<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1005" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/R7KOKS6OPVNFRBSZJWNK7V3DZ4.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-592848"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An aerial view of South Africa&#8217;s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, in Cape Town, South Africa, December 5, 2022. REUTERS/Esa Alexander/File photo </figcaption></figure>



March 2 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;South African power utility Eskom said on Sunday that a unit at its Koeberg nuclear power plant was shut down after experiencing an unplanned, non-technical trip while operating at full capacity.



Eskom said that Koeberg Unit 2 inadvertently tripped during work on Unit 1, which is currently offline. The second unit was switched off in accordance with protocol, Eskom said, adding that start-up process for the tripped unit was in the works.



Unit 2 is expected to be reconnected to the national grid within 48 hours, state power utility Eskom said.



Koeberg power station, north of Cape Town, is currently the only commercial nuclear power plant in Africa and its two units contribute around 1,860 megawatts or 5% of national power supply.



(Reporting by Gursimran Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Ros Russell)

R7KOKS6OPVNFRBSZJWNK7V3DZ4

South Africa’s Koeberg nuclear plant unit shuts down after unplanned trip

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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/QB6JRHKB7ZP6ZHQH64RWM3XN7A-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-562084" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/QB6JRHKB7ZP6ZHQH64RWM3XN7A-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/QB6JRHKB7ZP6ZHQH64RWM3XN7A-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/QB6JRHKB7ZP6ZHQH64RWM3XN7A-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/QB6JRHKB7ZP6ZHQH64RWM3XN7A-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/QB6JRHKB7ZP6ZHQH64RWM3XN7A-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/QB6JRHKB7ZP6ZHQH64RWM3XN7A-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">U.S. President Joe Biden stands with Angolan Minister of Transport Ricardo Daniel Sandao Queiros Viegas de Abreu, during a visit to the Lobito Port Terminal to receive a briefing on the Lobito Atlantic Railway, in Lobito, Angola, December 4, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz</figcaption></figure>



Joe Biden’s early-December trip to Angola—his first to Sub-Saharan Africa as US president, and likely his last overseas trip in the role—underscored the stickiness of the colonial development paradigm of resource extraction that has long debilitated Africa. The major highlight of Biden’s visit related to a transnational railway initiative, which is considered by some to be the quickest and most efficient way to export raw materials and critical minerals from the Central African ‘Copperbelt’ via the Angolan port city of Lobito.



While indicative of a new era of US engagement with Africa, the Lobito Corridor project nonetheless perpetuates a highly volatile development model that focuses unduly on resource extraction and commodity dependence. Africa is the most commodity-dependent region in the world, with a median value of commodity exports of 90% of all merchandise exports, according to UNCTAD data. Such a high degree of dependency has stymied African economic development for decades, and risks undermining regional economies’ integration into emerging green global supply chains. The economic and social costs could be colossal, ranging from exporting resource rents and rising unemployment to mounting migration pressures, the latter already being exacerbated by climate crises.



Mine-related transport infrastructure that typically connects mines directly to ports—a pattern most prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa—has been one of the most important physical representations and lasting legacies of colonialism. During the colonial era, transport and infrastructure networks in Africa were not designed to foster endogenous growth or support commodity-based industrialization. Instead, their principal objective was to maximize the extraction and transfer of natural resources and raw materials used in manufacturing processes across various industries to Europe.



Commodity-abundant nations in the Global South were reduced to resource stockpiles in the context of global economic integration, entrenching the divide between developed and developing countries. By holding the monopoly on technology and dominating the production and export of higher-value commodities, European powers widened the income gap with emerging economies in the Global South, locking the latter into a perpetual cycle of intergenerational poverty and aid dependency. Balance of payments crises became commonplace in the Global South, with the deterioration of commodity terms of trade sustaining structural current account deficits in the exclusive bilateral trade relationships between each imperial power and its respective former colonies.



Despite the multiplicity of actors both within the African continent and destination countries in the developed world, the Lobito Corridor project exemplifies these historical patterns. The 800-mile railway will connect Zambia’s Copperbelt as well as the copper, lithium, and cobalt mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Angolan port city Lobito. Backed by the US and European Union (EU), the project will expedite the transportation of essential minerals—including many green minerals critical to the manufacture of electronics and electric vehicle (EV) batteries—significantly reducing transit times from 45 days by road to just 45 hours. For the EU and US, improved access to these critical minerals allows them to diversify and make their supply chains more resilient as geopolitical tensions and great power rivalries deepen and increase the weaponization of commodities.



Biden’s trip was eminently geopolitically motivated, with two key related objectives in a world set on an irreversible energy transition as the combustion engine-led growth model enters its waning years. First, securing access to minerals vital to the green transition and, second, countering China’s growing influence across Africa. China has become a significant economic player in the region, particularly in the natural resource sector and in infrastructure development. For decades, China’s engagement with Africa has prioritized infrastructure projects and investment in the region’s transportation networks, often financed by natural resource-backed loans.



China’s growing influence in Africa is also visible in the trade arena, in which it overtook the US as Africa’s largest trading partner in 2009. China has consolidated that pole position in the years since, while US imports from Africa collapsed following the country’s shale oil revolution and bid for energy independence. Angola, one of the most natural resource-dependent countries in the world—the oil sector accounts for more than 90% of Angolan exports and 70% of government revenues—was particularly affected by US’s shale revolution. Between 2012-23, Angola’s exports to the US fell by more than 88% to around US$1.2 billion, and the country’s direction of trade shifted towards Asia, with China becoming the top destination for Angolan crude oil.



