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<p>The African Continental Free Trade Area holds immense potential for the social and economic development of Africa. Joining CNBC Africa to discuss how the project can boost trade and resilience in the continent is Chido Munyati, Acting Head of Africa at the World Economic Forum.</p>


WEF’s Munyati on how to strengthen intra-African trade

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<p>Rwanda has deployed mobile grain dryers in efforts to reduce post-harvest losses and limit exposure of the harvest to poisons caused by poorly handled harvests.</p>


Rwanda deploys mobile dryers to tackle post-harvest losses

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<p>Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to retain all its key parameters at today’s meeting. Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele explains the rationale behind the committee&#8217;s decision&#8230;.</p>


Nigeria’s Central Bank retains MPR at 11.5% (Full Speech)

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<p>Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to retain its key rate at 11.5 per cent and left all other policy parameters unchanged at today’s meeting. CNBC Africa&#8217;s Wole Famurewa analysed the MPC&#8217;s decision with Bismarck Rewane the CEO of Financial Derivatives, Abdulrahman Yinusa, a Former of CIBN Council Member and Nnamdi Nwizu, the Co-managing partners of Comercio Partners&#8230;.</p>


Nigerian MPC post-analysis: Why the MPC kept policy rate unchanged at 11.5%

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<p>In a bid to become a financial hub in Africa, Rwanda has adopted four critical laws, including the revised investment code that seeks to attract more foreign direct investment into the country. CNBC Africa spoke to the Chief Operating Officer at the Rwanda Finance Limited, Hortense Mudenge for more.</p>


Rwanda passes revised investment code to attract foreign investment


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="740" height="416" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/105500770-1539253589126gettyimages-909184932.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-392105" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/105500770-1539253589126gettyimages-909184932.jpeg 740w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/105500770-1539253589126gettyimages-909184932-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/105500770-1539253589126gettyimages-909184932-150x84.jpeg 150w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/105500770-1539253589126gettyimages-909184932-696x391.jpeg 696w" sizes="(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px" /><figcaption>President Cyril Ramaphosa during a pre-World Economic Forum breakfast briefing on January 18, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa.</figcaption></figure>



<p>South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday urged the world’s wealthiest countries to stop “hoarding” vaccines and called for an end to “vaccine nationalism.”</p>



<p>In remarks delivered at the World Economic Forum’s virtual Davos Agenda event, Ramaphosa cautioned that some countries had ordered more supplies of vaccines than they needed, and that this was counterproductive to the global recovery effort.</p>



<p>“Ending the pandemic worldwide will require greater collaboration on the rollout of vaccines, ensuring that no country is left behind in this effort,” he said.</p>



<p>“The rich countries of the world went out and acquired large doses of vaccines from the developers and manufacturers of these vaccines, and some countries have even gone beyond and acquired up to four times what their populations need,” he said.</p>



<p>“That was aimed at hoarding these vaccines and now this is being done to the exclusion of other countries in the world that most need this,” he added, urging major economies to release their excess stockpiles for distribution to developing nations.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/25/covid-vaccine-moderna-working-on-covid-booster-shots-for-south-african-strain.html">South Africa</a>&nbsp;is the country worst hit by Covid-19 on the continent, which has largely managed to stave off the kind of uncontrolled spread which brought the U.S. and much of Europe to a standstill. As of Tuesday morning, the country had recorded more than 1.4 million cases with 41,117 deaths.</p>



<p>In a panel discussion as part of the Davos Agenda event on Tuesday morning, Africa CDC Director John Nkengasong said the continent is facing a “very aggressive second wave” of the pandemic, with mortality increasing on average 18% across the 55 African member states last week.</p>



<p>“We as a continent must recognize that vaccines will not be here when we want them, but as such we need to really focus on the public health measures that we know work,” he added.</p>



<p>Ramaphosa, who is also chairman of the African Union, lauded the continent’s collaborations on Covid-19 responses, including the African Medical Supplies Platform, which has offered assistance to national health systems, established regional collaboration hubs and deployed community healthcare workers to support testing and treatment efforts.</p>



<p>He also praised the progress of the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team, which he said was created when AU nations realized “how the world’s richest countries are behaving.”</p>



<p>The AVATT has secured a provisional 270 million doses for AU member states directly, in addition to the 600 million expected from the World Health Organization’s COVAX initiative.</p>


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South African leader Ramaphosa urges rich countries to stop ‘hoarding’ vaccines

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<p>This week, the World Economic Forum brings together world leaders to address challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a crucial year to rebuild, and this meeting will focus on creating impact and shaping the policies and partnerships needed in 2021. Joining CNBC Africa for more is Lee Howell, Managing Director at the World Economic Forum.</p>


WEF: Here’s what’s on the agenda at #Davos2021

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<p>The private sector is a key stakeholder and beneficiary of the African Continental Free Trade Area. But how ready are they to commit fully to trading and investing in the AfCFTA? CNBC Africa spoke to the Chairman of the Rwanda Private Sector Federation, Robert Bapfakurera, for more.</p>


AfCFTA: Assessing the preparedness of Rwanda’s private sector

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<p>The Eastern Africa region is set to generate an estimated $1.8 billion and more than 2 million jobs if the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is successfully implemented. But how is the region ready to stand out in the competitive market? UNECA Director for East Africa Mama Keita spoke to CNBC Africa for more.</p>


AfCFTA: Are East African economies ready to compete?

