



((Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom))

African Markets – Factors to watch on March 25

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="3534" height="2160" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ZIIXQ6OSDZNIDMT4XSSBJ756JM.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-601515"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Members of the M23 rebel group stand guard as people attend a rally addressed by Corneille Nangaa, Congolese rebel leader and coordinator of the AFC-M23 movement, in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo February 27, 2025. REUTERS/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



NAIROBI, March 25 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;The political blocs of Southern and Eastern Africa have expanded the mediation team for negotiating an end to the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel offensive in eastern Congo, at a heads of state meeting on Monday that Rwanda described as fruitful.



Diplomatic efforts to resolve eastern Congo&#8217;s biggest conflict in decades appeared to have stalled last week when the M23 failed to attend peace talks with the Congolese government in Angola, and later captured the strategic town of Walikale.



The violence, rooted in the long fallout from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and competition for control of mineral riches, has led to rebel control of eastern Congo&#8217;s two largest cities, thousands of deaths and fears of a wider regional war.



The Southern and Eastern Africa blocs appointed five former heads of state, including Nigeria&#8217;s Olusegun Obasanjo, South Africa&#8217;s Kgalema Motlanthe and Ethiopia&#8217;s Sahle-Work Zewde to &#8220;facilitate&#8221; the peace process, they said in a statement early on Tuesday.



Congo&#8217;s presidency said on X the new panel would appoint a mediator to replace the president of Angola, who withdrew on Monday following years of faltering efforts to ease tensions between Rwanda and Congo.



Rwanda&#8217;s government, which is facing sanctions and had some aid suspended over its reported provision of arms and troops to M23, said on X the leaders attending Monday&#8217;s summit &#8220;committed to a political solution that addresses the security concerns of all parties.&#8221;



Congo accuses M23 of being a Rwandan proxy. Rwanda denies involvement, but also says its forces are acting in self defence against Congo&#8217;s army and militias hostile to Kigali.



The Angolan government expressed frustration last week about a surprise meeting arranged by Qatar&#8217;s emir between Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame, the first face-to-face meeting between the two men since the conflict escalated towards the end of last year.



Tshisekedi and Kagame issued a joint statement along with Qatar that called for an &#8220;immediate and unconditional&#8221; ceasefire, but which failed to halt the violence.



M23 withdrew from what could have been its first direct negotiations with Kinshasa last week after the European Union imposed sanctions against rebel and Rwandan officials.



(Reporting by Congo Newsroom; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Kim Coghill)

ZIIXQ6OSDZNIDMT4XSSBJ756JM

African blocs expand mediation team for Congo conflict

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/7ZNSSGJXYVLLPCVOFDAM5N2QZ4-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-524999" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/7ZNSSGJXYVLLPCVOFDAM5N2QZ4-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/7ZNSSGJXYVLLPCVOFDAM5N2QZ4-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/7ZNSSGJXYVLLPCVOFDAM5N2QZ4-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/7ZNSSGJXYVLLPCVOFDAM5N2QZ4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/7ZNSSGJXYVLLPCVOFDAM5N2QZ4-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/7ZNSSGJXYVLLPCVOFDAM5N2QZ4-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">FILE PHOTO: A view shows part of Dangote oil refinery in Ibeju Lekki district, on the outskirts of Lagos, Nigeria August 7, 2019. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



NEW YORK, March 24 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;U.S. jet fuel imports are set to hit a two-year high in March after Nigeria&#8217;s Dangote refinery pushed barrels to North America,&nbsp;which should lower prices of the aviation fuel in the peak summer travel season, trade analysts and storage brokers said.



The shipments by the 650,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) Dangote refinery, Africa&#8217;s largest, highlight its potential to reshape global fuel trading dynamics by creating a new swing supplier in the Atlantic Basin.



It has already shown signs of success in competing with European refiners on gasoline exports, and the jet fuel shipments to the United States could challenge domestic producers&#8217; economics in the largest fuel consuming nation.



Six vessels carrying about 1.7 million barrels of jet fuel from the Dangote refinery arrived at U.S. ports this month, data from ship-tracking service Kpler showed. Another vessel, Hafnia Andromeda, is set to arrive at the Everglades terminal on March 29 with a load of about 348,000 barrels of jet fuel, the data showed.



Total U.S. jet fuel imports so far in March stood at around 226,000 bpd, the most since February 2023, the data showed.



The Dangote refinery started production last January after years of construction delays, and ramped up to about 85% of capacity in early February, allowing it to sell more fuel to international markets.



Dangote is unlikely to be a regular jet fuel supplier to the U.S., but a maintenance-related shutdown of the Phillips 66 PSX.N Bayway refinery in New Jersey helped open a rare arbitrage opportunity for flows from Nigeria to the U.S., Sparta Commodities analyst James Noel-Beswick said.



The window is likely to close soon or shrink significantly due to elevated U.S. inventories of the aviation fuel, Noel-Beswick added.



Demand to lease storage tanks for jet fuel in Houston and New York Harbor in April is averaging around 700,000 barrels on storage broker TankTiger&#8217;s platform, five to six times the average monthly demand, TankTiger Chief Operating Officer Steven Barsamian said.



The surge in demand, partly due to the influx of supply from Nigeria, is likely to lower jet fuel prices in the U.S. ahead of peak summer travel season, Barsamian said.



Despite lower prices, air travel over the summer could be dampened by economic headwinds from a stock market selloff and waning consumer confidence, Sparta&#8217;s Noel-Beswick said.



U.S. jet fuel stocks ended February at 45.2 million barrels, the highest for the month since 1999, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed.



U.S. refiners&#8217; yield of jet fuel hit a record last year, reflecting stronger demand relative to other transportation fuels, the EIA said on Monday. The agency expects U.S. jet fuel consumption to touch a record in 2026.



(Reporting by Shariq Khan in New YorkEditing by Nick Zieminski)

FILE PHOTO: A view shows part of Dangote oil refinery in Ibeju Lekki district

US jet fuel imports surge as Nigeria’s Dangote refinery pushes barrels west

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