However, though Africa may now be trading with different parties, the nature of the region’s trade patterns has not changed. Under the sticky colonial development paradigm of resource extraction, primary commodities and natural resources continue to dominate Africa’s exports, including around 60% of Sub-Saharan African exports to China. The region’s increasing reliance on China for manufactured goods has led to increasingly large trade deficits—the most recent estimates put Africa’s trade deficits with China at US$45.9 billion in 2022 and US$63 billion in 2023, a record high.



When challenged on the persistence and scale of trade imbalances between China and Africa, Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Qian Keming responded, “Africa must have things to sell [for China to buy].” This candid assessment again underlines the consequences of the costly development paradigm of resource extraction.



But the obstacles to growing African exports—particularly today, when trade is driven largely by intermediate and manufactured goods with increasing technological content—have a long history and have colored Africa’s engagement with both China and the US. Over the years, these hurdles have also skewed the distribution of African trade towards extra-African trade—intraregional trade has remained very low at around 15% of total African trade, compared to 60% in Asia and 70% in Europe.



Despite trade preference programs such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) along with benefits extended under the Generalized System of Preferences program, Africa’s trade with the US remains marginal, accounting for less than 1% of total US trade in 2023. In comparison, consider Vietnam, which accounted for more than 2.5% of total US trade last year. Vietnam’s exports to the US exceeded US$119 billion in 2023, dwarfing the US$29 billion of total exports from the 50 combined Sub-Saharan African nations.



Beyond boosting exports and sustaining high economic growth, Vietnam’s integration into high-value global supply chains has significantly raised per capita incomes and lifted millions out of poverty. It is not a natural resource-rich country, but has successfully leveraged the increasing foreign value-added content of exports to diversify its sources of growth and trade, including the production of critical electronics and other high-demand goods in the technology sector. For instance, 40% of the components in Samsung’s phones are made in Vietnam, while none are made in Africa where countries have remained confined to the bottom of global value chains as feedstocks that provide the raw materials used to produce them.



The colonial development model of resource extraction has been very costly in terms of growth, macroeconomic stability, and welfare. The ongoing net-zero transition provides the opportunity to transcend that model to promote the rise of downstream industries and boost domestic value addition from natural resources. This would enhance Africa’s integration into emerging green global supply chains, including those connected with the EV industry. More than catalyzing the injection of patient capital and technology transfer, that transition will mitigate the substantial foreign exchange reserve leakages and deadweight losses that underpin Africa’s balance of payments pressures. It would also accelerate the diversification of sources of growth to boost African trade and expand employment opportunities, stemming migration pressures in a region where abject poverty and destitution has compelled young people to relocate overseas.



Globally, transitioning to localized value chains in Africa aligns with environmental and economic priorities. That transition will accelerate the diversification of global supply chains for greater resilience and, in the process, address the persistent global macroeconomic imbalances that have become the source of trade frictions between nations. Furthermore, it will enhance the net-zero transition by reducing the shipping industry’s carbon footprint, exacerbated over the years by the highly polluting round-tripping model under which Africa’s raw materials are first exported and then imported as manufactured goods at higher prices. Demographic trends are such that this model is no longer sustainable and will only intensify carbon emissions and external imbalances.In the climate change era, boosting domestic value added from natural resources within Africa is not just good economics, but also environmentally sound.



The world has an interest in increasing downstream processing in Africa to maximize the value of and development impact of commodities and minimize the negative externalities of growth. This historical shift will ensure that African countries have things to sell to the rest of the world and to each other, boosting long-languishing intra-African trade and compounding the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The returns on the Lobito Corridor investment project will be even higher if the transnational rail line is the locomotive that sustainably bolsters the export of both primary and higher-value commodities. &nbsp;



For the region to truly benefit from the project, policymakers and investors must look beyond short-term resource extraction and prioritize long-term, sustainable economic development. Only then can Africa move beyond its colonial legacy and become a competitive contributor to global value chains.

U.S. President Joe Biden vistis the Lobito Port Terminal

Biden’s Africa trip spotlights colonial legacies and dangers of commodity dependence

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="461" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/108104755-1740023049512-gettyimages-1212971284-AFP_1RK86F-820x461.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-591874" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/108104755-1740023049512-gettyimages-1212971284-AFP_1RK86F-820x461.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/108104755-1740023049512-gettyimages-1212971284-AFP_1RK86F-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/108104755-1740023049512-gettyimages-1212971284-AFP_1RK86F-160x90.jpeg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/108104755-1740023049512-gettyimages-1212971284-AFP_1RK86F-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/108104755-1740023049512-gettyimages-1212971284-AFP_1RK86F-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/108104755-1740023049512-gettyimages-1212971284-AFP_1RK86F.jpeg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump. Dan Kitwoodnicholas Kamm | Afp | Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



China’s Ministry of Commerce said Friday that it “firmly opposes” U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest threat to ramp up tariffs on Chinese goods and vowed retaliation, if necessary.



“If the U.S. insists on its own way, China will take all necessary countermeasures to defend its legitimate rights and interests,” a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said in a statement, translated by CNBC.



“We urge the U.S. side to not repeat its own mistakes, and to return as soon as possible to the right track of properly resolving conflicts through dialogue on equal footing.”



The statement followed Trump’s Thursday announcement that the U.S. would impose an additional 10% duty on Chinese imports on March 4, which coincides with the start of China’s annual parliamentary meetings.



The new tariffs would be on top of the 10% further tariffs that Trump levied on China on Feb. 4.



Trump announced the two rounds of China duties were being imposed in response to the Asian country’s role in the fentanyl trade. The addictive drug, precursors to which are mostly produced in China and Mexico, has led to tens of thousands of overdose deaths each year in the U.S.