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<p>The bears continued their dominance at Nigeria’s equities market extending last week&#8217;s loses. Meanwhile, Unilever Nigeria’s revenue grew by 84.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020 according to the company’s earnings report. Andrew Tsaku, Trader at Kapital Care Trust joins CNBC Africa for more&#8230;.</p>


Nigerian equities extends last week’s loses

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<p>The Nigerian Senate commenced a two-day public hearing on the Petroleum Industry Bill today. The Senate President Ahmed Lawan says the parliament aims to pass the much-awaited bill by April or May this year. Chinwendu Enechi, Associate Director at Andersen Tax Nigeria joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Nigerian lawmakers open two-day public hearing on Petroleum Industry Bill

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<p>Slow economic growth, a global pandemic, and livelihoods under extreme threat. The new variants of Covid19 make much of last year&#8217;s status quo of working, learning and medicating remotely, still in play. More worrying however is the concern that the mutation of the virus may prolong the economic downturn in many parts of the world, including Africa. This panel of experts reviews how partnerships can unlock opportunities for growth and fill socio-economic voids in Africa&#8230;.</p>


How partnerships can unlock opportunities to further growth and fill socio-economic voids in Africa

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<p>The World Bank estimates a 5.5 per cent growth for Côte d’Ivoire’s economy this year, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pegged its growth projections at 6.2 per cent.</p>


How slowing cocoa demand will impact Côte d’Ivoire’s economy

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<p>Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee will begin their first meeting of the year today and will announce its first decision on Tuesday. Ahead of the announcement we’ll assess Nigeria’s policy drive and what it could mean for the country’s post-COVID-19 recovery. Kyari Bukar, former Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and Femi Oladehin, Partner for Investment Banking at Argentile Capital Partners join CNBC Africa for more.</p>


2021: Understanding Nigeria’s policy drive in Q1

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<p>In a bid to promote tourism in the region, Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Chamber of Tourism, Kenya Association of Travel Agents, and the East Africa Tourism Platform have signed a partnership agreement that will see both parties work together to conduct joint-marketing activities that will drive visitors to the countries’ attractions and experiences. Yves Ngenzi, Technical Advisor at East Africa Tourism Platform joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


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Kenya, Rwanda collaborate to drive intra tourism in the region

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<p>In Ethiopia, the Council of Ministers approved the new establishment regulation of Ethio-Telecom allowing the company to invest in the mobile sector and giving it the green light to invest in international markets as well. Zemedeneh Negatu, Global Chairman at Fairfax Africa Fund joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Fairfax Africa Chair on the new Ethio-Telecom regulations


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="740" height="416" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/106828830-1611347616160-gettyimages-1230731609-AFP_8ZD3FL.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-395873" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/106828830-1611347616160-gettyimages-1230731609-AFP_8ZD3FL.jpeg 740w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/106828830-1611347616160-gettyimages-1230731609-AFP_8ZD3FL-300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px" /><figcaption>US President Joe Biden signs executive orders for economic relief to Covid-hit families and businesses in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 22, 2021.
Nicholas Kamm | AFP | Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



<p>WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) &#8211; President Joe Biden will impose a ban on most non-U.S. citizens entering the country who have recently been in South Africa starting Saturday in a bid to contain the spread of a new variant of COVID-19, a senior U.S. public health official told Reuters.</p>



<p>Biden on Monday is also reimposing an entry ban on nearly all non-U.S. travelers who have been in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and 26 countries in Europe that allow travel across open borders.</p>



<p>&#8220;We are adding South Africa to the restricted list because of the concerning variant present that has already spread beyond South Africa,&#8221; said Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC&#8217;s principal deputy director, in an interview Sunday.</p>



<p>She added the agency was &#8220;putting in place this suite of measures to protect Americans and also to reduce the risk of these variants spreading and worsening the current pandemic.&#8221;</p>



<p>Then-President Donald Trump directed on Jan. 18 those restrictions on Brazil and Europe be lifted effective Tuesday but Biden&#8217;s proclamation will rescind that decision.</p>



<p>Biden, who took office on Wednesday, is taking an aggressive approach to combating the spread of the virus after Trump rejected mandates sought by U.S. health agencies.</p>



<p>Some health officials are concerned that current vaccines may not be effective against the South Africa variant, which also raises the prospect of re-infection.</p>



<p>The South African variant, also known as the 501Y.V2 variant, is 50% more infectious and has been detected in at least 20 countries. CDC officials told Reuters they would be open to adding additional countries to the list if needed.</p>



