Author: kajarbi54

The East African Community (EAC) has announced the launch of its Customs Bond – an initiative expected to cut border delays, reduce compliance costs and enhance trade facilitation. The unified regional customs guarantee is intended to replace the requirement for multiple national bonds along transit routes. In light of this, Heads of State from its eight member states will on March 7 convene in Arusha for the 25th Ordinary Summit, reaffirming their commitment to deepening regional integration and improving the livelihoods of East African citizens. Themed “Deepening Integration for Improved Livelihoods of EAC Citizens,” the summit , will bring together…

President John Dramani Mahama has raised concerns over the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, warning that it could have dire economic consequences for Africa. The president made the remarks on Monday during a bilateral meeting with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the State House in Arusha. The Ghanaian leader, who described the region as the “epicentre of global oil supplies,” called on nations to brace themselves, noting that the ongoing conflict and counterattacks in parts of the Gulf could pose an inevitable shock to African economies. According to him, rising crude oil prices triggered by the tensions would…

The Nigerian Air Force has intensified its counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East, confirming the elimination of high-value terrorist targets during a precision strike in the Sambisa Forest axis of Borno State, North-East Nigeria. The mission, executed by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, followed extensive intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations that identified insurgent infrastructure in the Yuwe area. According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the air strikes successfully destroyed command hideouts and logistics depots, significantly degrading the operational capacity of fighters active within the perimeter. Post-strike intelligence assessments indicated the neutralisation of senior commanders, while ongoing surveillance missions…

Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania, has reaffirmed her government’s commitment to prioritizing industrial development, value addition in agriculture and mining, human capital development, as well as climate resilience to advance economic growth and development. The president made the commitment during bilateral talks in Arusha with John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana, on Monday. Suluhu Hassan highlighted the nation’s macroeconomic performance, noting economic growth of 6 percent and inflation maintained within single digits. She noted that the nation’s priority is to ensure that its natural wealth translates into tangible benefits for the people, which she said must be anchored in…

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, has acknowledged a growing trust deficit in Nigeria’s electoral process, describing it as a major concern for the commission. Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the National Peace Committee in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, Amupitan appealed for support in rebuilding confidence, warning that low voter turnout threatens democratic legitimacy. He described Nigeria’s electoral landscape as diverse, complex and highly competitive, stressing that democratic growth must be anchored not only on legality but also on legitimacy. While outlining ongoing reforms, the INEC chairman said credible elections demand shared…

The President of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Jimmy Akena, has called for what he termed “idealistic and principled leadership” in Uganda as he weighed in on the unfolding race for Speaker of the 12th Parliament. Akena raised concern over Uganda’s rising public debt and what he described as the increasingly rushed handling of legislative business, particularly the approval of government borrowing and key bills. He criticised Parliament’s scrutiny of loan requests and legislation, arguing that the process has often lacked depth and adequate deliberation, with potential long-term implications for the country’s fiscal stability. Turning to the speakership contest, Akena…

The Burkinabe government is shifting toward the actual implementation of economic policies and development initiatives for women’s empowerment, rather than the traditional festive commemoration of International Women’s Day. Minister of Family and Solidarity, Pélagie Kaboré, declared this on Monday during a formal flag-raising ceremony in Ouagadougou. Outlining a major reorientation of the March 8 commemoration, the minister stressed that the government is prioritizing the strengthening of women’s economic autonomy to advance measurable and sustainable outcomes, marked by structured initiatives across the country’s 17 regions. She noted that the objective is to shift from the celebratory events of previous years toward…

Africa’s coastlines are emerging as a safer alternative for global shipping companies as vessels reroute following the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Several major shipping companies have suspended transit through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors, which handles roughly 30 percent of global oil shipments. Tehran, which controls the strait’s northern coastline, had in recent days signalled its intention to restrict international shipping in the area. The disruption could have serious economic implications, particularly for major regional business hubs such as Dubai, which relies heavily on trade, tourism, transport, and financial services. Tensions…

The chairman of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) and outgoing Lord Mayor of Kampala, Erias Lukwago, has threatened legal action against city authorities after the party’s head offices were sealed off over an alleged ground rent arrears dispute. Officials from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) on Friday closed the PFF offices located along Katonga Road, citing failure to pay 20 million Ugandan shillings( over $5,000USD) in outstanding ground rent. Our correspondent reports that the party chairman described the enforcement action as erroneous and accused KCCA officials of misinterpreting the legal framework governing property rate taxation. He argued that…

Kampala City authorities and motorcycle leaders, locally known as boda-boda, have unveiled an ambitious plan to deploy 50,000 electric motorcycles across Greater Kampala by June 2026, marking one of Uganda’s most aggressive moves yet toward phasing out petrol-powered bikes. The initiative, launched under the “Zuukuka – Make the Smart Move” campaign, brings together the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), the Uganda Boda-Boda Riders Co-operative Union, and electric mobility firm Spiro. State Minister for Kampala Metropolitan Affairs, Kabuye Kyofatogabye, said the transition is urgent, citing mounting emissions from the more than 200,000 petrol-powered boda-bodas operating in the capital. “With over 200,000…