“In the short term, China’s response will likely include raising tariffs on select U.S. imports, adding more American firms to its unreliable entity list, and potentially further tightening export controls on critical minerals,” Neil Thomas, a fellow on Chinese politics at the Asia Society, said by email.



He noted he nevertheless expects Beijing’s retaliation will remain “measured,” as Chinese President Xi Jinping has an incentive to meet with his American counterpart and initiate negotiations to avoid measures that put greater pressure on already sluggish economic growth.



China’s exports have been a rare bright spot in an otherwise slowing economy. The U.S. is China’s largest trading partner on a single-country basis.



While Beijing may maintain a “restrained” stance, upcoming moves will likely target industries that matter the most to Trump supporters, said Alfredo Montufar-Helu, head of the China Center at The Conference Board.



China would prefer to leave some room for further negotiations as it hopes to avoid even higher import tariffs and other “corrective” measures by Washington, he said.



After the first round of tariffs earlier this month, China’s retaliatory measures included raising duties on certain U.S. energy imports and putting two U.S. companies on an unreliable entities list that could restrict their ability to do business in the Asian country.



China has also increased controls on exports of critical minerals that the U.S. needs.



“The sharpest arrow that China has in its quiver would be to restrict U.S. access to critical minerals that can’t readily be sourced elsewhere,” said Stephen Olson, a visiting senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and a former U.S. trade negotiator.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-stronger-tone"><a></a>A stronger tone</h2>



Despite the lack of specifics, the Ministry of Commerce statement on Friday struck a stronger tone than the country’s response to the initial 10% duties earlier this month.



The ministry defended China’s drug control efforts and called the latest tariff threat — on grounds of illegal fentanyl flows — as “purely shifting the blame” without helping the U.S. solve its own drug problems. It also denounced the additional levies for “adding to the burdens on American businesses and consumers and disrupting the global supply chain.”



The latest communique “sends a clear message that the Chinese government is ready to respond in defense of national interests, and they won’t ‘bend the knee,’” said Montufar-Helu.



In contrast, the ministry’s statement dated Feb. 2 urged Washington to manage fentanyl issues “objectively and rationally” while cautioning the tariffs could damage normal China-U.S. economic and trade relations.



China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also toughened its tone in a response to the tariffs Friday. The U.S. act of “pressuring, coercing and threatening” China with tariffs will only backfire, spokesperson Lin Jian said in Chinese comments reported by state media and translated by CNBC.



Trump’s announcement of extra tariffs will “push China into a position of assuming that a deal may not be possible or may not be achievable in the near term,” Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation, told CNBC.



“That leaves Beijing with two options:&nbsp;either roll out continued measured responses in the hope of avoiding further escalation and maybe even rolling back existing measures; or going much bigger,” she added, as the previous “modest measures weren’t enough and the threat for future escalation wasn’t taken seriously enough.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a></a>More tariffs likely</h2>



At the start of his second term, Trump ordered his administration to investigate Beijing’s compliance with a trade deal struck during his first presidency in 2020. The final result of the assessment will be delivered to Trump by April 1.



That could set the stage for further actions of what Trump called “reciprocal tariffs,” raising duties on various countries including China to match their existing levies on U.S. imports.



In a social media post Thursday, the U.S. president confirmed that “The April Second Reciprocal Tariff date will remain in full force and effect.”

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China vows to retaliate as necessary after Trump threatens another 10% tariff hike

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="5000" height="3294" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/QWVIY5PQRZIIJAKXBWQYUD5BKM.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-591809"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bank of England Deputy Governor, Markets and Banking, Dave Ramsden speaks during the central bank&#8217;s Monetary Policy Report press conference at the Bank of England, in London, on November 7, 2024. HENRY NICHOLLS/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



STELLENBOSCH, South Africa, Feb 28 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Wage pressures in Britain have raised the risk of inflation holding above the Bank of England&#8217;s target, the bank&#8217;s Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden said on Friday, though he added that&nbsp;interest rate cuts did not necessarily need to be slow.



Ramsden&nbsp;said&nbsp;he had been surprised by official data&nbsp;which showed that&nbsp;private-sector wage growth&nbsp;had&nbsp;picked up to an annual rate of 6.2% in the fourth quarter rather than weakening.



&#8220;That was a concerning development for me,&#8221; he said in a question-and-answer session after&nbsp;giving a&nbsp;speech at Stellenbosch University near Cape Town, where he&nbsp;attended&nbsp;a Group of 20 meeting of finance ministers and central bankers.



Moreover, Ramsden said a BoE survey of employers showed their pay growth expectations for 2025 were near the top of an earlier forecast range of 2-4%, whereas Ramsden had thought it would be below 3%.



&#8220;I no longer think that risks to hitting the 2% inflation target sustainably in the medium term are to the downside,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Instead, I think they are two-sided, reflecting the potential for more inflationary as well as disinflationary scenarios.&#8221;



Ramsden voted with the majority of the BoE&#8217;s Monetary Policy Committee to cut the bank&#8217;s main interest rate to 4.5% from 4.75% on February 6. Two&nbsp;MPC members voted for a bigger, half-point cut.



At the previous meeting in December, Ramsden had been part of a more dovish minority who voted for a quarter-point cut when the majority of the MPC wanted to keep rates on hold.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safe-descent">&#8216;SAFE DESCENT&#8217;</h2>



Ramsden said he still believed rates were on a downward path and that &#8220;the core disinflationary process remains intact&#8221;.



