Kenya

Sakaja’s plan to split Nairobi into boroughs to cost Sh2bn

The Nairobi City County government will spend a total of Sh2.039 billion to establish five administrative boroughs and run functions in the administrative units as well as the sub-counties, should a county executive budget proposal for the financial year 2023/2024 be approved by the Nairobi city county assembly.  

The proposed budget estimates were contained in a document tabled before the County Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs committee. The document was tabled by Acting Boroughs and County Administration Acting Chief Officer Lydia Mathia.

The estimates indicate that the county will spend Sh540 million as capital for establishing the units, Sh100 million as operations and maintenance and Sh1.4billion as salaries and allowances for those who will be working in the units. This is for the financial year 2023/2024 alone.

(Source: Nation Africa)

Tanzania

Slovenia Deputy Prime Minister arrives in Tanzania, meets Dr Tax

Slovenia Republic Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Tanja Fajon arrived in Tanzania and held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Stergomena Tax in Dodoma.

According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Co-operation details shared on Twitter using verified handle, @mfa_tanzania, Ms Fajon and her Tanzanian counterpart, Dr Stergomena Tax, have discussed various issues including the strengthening of cooperation and establishing political consultations. The duo agreed that the countries can efficiently collaborate to ensure food safety.

(Source: The Daily News)

Uganda

South Sudan blames currency woes on Uganda, US

When the hackers seized the website of the central bank of South Sudan late last week, it was the reason that the hijackers gave that raised more concern about the country’s economy than the attack itself. The hackers, calling themselves “Anonymous South Sudan” said they wouldn’t return the website until the government slashed the dollar exchange rate to 400 South Sudan Pounds, a cut of more than half.

After the recent Monetary Policy Committee meeting, the Governor, Bank of South Sudan (BoSS), Johnny Ohisa Damian, said the currency decline was not only limited to the SS Pound but that many countries were suffering from the strength of the US Dollar. He also cited the increase in prices of imports from Uganda, its main source of food supply, for the high inflation in S. Sudan.

(Source: The Independent) 

Rwanda

Rwanda again asks UK to see justice served on Genocide suspects

At an event to mark the 29th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, on Wednesday, April 12, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to the UK, Johnston Busingye, once more delivered a strong message calling for justice to be served on the alleged genocidaires who remain at large in the UK.

The High Commissioner highlighted that the UK is one of the few countries in the West not to try, expedite or deport Genocide suspects, stating that “after 29 years, every passing day is one too many.”

The key suspects in the UK include Dr Vincent Bajinya, who is accused of coordinating killings in Kigali’s Nyarugenge District where he set up and led a roadblock to kill the Tutsi.

Others are Célestin Ugirashebuja, Charles Munyaneza, Emmanuel Nteziryayo and Pierre Célestin Mutabaruka who headed the agricultural and livestock project, Crête Zaïre Nil – CZN. Mutabaruka, a pastor, is accused of leading an attack on a church in April 1994 in which 20,000 Tutsi were killed.

(Source: The New Times)

Ethiopia

Italian PM and Slovenian DPM visits show Ethiopia’s encouraging path to normalize relations with partners

The visits by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon to Ethiopia demonstrate Ethiopia’s encouraging path to expedite re-engagement and normalize its relations with its partners, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ambassador Meles Alem said.

A high-level delegation led by Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Tanja Fajon has been conducting a three-day official working visit to Ethiopia.

The main purpose of the visit is to strengthen relations between Ethiopia and Slovenia.

Fajon has so far held discussions with various high-level government officials including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen on bilateral and other international issues of common concern.

(Source: ENA)

Eritrea

Senior Eritrean delegation on working visit to Kenya

Senior Eritrean delegation composed of Mr. Osman Saleh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Presidential Adviser, Mr. Yemane Gebrab was received by President William Ruto at the State House in Nairobi.
The delegation delivered a message from President Isaias Afwerki to President William Ruto focusing on bilateral relations and regional developments.

President William Ruto briefed the Eritrean delegation on the recent developments in the Horn of Africa and East Africa as well as on his consultations with regional leaders regarding the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and broader regional cooperation.
Expressing Kenya’s keen interest in bolstering bilateral relations with Eritrea, President Ruto gave guidance for an early meeting of the Joint Cooperation Mechanism.

(Source: Ministry of Information)

Sudan

Sudan arrests Islamist for threat to kill UNITAMS head

A man was arrested earlier this week, after calling for a fatwa (religious edict) authorising the assassination of United Nations Special Representative and UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) head Volker Perthes, and volunteering to commit the killing, according to recent reports.

