When it was announced in 2023 that the African Union would become a full member of the G20, I darkly joked on a podcast that the AU’s entry into the body could very well mark the moment the G20 lost its status as one of the most important global coordination forums. Mark my words, I said, soon The Economist will be like “Uhhh, the G20 is OVER – it’s the ...
Day: March 4, 2020
Related Posts
Is a Chinese-funded Aquaculture Technology Demonstration Center in South Africa a Ghost Ship?
In 2006, the Chinese government began a program of delivering agricultural aid to Africa through establishing Agriculture Technology Demonstrations Centers (ATDC), aimed at stimulating local development and also promote Chinese commercial and diplomatic interests in Africa. Some of these ATDCs have been beneficial, but many others are ...
The #WuhanShake Makes it to Africa
The "Wuhan Shake" that's been trending on Twitter for the past few days has made its way from China all the way to the State House in Tanzania. After talks with National Convention for Construction and Reform leader Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad, rather than the customary handshake or embrace ...
This Week’s Viral Video of Two Chinese People Being Harassed in Kenya Sparks an Unusual Response on Twitter: Sympathy
A longer 30-second version of the viral video of two Chinese nationals being verbally accosted by a group of Kenyan men shouting "you're corona!" started to circulate on Twitter yesterday and provoked an unexpected response from Kenyan social media users... kindness and sympathy.
With No End in Sight, Livelihoods in Kenya Now at Risk Due to COVID-19 Trade Crisis
With China's factories and ports still struggling to get back up to speed, the massive disruptions to the global supply chain are being felt disproportionately among small-to-medium-sized enterprises in countries like Kenya. Inventories are running so low now in a rapidly ...
It’s Official: South Africa Is in Recession and COVID-19 Is Making Things Much Worse
The South African government confirmed what investors had long suspected: the economy slipped into recession at the end of last year. New GDP data released on Tuesday by Stats SA reveals the economy is officially in recession and growing at the slowest rate since the financial crisis ...
While South Africans Prepare to Evacuate, China’s Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe Tells Anxious Parents It’s Better Their Kids Remain in Wuhan
China's Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhao Baogang, convened a meeting with the parents of students currently stuck in Wuhan at the embassy in Harare on Tuesday. Amid reports of dwindling food supplies and worsening mental health conditions confronting many of the students under quarantine, the parents are ...
“Evacuation Details Under Wraps so We Can’t Spill It to the Media”
The 151 South Africans who have signed up to be evacuated from Wuhan, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, are anxiously awaiting details about when the operation will take place. At present, they don't even have basic information, for example when they're expected to be at the ...