&#8220;A gradual and careful approach is always needed on the way down a mountain to ensure a safe descent and a successful outcome. But that doesn&#8217;t always mean the descent has to be slow,&#8221; he added.



The seven MPC members who backed the quarter-point rate cut this month split between those who signalled a &#8220;careful&#8221; approach to cutting rates further &#8211; the main language used in the BoE&#8217;s February policy statement &#8211; and another group who preferred the word &#8220;cautious&#8221;, implying slower rate cuts.



&#8220;There may be circumstances when a slower than expected descent is justified but there will also be times when conditions require that the pace has to quicken,&#8221; Ramsden said.



The BoE expects inflation to&nbsp;accelerate&nbsp;from 3.0% in January to around 3.7% in the third quarter, before returning to its 2% target in late 2027. Some economists think it is on course to hit 4%.



Ramsden said his tolerance for above-target inflation was &#8220;very, very low&#8221; and highlighted the risk that Britain&#8217;s weak&nbsp;growth reflected a problem with the&nbsp;economy&#8217;s&nbsp;capacity to meet even subdued levels of demand. This capacity might be &#8220;even weaker&#8221; than the BoE had assessed.



&#8220;In those circumstances, the speed limit of the economy would be even lower, the labour market may remain tighter for longer, and wages could remain elevated,&nbsp;leading to greater persistence in domestic inflationary pressures,&#8221; he said.



(Reporting by Andy Bruce, writing by David Milliken; editing by William James and Gareth Jones)

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Wage pressures boost risk of above-target inflation, BoE’s Ramsden says

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="5000" height="3035" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CXYS7WC5YRPUPNY2HNXRUOQOYQ.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-582750"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An aerial view shows the skyline of downtown in Nairobi, Kenya October 8, 2024. Picture taken on October 8, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



NAIROBI, Feb 28 (Reuters) &#8211; Kenya&#8217;s annual consumer inflation rose for the fourth month in a row to 3.5% in February from 3.3% in January, the statistics office said on Friday.



Core inflation remained at 2.0% in February, unchanged from January, while non-core inflation rose to 8.2% in February from 7.1% the previous month, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement.



Kenya&#8217;s central bank cut its main interest rate for the fourth meeting in a row to 10.75% on February 5, saying it wanted to do more to support lending and boost economic growth.



The central bank said inflation was expected to remain below the midpoint of the 2.5%-7.5% target range in the near term.



(Reporting by Hereward Holland; Editing by Jan Harvey and Kevin Liffey)

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Kenya annual inflation rises for fourth month in a row

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="4000" height="2667" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/4RI6JH2DCRIBTOTEG67K23A2OM.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-591756"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An American flag and USAID flag fly outside the USAID building in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 1, 2025. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



LONDON/JOHANNESBURG/GENEVA, (Reuters) &#8211; U.S.-funded projects worldwide, including those providing lifesaving care for millions of people in countries such as Sudan and South Africa, received termination notices on Thursday sending shockwaves across the global aid community.



The latest cancellations come as U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration nears completion of a review to ensure that grants are aligned with his &#8220;America First&#8221; agenda after ordering a 90-day pause on all foreign aid in January to assess whether projects were consistent with his policy aims.



U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had dismissed concerns that Washington was ending foreign aid, saying waivers had been provided to life-saving services.



Only weeks later, the Trump administration decided to terminate more than 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development programmes, according to a February 25 court document. Those included many that were initially covered by waivers such as work addressing HIV as well as wider health programmes. It is unclear whether the projects can be reinstated.



Major United Nations health programmes were among those to get termination notices, including UNAIDS, the Stop TB Partnership and Scaling Up Nutrition as well as projects helping millions of forcibly displaced people.



&#8220;We are hit, but we will continue to be there,&#8221; Lucica Ditiu, Stop TB&#8217;s executive director, said.



Ditiu said that the group has different sources of funding it would use for procuring TB tests and treatments, but that it would have to terminate contracts with 140 partners around the world, many of which provide services including helping TB patients get diagnosed and stay on treatment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-egregious-breaches">&#8216;EGREGIOUS BREACHES&#8217;</h2>



Charlotte Slente, secretary general of the Danish Refugee Council, said she was appalled after receiving more than 20 termination notices for projects across a range of countries including Sudan, Yemen and Colombia.



&#8220;Not only are these terminations egregious breaches of contracts, but they endanger the lives of millions of the world&#8217;s most vulnerable people,&#8221; Slente said, adding that the decision would hit forcibly displaced people in conflict zones.



&#8220;While it is understood that incoming governments want to review their overseas development assistance, the decisions from the U.S. government over the last month are abrupt and unilateral, and the rationale for these are unfathomable,&#8221; Slente added.



A global non-profit with projects on malaria and newborn health, among other areas, said the majority of its contracts had been cancelled. Smaller organisations were also hit, such as Khana in Cambodia, a TB and HIV organisation, and many organisations working on HIV and AIDS in South Africa.



UNAIDS on its website called the termination of its relationship with USAID a &#8220;serious development&#8221; that would affect lifesaving services, and said it had asked the U.S. government for more information.



Reuters was not immediately able to determine how many organisations worldwide were affected. Trump&#8217;s administration also eliminated nearly 30% of State Department foreign assistance grants, worth $4.4 billion.



The State Department did not respond to a question on why life-saving aid programs were terminated.



&#8220;Secretary Rubio and (USAID) Deputy Administrator (Peter) Marocco have determined your award is not aligned with Agency priorities and made a determination that continuing this program is not in the national interest,&#8221; said the notice received by organisations, which was seen by Reuters.