The controversial remarks were made during a political meeting of the People of Sudan Call for National Accord in Khartoum, a coalition that includes some Islamist groups, where UNITAMS and Perthes were criticized as ‘interfering in internal Sudanese affairs’.

A video that was captured on social media and has since gone viral, shows a man identified as Abdelmoneim Dafallah, saying: “I volunteer to assassinate Volker, and I request a fatwa to make his blood permissible”.

In a statement on Tuesday, UNITAMS spokesperson May Yacoub voiced serious concern over the Islamist’s remarks.

(Source: Dabanga)

Somali

US embraces Somali government dialogue with Somaliland

The US government has welcomed the Somali government’s efforts to resume talks with the political stakeholders from Somaliland, a region in northern Somalia.

During a phone conversation with Somali President’s Special Envoy on Somaliland Affairs, Abdikarim Hussein Guled, the outgoing US ambassador to Somalia, Larry Andre hailed the move, saying the talks could end the long-time difference between the sides.

Gedo region gears up for second offensive against Al Shabaab militants.  A delegation led by Gedo security officials arrived in Beledhawo district and was received warmly by SNA’s 43rd Division Commander Colonel Osman Haji Ahmed and other senior military officials.

(Source: Radio Dalsan)

 TRADE ROUNDUP -NS

Kenya

Kenyan economy to overtake Angola as Ethiopia widens lead

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that the size of Kenya’s economy will overtake that of Angola this year even as Ethiopia stretches its lead.

In its latest World Economic Outlook, the IMF says gross domestic product (GDP) of Angola, an oil producer, will shrink during the period allowing Kenya, whose economy is expected to grow by 5.3 percent, to overtake it, and perch itself at the fourth spot behind Ethiopia.

However, Ethiopia, which the IMF had projected in its October 2022 outlook would overtake Kenya to become Eastern Africa’s largest economy, is now expected to overtake both Angola and Kenya to become the third largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa.

(Source: Business Daily)

Tanzania

Tanzania and Kenya agree to jointly fight counterfeit products

Tanzania and Kenya on Tuesday, April 11, agreed to cooperate in combating counterfeit products flowing into the two countries as part of wider efforts to protect traders and investors dealing in genuine goods. The Tanzania Fair Competition Commission (FCC) seized counterfeit products worth Sh15 billion during the last financial year, according to FCC director general William Urio.

In Kenya, the value of the illicit trade stood at Ksh800 billion (about Tsh12.8 trillion) in 2020, with counterfeit products accounting for Ksh100 billion, according to Kenya’s Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA).

It is on those grounds that the two nations met Tuesday and saw the need to make joint efforts to address the challenge that is a threat to investors and health of consumers.

(Source: The Citizen)

Uganda

URA wrong not to use value of used cars in determining taxes, court rules

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has failed to overturn a judgement, in which it was found not to have powers to suspend use of the transaction value method in determining the customs value of an imported used vehicle.

The case stems from an August 7, 2013, judgement in favour of Testimony Motors, an importer of used vehicles, in which, in 2012, challenged powers of the URA commissioner customs at the Commercial Division of the High Court to omit the method. 

(Source: The Monitor)

Rwanda

Rwandan coffee ‘penetrating Los Angeles market’

The Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in Washington D.C. has hailed a Rwandan entrepreneur for taking Rwandan coffee to markets in Los Angeles (LA). LA is the largest city in the state of California, and the second most populated city in the United States after New York.

Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana visited the Rwandan Community of Southern California (RCA-SC) and met the newly-elected executive team to discuss the diplomatic relationship-building efforts between Rwanda and the United States.

To take into account the increasing impact of Rwandan culture and products in the United States, the meeting was held at Silverback Rwanda Coffee, a cafe, which is proudly owned and operated by Rwandan entrepreneur Jack Karuletwa since 2022, and serves as a testament to the increasing presence of Rwandan products and culture.

(Source: The New Times)

Ethiopia

Ethio-US investment, business forum held in Washington D.C 

The Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) in collaboration with the Ethiopian embassy in the US held an Ethio-US investment and business forum in Washington, D.C.

Ethiopian high-level delegation engaged potential investors and EIC Commissioner Lelise Name delivered a presentation on the diverse investment opportunities Ethiopia can offer to the US investors.

A bilateral discussion and B2B has also been held with potential investors that showed keen interest to explore Ethiopia’s market and investment opportunities.

Both sides emphasized the need to further strengthen investment and business partnerships between the two countries, according to the Ethiopian Investment Commission.

The commissioner also invited the investors to participate in the InvestEthiopia 2023 forum to be held from the 26th to the 28th of April in Addis Ababa.

(Source: ENA)