<p>The South African variant has not yet been found in the United States but at least 20 U.S. states have detected a UK variant known as B.1.1.7. Current vaccines appear effective against the UK mutations.</p>



<p>The South African embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CDC ORDERS COMING</h2>



<p>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director (CDC) head Rochelle Walensky will sign a separate order Monday requiring masks on all airplanes, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and ride-share vehicles for all travelers two and older, officials said. The new requirements are set to take effect in the coming days, they said, and masks can be removed for brief periods while eating or drinking.</p>



<p>On Tuesday, new CDC rules take effect requiring all international air travelers 2 and older to present a negative coronavirus test taken within three calendar days of travel or proof of recovery from COVID-19 to enter the United States.</p>



<p>The CDC will not, as it said on Jan. 12, consider granting temporary waivers to airlines to exempt some travelers from countries with limited testing capacity. Numerous U.S. airlines last week had asked CDC for waivers, airline officials said.</p>



<p>But CDC officials said they would consider case-by-case humanitarian exemptions for some travelers if needed.</p>



<p>CDC officials noted 120 countries currently have mandatory COVID-19 testing requirements for international travel.</p>



<p>The CDC order says travelers should self-quarantine for seven days upon return to the United States and consider getting a new COVID-19 test within three to five days of returning to the United States.</p>



<p>&#8220;With the pandemic worsening and these more contagious variants emerging it’s not the time to lift restrictions on international travel,&#8221; Schuchat said.</p>



<p>CDC officials have for weeks discussed the possibility of adding these testing requirements before U.S. domestic flights or requiring testing upon return from international travel but have made no decisions.</p>



<p>The U.S. restrictions barring most visitors from Europe have been in place since mid-March when Trump signed proclamations imposing them, while the Brazilian entry ban was imposed in May. The restriction, along with the new South Africa ones, mean most non-U.S. citizens who have been in one of those countries within the last 14 days are not eligible to travel to the United States.</p>



<p>Permanent U.S. residents and family members and some other non-U.S. citizens are permitted to return to the United States under the order.</p>



<p>Under Trump, the CDC push to mandate masks in transit was blocked and the agency instead only issued strong recommendations for mask use and officials initially blocked mandating COVID-19 testing for travelers from the UK before relenting on Dec. 24.</p>



<p>Trump opposed efforts by Congress to require masks in transit. Airlines have required passengers to wear masks and some local governments mandate mask use.</p>



<p>(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Click For Restrictions &#8211; https://agency.reuters.com/en/copyright.html</p>


Newsletter

WEF’s Munyati on how to strengthen intra-African trade

Rwanda deploys mobile dryers to tackle post-harvest losses

Nigeria’s Central Bank retains MPR at 11.5% (Full Speech)

Nigerian MPC post-analysis: Why the MPC kept policy rate unchanged at 11.5%

Rwanda passes revised investment code to attract foreign investment

South African leader Ramaphosa urges rich countries to stop ‘hoarding’ vaccines

WEF: Here’s what’s on the agenda at #Davos2021

AfCFTA: Assessing the preparedness of Rwanda’s private sector

AfCFTA: Are East African economies ready to compete?

Nigerian equities extends last week’s loses

Nigerian lawmakers open two-day public hearing on Petroleum Industry Bill

How partnerships can unlock opportunities to further growth and fill socio-economic voids in Africa

How slowing cocoa demand will impact Côte d’Ivoire’s economy

2021: Understanding Nigeria’s policy drive in Q1

Kenya, Rwanda collaborate to drive intra tourism in the region

Fairfax Africa Chair on the new Ethio-Telecom regulations

Biden to impose South Africa travel ban to combat new COVID-19 variant -CDC

News Tips

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Newsletter

WEF’s Munyati on how to strengthen intra-African trade

Rwanda deploys mobile dryers to tackle post-harvest losses

Nigeria’s Central Bank retains MPR at 11.5% (Full Speech)

Nigerian MPC post-analysis: Why the MPC kept policy rate unchanged at 11.5%

Rwanda passes revised investment code to attract foreign investment

South African leader Ramaphosa urges rich countries to stop ‘hoarding’ vaccines

WEF: Here’s what’s on the agenda at #Davos2021

AfCFTA: Assessing the preparedness of Rwanda’s private sector

AfCFTA: Are East African economies ready to compete?

Nigerian equities extends last week’s loses

Nigerian lawmakers open two-day public hearing on Petroleum Industry Bill

How partnerships can unlock opportunities to further growth and fill socio-economic voids in Africa

How slowing cocoa demand will impact Côte d’Ivoire’s economy

2021: Understanding Nigeria’s policy drive in Q1

Kenya, Rwanda collaborate to drive intra tourism in the region

Fairfax Africa Chair on the new Ethio-Telecom regulations

Biden to impose South Africa travel ban to combat new COVID-19 variant -CDC

News Tips

Advertise With Us

Newsletters