For some groups, USAID represents the majority of their funding, and they will struggle to survive, while for others it is only one of many donors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-devastating-blow">&#8216;DEVASTATING BLOW&#8217;</h2>



International AIDS Society President Beatriz Grinsztejn, referring to cuts worldwide, said: &#8220;The U.S. funding cuts are dismantling the system. HIV treatment is crumbling. TB services are collapsing.&#8221;



In South Africa, which has the world&#8217;s largest number of people living with HIV at around 8 million, health experts said the cuts could roll back years of progress on the epidemic.



&#8220;We will see lives lost. We are going to see this epidemic walk back as a result of this,&#8221; said Linda-Gail Bekker, chief operating officer of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, which works with many organisations that were affected.



Bekker said she expected a funding cut for programmes targeting specific groups such as LGBT+ people and sex workers, but in fact the cuts are far-reaching and include HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes for women and children.



The United States provides about 17% of South Africa&#8217;s HIV/AIDS budget, and health experts said this funding was crucial for providing testing and getting new patients on treatment.



&#8220;The programmes who received their termination letters this morning were among the most efficient, effective health delivery programmes in the country,&#8221; said Francois Venter, executive director of the Ezintsha Research Centre in Johannesburg, which is not funded by USAID, calling it a &#8220;devastating blow&#8221; for South Africa&#8217;s HIV response.



Nonprofit Humanity &amp; Inclusion had more than 30 contracts with the U.S. government to provide services to hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities in multiple countries. Over the past 36 hours, the organisation received notice that about half of those contracts had been cancelled, said its U.S. executive director Hannah Guedenet.



&#8220;If you want to cut funding,&#8221; Guedenet said &#8220;&#8230; there&#8217;s a way to responsibly do that. And that is not what&#8217;s being done. This is complete disregard for human life.&#8221;



US Supreme Court allows Trump&#8217;s freeze of foreign aid funding temporarily.



(Reporting by Nellie Peyton in Johannesburg, Jennifer Rigby in London, Emma Farge in Geneva and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Will Dunham)

4RI6JH2DCRIBTOTEG67K23A2OM

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Fewer empty trucks: How AI made Singapore’s ports more efficient

No Speed Limits In Germany? Why The U.S. Doesn’t Have An Autobahn

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="574" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PHOTO-2025-02-27-16-12-22-820x574.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-591492" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PHOTO-2025-02-27-16-12-22-820x574.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PHOTO-2025-02-27-16-12-22-300x210.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PHOTO-2025-02-27-16-12-22-129x90.jpg 129w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PHOTO-2025-02-27-16-12-22-768x538.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PHOTO-2025-02-27-16-12-22.jpg 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



Former African Development Bank Senior Vice President Swazi Tshabalala says she is ready to help transform Africa by prioritising infrastructure development and a greater role for the continent’s private sector if she is elected president next May.



South African Tshabalala is the only woman among the five candidates vying to lead the only financial institution rated triple AAA by the three major rating agencies. She is competing against Zambia’s Samuel Maimbo, Senegal’s Amadou Hott, Mauritania’s Sidi OuldTah and Chad’s Abbas Mahamat Tolli.



“Swazi Tshabalala is an exceptional leader with a proven track record in finance, infrastructure, and economic development,’’ South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said in a statement backing her candidacy. ‘’Her extensive experience at the African Development Bank and beyond makes her the ideal candidate to lead the institution into a new era of financial resilience and impact-driven growth.’’



Africa’s premier finance institution elects a new President on May 29 replacing Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina who completes his 10-year term later in the year. Under Adesina, the AfDB championed Africa’s agriculture as a unique investment opportunity and last month launched an $8 billion World Bank-backed drive to provide power to 300 million Africans.



Tshabalala had been with the AfDB since 2018, rising to the position of Senior Vice President from 2021. Before that she held leadership roles at Old Mutual Employee Benefits, Standard Bank Group and Transnet, South Africa’s transport parastatal. From 2006 to 2014, she served as the CEO of the Industrial Development Group.



&#8220;Africa stands at a pivotal moment, and the African Development Bank must rise to meet the continent’s ambitions with bold, strategic action,’’ Tshabalalala said in a statement. ‘’My vision is to build a financially strong, results-driven AfDB that prioritises infrastructure, expands innovative financing solutions, and strengthens partnerships to unlock Africa’s full economic potential.’’



To win the AfDB presidency, a candidate needs a majority vote of both the African shareholders, who own 60 percent of the bank, and non-African shareholders referred to as non-regional members, who hold the rest.

PHOTO-2025-02-27-16-12-22

South Africa’s Tshabalala declares African Development Bank president candidacy

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="5000" height="3334" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/https___cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com_reuters_M2VBBFZHORKF5D3SKT6QNJABKI.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-591410"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (not pictured) attend a media briefing and signing ceremony at Tuynhuys to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries in Cape Town, South Africa, May 16, 2023. REUTERS/Esa Alexander</figcaption></figure>



JOHANNESBURG, Feb 27 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that he wanted to &#8220;do a deal&#8221; with U.S. President Donald Trump to resolve a dispute over his country&#8217;s land policy and genocide case against Israel at the World Court.



Trump cut U.S. financial assistance to South Africa in an executive order this month, citing disapproval of its approach to land reform and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Washington&#8217;s close ally.



Ramaphosa told a conference organised by U.S. bank Goldman Sachs in Johannesburg that he wanted the &#8220;dust to settle&#8221; after the executive order but that the longer-term goal was to go to Washington to mend relations.



