Culture 19 January 2024

Alegra Nicka, multidisciplinary Congolese creator

A young and determined, who has been passionate about culture and art since her childhood in Congo. A multidisciplinary artist, who has been dancing, singing, acting, one performance leading to another, she is also drawing, painting and creating designs. A member of the contemporary art centre Ateliers Sahm in Brazzaville.

Environment 17 January 2024

Better ways of managing Madagascar’s tapia forest

🇲🇬 In central Madagascar, in the Itasy region, the tapia trees of the highlands are being felled on a massive scale for firewood and charcoal production. This deforestation is harmful to these thick-barked trees, which are found only in Madagascar and provide a habitat for the landibe, a wild silkworm. If well preserved, the Tapia forest can benefit the local economy. Working with local associations, NGOs are trying to encourage better management to preserve this natural habitat. This participative approach, in coordination with the local community, is leading not only to the conservation of biodiversity but also to an improvement in the quality of life of local residents through the revival of the silk industry.

Economy 12 January 2024

Growing strawberries in Cameroon: a challenge taken up by local producers

Cultivated for a long time in the West, strawberries are attracting more and more economic interest from young agricultural entrepreneurs in Africa. Since 2019, Fraisen, a Senegalese start-up, has set itself the mission of creating and supporting an African network of strawberry producers. In Cameroon for example, the production of this red fruit in soilless cultivation is growing, as our journalist Maxime Farrel Bounya found out.

Economy 9 January 2024

Toyin Akinosho, publisher, Africa Oil Plus Gas Report – the new African Energy Bank

This year, we will see the official establishment of the new African Energy Bank. Its mission: to help the continent take advantage of its rich reserves of 125 billion barrels of oil and more than 60,000 billion cubic feet of gas as Western investments turn away from fossil fuels. Afreximbank, with other financial institutions, will contribute to the seed capital of the new institution which should bring together producing countries, national companies and investors from the continent, as well as international funds.

Society 5 January 2024

Augustin Tamba, Mayor of Yaoundé and Chairman of the Cameroon Association of United Towns and Cities

Augustin Tamba is among those who want to change African cities. A specialist in the strategic management of decentralised local authorities, he has developed coaching, lobbying, business engineering and economic intelligence activities. And after that decided to take the plunge into public life by becoming mayor of Yaoundé 7 in 2013. He has since been appointed head of the Cameroon Association of United Towns and Cities. He is our guest this week.

Society 4 January 2024

Urban planning: the urgent need to rethink the African city – Cameroon

The continent's demographic expansion is bringing its own share of often dramatic incidents to African cities. Floods and landslides that sweep away homes have become more frequent. Experts believe that the issue of safe and sustainable housing for the continent's cities has become urgent. A recent international conference was held in Cameroon on this subject, a few days after a tragedy in Yaoundé. This is the report from our correspondent Aboubakar Mounchili.

Environment 28 December 2023

How solar pump helps agriculture

When it comes to energy transition, what will be best for Africa? This is the question that arises in the aftermath of COP 28 in Dubai. Several regions on the continent have already stepped into the era of renewable energies. This is the case of Senegal, one of the countries that would like to become a leader in green energy in sub-Saharan Africa. This ambition involves the extension of solar capacity. Several projects supported by partners such as IFAD have already been carried out for the benefit of rural populations to help them cope with water shortages. Example of the benefits of the solar pump in the south-east of the country with this report.

Economy 15 December 2023

Financial regulators face the challenges presented by crypto-assets

Crypto-assets are becoming an increasingly important part of financial markets worldwide. Digital currencies no longer leave investors indifferent, given the technological innovations they bring to international trade. In the Central African sub-region, crypto assets are used in the public securities market. However, the activity is not regulated, one of the risks feared by COSUMAF. The CEMAC body organised a meeting of players in the field in a number of countries in the sub-region, notably Cameroon, to raise awareness of sustainable finance and the risks associated with crypto assets.

Economy 8 December 2023

Professor Ibrahima Diallo, Chief of Staff to Senegal’s Minister of Mines and Geology

Professor Ibrahima Diallo is a leading African civil servant at the heart of reforming the continent's extractive sector. In his country, mining is an essential part of the Emerging Senegal Plan, which is the reference framework for the policies put in place by President Macky Sall. He told us about the priorities of his Ministry of Mines and Geology.