diplomacy&development

The Foreign Ministers will discuss the bilateral relations and the strengthening of trade relations between Finland and Morocco. Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will meet the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, in Helsinki on 6 August. The Foreign Ministers will discuss the bilateral relations and the strengthening of trade relations between Finland and Morocco. Other topics of discussion include Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. “Relations between Finland and Morocco are excellent and this visit enables us to further consolidate our interaction. We can, for instance, enhance trade relations in areas such as the clean transition and digitalisation. Morocco is also an invaluable partner for the EU,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Valtonen. Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor

Birame Souleye Diop, Senegal's Minister of Energy, Petroleum & Mines, and NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC The African Energy Chamber has embarked on a working visit to Senegal – a country that has the right to develop its oil and gas resources in a sustainable manner – just as Western countries have done before it.   The African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( https://EnergyChamber.org/ ) has carried out a working visit to Senegal, meeting with Senegal's Minister of Energy, Petroleum & Mines, Birame Souleye Diop, and key stakeholders in the oil and gas industry ­– aiming to promote further collaboration and investment in the sector. During the visit, the AEC engaged in productive discussions with Minister Diop, focusing on critical issues that will drive the growth and sustainability of Senegal's oil and gas industry. The talks centered on strategies to increase local content – ensuring that Senegal's citizens benefit from the country's natural resources throu...

New program to support development of 250GW of installed electricity capacity by 2050. The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group ( www.AfDB.org ) has approved a loan of $500 million to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to finance the first phase of the Economic Governance and Energy Transition Support Program (EGET-SP), a new program aimed at accelerating transformation of the country’s electricity infrastructure and improving access to cleaner sources of energy.   The loan will help close the financing gap of the Federal Budget in the 2024/25 fiscal year, specifically supporting the implementation of the country’s new Electricity Act and the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan ( https://apo-opa.co/3Ws6cmz ). The Nigerian government launched the energy transition plan in August 2022, and in June 2023, passed a new Electricity Act decentralizing the electricity supply industry and setting the stage for increased investments by subnational governments and the privat...

The reports give deeper country-by-country specific dynamics and insights. The African Development Bank Group ( www.AfDB.org ) has launched  Country Focus Reports designed to deepen policy dialogue on the macroeconomic performance and outlook of individual countries and to act as an indispensable tool for policy makers, government and development partners. The reports, in line with the theme of the 2024  African Economic Outlook report (https://apo-opa.co/3SuB1Wu) titled, “Driving Africa’s Transformation: The Reform of the Global Financial Architecture,” give deeper country-by-country specific dynamics and insights. The African Economic Outlook report, issued annually, provides timely evidence and analysis on the continent’s growth, empowering African policymakers to make informed decisions. Growth performance and outlook vary across the 54 African countries of the report, reflecting differences in economic structure, commodity dependence, and policies. The 2024 reports assess...

The positive progress in domestic revenue mobilization since the start of the ECF program continued, reaching a record level of CFAF 80 billion during the first half of this year. The Central African Republic (CAR) continues to implement public finance management and governance reforms, despite the particularly difficult socio-economic context and significant financing needs; In the very short term, the main challenges concern the country's fuel supply and the control of budgetary risks; The implementation of the reforms planned under the CAR program supported by the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) remains the best path to macroeconomic stabilization in the medium term. An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Mr. Albert Touna Mama, visited Bangui from July 10 to 17, 2024, to take stock of the recent macroeconomic developments and the implementation of structural reforms, as well as to discuss the major budget allocations for the upcoming revised 2024 finance law. Mr. Touna...

Burundian dentists and nurses had the opportunity to enhance their experience and update their knowledge by participating in the activities conducted by Turkish doctors. Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Association of the Friends of Africa (TADD) organized an oral and dental health initiative in Burundi. Volunteer Turkish physicians provided free dental treatment to over 900 patients in the cities of Gitega and Bujumbura. As part of the program, free toothbrushes and toothpaste were distributed to patients, especially children. Patients also received training on oral and dental care. Burundian dentists and nurses had the opportunity to enhance their experience and update their knowledge by participating in the activities conducted by Turkish doctors. “GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO BURUNDI HEALTH SYSTEM” At the program’s closing, a press conference was held with significant participation from Burundian media, including Burundian National Radio and Television (RTNB). Sp...

The Board of Executive Directors is responsible for the conduct of the general operations of the Bank, making decisions on loans, credits, grants, policies, and financial matters. A delegation of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Board of Executive Directors (EDs) noted South Africa’s and Namibia’s progress in achieving their development goals and re-affirmed World Bank Group’s commitment to providing support. The 11 EDs and Alternate EDs were hosted by the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC) country offices during their recent visit on July 7-13. The visit provided a platform to assess progress with projects and engage on the evolution of the World Bank Group’s relationship with the countries, from a knowledge-focused to a broader knowledge and financing partnership. EDs met government and business leaders, local stakeholders, and project beneficiaries, and experienced first-hand how the countries manage development priorities and challenges. South Africa and Namibia hav...