&#8220;We don&#8217;t want to go and explain ourselves. We want to go and do a meaningful deal with the United States on a whole range of issues,&#8221; Ramaphosa said. &#8220;I&#8217;m very positively inclined to promoting a good relationship with President Trump.&#8221;



Ramaphosa did not say what the deal could involve, only that it could touch on trade, diplomatic and political matters.



South Africa is not hugely dependent on U.S. aid, but some fear its preferential trade status under the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) could be under threat with Trump in the White House.



The country tries to project itself as non-aligned in geopolitical conflicts, not tying its interests too closely to those of rival powers the United States, China and Russia.



But Trump has cited the ICJ case as an example of South Africa taking positions against Washington and its allies.



(Additional reporting by Sfundo Parakozov and Bhargav Acharya; Writing by Alexander Winning; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

https___cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com_reuters_M2VBBFZHORKF5D3SKT6QNJABKI

South African leader wants to do a deal with Trump to resolve dispute

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="5000" height="3435" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/KHRWUMTKIBJ67ODN3A5LCDNGMI.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-591376"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ethiopia&#8217;s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed speaks during the opening of the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union at the African Union Commission (AUC) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 15, 2025. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



MOGADISHU, Feb 27 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Ethiopia&#8217;s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed arrived in Somalia&#8217;s capital Mogadishu on Thursday to hold discussions with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somalia&#8217;s presidency said, following a thaw in icy relations.



The relationship soured in January 2024 when Ethiopia announced plans to lease a stretch of coastline in Somalia&#8217;s breakaway Somaliland region.



Ethiopia planned to build a naval base and commercial port in exchange for possible recognition of Somaliland&#8217;s independence.



Somalia accused Ethiopia of undermining its territorial integrity, threatened to eject its peacekeepers, and strengthened ties with Ethiopia&#8217;s arch foes Egypt and Eritrea.



Mogadishu airport was hit by at least one mortar shell shortly before Abiy&#8217;s plane landed on Thursday, despite all roads around the high security complex being closed, four local residents and media said.



The two countries agreed to resolve the dispute at talks mediated by Ankara in December, pledging to find commercial arrangements to allow landlocked Ethiopia &#8220;reliable, secure and sustainable access to and from the sea.&#8221;



They also agreed to begin technical negotiations by the end of February.



&#8220;This visit marks a significant step toward strengthening the diplomatic ties between Somalia and Ethiopia, as the two leaders are scheduled to engage in discussions on key bilateral and regional matters of mutual interest,&#8221; Somalia&#8217;s presidency posted on X.



The two men smiled as they shook hands on the airport tarmac, surrounded by people waving flags of the two neighbouring countries, according to photographs shared by the presidency.



Abiy&#8217;s trip comes a month after Mohamud visited Addis Ababa.



Somalia has been in the grip of a long-running insurgency by Islamist al-Shabaab militants who have been fighting to overthrow the fragile central government.



(Reporting by Feisal Omar; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Ammu Kannampilly and Christina Fincher)

KHRWUMTKIBJ67ODN3A5LCDNGMI

Ethiopia’s Abiy visits Somalia for talks with President Mohamud

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="540" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/TIXMZFP7UVKXJH4F5XABAAHGSM.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-591347"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An aerial view of Shaft 11 at Impala Platinum Mine, in Rustenburg, South Africa, November 28, 2023. REUTERS/Shafiek Tassiem/File photo</figcaption></figure>



Feb 27 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Impala Platinum (Implats)&nbsp;IMPJ.J&nbsp;could wind down its palladium mine in Canada earlier than planned if there is no immediate recovery in metal prices, CEO Nico Muller said after a 43% slump in first-half profit.



Palladium has registered the sharpest price decline of all platinum group metals (PGM), plunging from its March 2022 peak of about $3,440 an ounce to current levels around $921.



Muller said that Implats could close the Canada mine before the end of its remaining two years, but no final decision has been taken yet.



&#8220;I would not be surprised if, in the course of the next few months we come to a position that an accelerated and responsible wind down of that operation seems to be economically the most effective way to deal with (Impala) Canada,&#8221; Muller said on a media call.



First half profit slid to 1.85 billion rand ($100.15), hit by lower metal prices, prompting the miner to scrap dividend payments.



Muller also said that Implats is assessing some of South African mines that are struggling to make a profit.



($1 = 18.4725 rand)



(Reporting by Nelson Banya and Felix Njini; Editing by Jamie Freed, Sherry Jacob-Phillips and David Goodman)

TIXMZFP7UVKXJH4F5XABAAHGSM

Impala considers early closure of Canadian palladium mine after price rout

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="565" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201984903-1-820x565.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-591372" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201984903-1-820x565.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201984903-1-300x207.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201984903-1-131x90.jpg 131w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201984903-1-768x529.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201984903-1-1536x1058.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201984903-1-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">LAGOS, NIGERIA &#8211; FEBRUARY 25: John Legend performs onstage during Global Citizen Move Afrika: Lagos at The Palms on February 25, 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)</figcaption></figure></div>


This year’s Move Afrika Tour Expands from East to West Africa, Pioneering the Music Touring Circuit for International Artists, Employing 90 Percent Local Crews in Kigali and Lagos, Generating Economic Investments, and Driving Action to Strengthen Africa’s Healthcare Systems



Lagos, February 25, 2025 // Global Citizen’s Move Afrika tour has come to Lagos, Nigeria for the first time, with an unforgettable evening of music and citizen-led advocacy, headlined by EGOT-winning, critically acclaimed, multiplatinum artist and producer John Legend. Move Afrika: Lagos was hosted by media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and featured performances by Simi and DJ Consequence, backdropped by creative work from local designers and artisans. This was the second instalment of Move Afrika, an ambitious initiative to pioneer the pan-African music touring circuit for international artists.



John Legend gave the sold out Lagos show an incredible headline performance, which featured some of his greatest hits, including ‘Ordinary People’, ‘PDA’, ‘Green Light’, ‘All of Me’ and ‘Refuge’, where he was joined on stage by Simi. “It’s been too long, I’ve missed you all,” he said. “We’re thankful to Global Citizen and Move Afrika for bringing us back here. We belong together, Lagos. I’m so happy we’re together tonight.” Throughout the set, he wore outfits by local designers Eleven Sixteen and Orange Culture, as well as a backstage look by Emmy Kasbit. The backing vocalists also wore local designers Elexiay and Wanni Fuga.



“Adding a second location to the Move Afrika tour this year is a major step in the direction of establishing the pan-continental music touring circuit that both international and local artists will leverage for years to come. It’s this kind of incremental growth by which, year after year, we’ll continue pioneering and pushing our vision towards reality,” said Hugh Evans, Co-Founder &amp; CEO, Global Citizen. “Nigeria has an incredibly rich musical heritage, a well established local entertainment industry, and a cultural influence that reverberates right across the globe. We are honored to have added Nigeria to the Move Afrika tour, and look forward to returning for the years to come.”


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="558" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201989928-820x558.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-591325" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201989928-820x558.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201989928-300x204.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201989928-132x90.jpg 132w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201989928-768x523.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201989928-1536x1045.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201989928-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">LAGOS, NIGERIA &#8211; FEBRUARY 25: Simi performs onstage during Global Citizen Move Afrika: Lagos at The Palms on February 25, 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)</figcaption></figure></div>


Launched in 2023, Move Afrika is a long-term effort to pioneer the international music touring circuit throughout the continent of Africa, with a dedicated focus on driving economic investment, expanding infrastructure and



building local capacity within host cities, creating local jobs, generating skill training and youth entrepreneurship opportunities, and showcasing the best of African creative talent to the world.



Additionally, international advocacy organization Global Citizen is leveraging this year’s Move Afrika tour to drive a citizen-led advocacy campaign focused on strengthening health systems across Africa. During pre-show activations in both Kigali and Lagos, where participants earned free show tickets, Global Citizen urged African nations to increase domestic health financing, prioritize primary care and sexual and reproductive health and rights, boost global investments in health resilience, and alleviate financial burdens on nations to strengthen public health.



This year, Move Afrika took groundbreaking steps by delivering world-class shows working with both local Nigerian and Rwandan crews. Move Afrika: Lagos was delivered with 90 percent local crew, and more than 95 percent local equipment, demonstrating Nigeria’s continent-leading role in delivering world class productions. Local vendors who partnered with Global Citizen to make Move Afrika: Lagos possible include: Sole Empire, Pro Audio Nigeria, ITMS Limited, Cytech World Communication, Equally Diverse Solutions Ltd., Massive Dynamics, Event Design Studio, IDCL NG, The Greenroom Nigeria and Purple Fire.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="558" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201985776-820x558.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-591352" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201985776-820x558.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201985776-300x204.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201985776-132x90.jpg 132w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201985776-768x522.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201985776-1536x1044.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201985776-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">LAGOS, NIGERIA &#8211; FEBRUARY 25: John Legend performs onstage during Global Citizen Move Afrika: Lagos at The Palms on February 25, 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)</figcaption></figure></div>


As the first stop on the tour just a few days ago in Rwanda, Move Afrika: Kigali increased its local crew from 75 percent in 2023 to 90 percent this year, significantly increased locally-sourced technical production, saw local crew members working alongside international technical teams to stage the show, and showcased Rwandan creative excellence through the work of local artisans, including members of the Nyamirambo Women’s Center, who crafted traditional Agaseke peace baskets to complete the dynamic set design.



In the lead up to tonight’s Move Afrika show, Global Citizen hosted the Stride for HER Rights Maternal Healthcare Walkathon, in partnership with the Lagos State Government, the Lagos Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Tourism, across Lagos’s iconic Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge. The walkathon saw thousands of Global Citizens, leaders from civil society and government representatives from across the region participate, including Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), Nigerian Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF), and HelpMum, with all groups calling for enhanced maternal and child healthcare services nationwide. The advocacy event amplified awareness of the vital role of community health workers, calling for increased healthcare funding towards sexual reproductive health rights, and championing the need for equitable access to maternal and neonatal healthcare services across Nigeria. Those who completed the walk earned tickets to Move Afrika: Lagos.



Earlier in Kigali, over a thousand Rwandans joined Global Citizen for the Together for a Healthier Community initiative, focusing on women’s and youth health, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Imbuto Foundation, and Kimisagara Youth Center. The event featured a mobile health clinic offering free sexual and reproductive healthcare, education, and community activities to raise awareness and improve access to services. Local musician Plantini performed, and Dr. Yvan Butera, the Rwandan Minister of State for Health, gave a keynote address. The initiative aimed to address healthcare access barriers like distance, cost, and lack of awareness. Participants who attended today’s event had the chance to earn free tickets to Move Afrika: Kigali.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="565" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201988312-820x565.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-591354" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201988312-820x565.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201988312-300x207.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201988312-131x90.jpg 131w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201988312-768x529.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201988312-1536x1059.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2201988312-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">LAGOS, NIGERIA &#8211; FEBRUARY 25: Musician performs onstage with Simi during Global Citizen Move Afrika: Lagos at The Palms on February 25, 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)</figcaption></figure></div>


To coincide with Move Afrika: Lagos, the Music Economy Development Initiative (MEDI) was launched to bring together a diverse coalition with the goal of unlocking the economic potential of music across Africa and beyond. MEDI will serve as the definitive source of research and data, highlighting the global economic potential of music, while fostering partnerships that drive policy reform, investment, and collaboration. The initiative&#8217;s launch coincided with the inaugural Music Policy Assembly in Lagos, Nigeria, taking place the day prior to the Move Afrika event. The Assembly brought together experts from across the continent to discuss crucial topics such as copyright, live music, and investment. Additionally, the Assembly hosted the unveiling of MEDI’s first position paper, ‘We Need Tracks Before We Have Trains,’ co-authored by former Chief Economist of Spotify, Will Page.



Partners of Move Afrika include pgLang, Glenfiddich and Pepsi. Global Citizen is grateful for the support of leading media companies including: Bella Naija, City Radio, Eagle Production, EIB Network, News Central TV, TV Continental, Radio Flash, Royal FM, Upscale Media and Vanguard Media.



The 2025 edition of Move Afrika builds on Global Citizen’s previous campaigns and events across Africa, including the 2023 edition of Move Afrika: Rwanda, headlined by Kendrick Lamar; Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, which featured Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Ed Sheeran, Usher, Eddie Vedder, and Chris Martin of Coldplay in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2018; Global Citizen Live: Lagos, with performances by Davido, Femi Kuti, and Tiwa Savage at Fela Kuti’s New Afrika Shrine in 2021; and Global Citizen Festival: Accra, which brought Usher, SZA, Stormzy, and TEMS to the Black Star Square in 2022.



For more information visit <a href="http://moveafrika.org/">moveafrika.org</a>.

Global Citizen Move Afrika: Lagos

John Legend Headlines Sold-Out Move Afrika Tour, Brings Spectacular Show to Lagos, Hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Featuring Simi, DJ Consequence, and More

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="5000" height="3334" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/434MNVWY65PJ5OEA3LY6KZZLTM.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-591306"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A man walks at the Cape Town International Convention Centre during day two of the four day G20 Finance Ministers meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, February 25, 2025. REUTERS/Nic Bothma</figcaption></figure>



CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) &#8211; Japan told its G20 counterparts that free, open and rules-based trade was important to sustain global economic growth, a senior finance ministry official told reporters on the sidelines of a gathering of the group&#8217;s finance leaders on Wednesday.



Japan also called on G20 members to take &#8220;highly predictable&#8221; economic policies and bear in mind the spillovers its policies could have on other countries, the official said, warning of the negative impact policy uncertainty could have on private-sector activity.



The official made the remarks after attending the first day of the G20 finance leaders&#8217; gathering in Cape Town.



A number of finance ministers skipped the G20 gathering, and other top officials curtailed trips to a meeting marred by disputes over the main issues of climate, debt and inequality.



The absence of U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent complicated policymakers&#8217; task of seeking clues on how Washington&#8217;s threats of higher tariffs could affect the global economy and financial markets.



(Reporting by Leika Kihara; Writing by Tannur Anders; Editing by Alexander Winning and Alex Richardson)

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South Africa’s Koeberg nuclear plant unit shuts down after unplanned trip

Why Automakers Like Toyota And Honda Are Investing In Rockets And Satellites

Why Caring For Elderly Parents Is So Expensive In The U.S.

Why it’s so hard to find starter homes in the U.S.

Biden’s Africa trip spotlights colonial legacies and dangers of commodity dependence

China vows to retaliate as necessary after Trump threatens another 10% tariff hike

Wage pressures boost risk of above-target inflation, BoE’s Ramsden says

Kenya annual inflation rises for fourth month in a row

Services to millions of people collapse as USAID cuts contracts worldwide

Fewer empty trucks: How AI made Singapore’s ports more efficient

No Speed Limits In Germany? Why The U.S. Doesn’t Have An Autobahn

South Africa’s Tshabalala declares African Development Bank president candidacy

South African leader wants to do a deal with Trump to resolve dispute

Ethiopia’s Abiy visits Somalia for talks with President Mohamud

Impala considers early closure of Canadian palladium mine after price rout

John Legend Headlines Sold-Out Move Afrika Tour, Brings Spectacular Show to Lagos, Hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Featuring Simi, DJ Consequence, and More

Japan tells G20 free, open trade crucial for global growth

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home

South Africa’s Koeberg nuclear plant unit shuts down after unplanned trip

Why Automakers Like Toyota And Honda Are Investing In Rockets And Satellites

Why Caring For Elderly Parents Is So Expensive In The U.S.

Why it’s so hard to find starter homes in the U.S.

Biden’s Africa trip spotlights colonial legacies and dangers of commodity dependence

China vows to retaliate as necessary after Trump threatens another 10% tariff hike

Wage pressures boost risk of above-target inflation, BoE’s Ramsden says

Kenya annual inflation rises for fourth month in a row

Services to millions of people collapse as USAID cuts contracts worldwide

Fewer empty trucks: How AI made Singapore’s ports more efficient

No Speed Limits In Germany? Why The U.S. Doesn’t Have An Autobahn

South Africa’s Tshabalala declares African Development Bank president candidacy

South African leader wants to do a deal with Trump to resolve dispute

Ethiopia’s Abiy visits Somalia for talks with President Mohamud

Impala considers early closure of Canadian palladium mine after price rout

John Legend Headlines Sold-Out Move Afrika Tour, Brings Spectacular Show to Lagos, Hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Featuring Simi, DJ Consequence, and More

Japan tells G20 free, open trade crucial for global growth

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