PharmaPlus, a major pharmaceutical wholesaler in Mali, has announced its readiness to cooperate with Russian manufacturers of medicines and medical equipment. Sheikh Abdel Kader Gindo, head of the company's marketing department, told African Initiative on the sidelines of the Mali–Russia international business forum that PharmaPlus is ready t...

 Burkina Faso plans to double its wheat output by the 2025–2026 season. The Ministry of Agriculture reported that the 2024–2025 campaign yielded over 2,500 tonnes of wheat, and the target for 2025–2026 is about 6,000 tonnes. Government measures to reach the goal- Policy support and planning: During a seminar on wheat production planning for 20...

 The Egyptian government and Chinese company Sailun Group have signed an agreement to build a tyre manufacturing plant in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, in a project valued at about $1 billion, the Egyptian government said in a press release. The signing ceremony on 13 August was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Industry...

 RFI reported that Sheikh Al‑Mansour bin Jabor bin Jassim al‑Thani, head of Qatari holding Al‑Mansour and director of the Qatari government press service, has begun a tour of ten African countries and plans to direct a $20 billion investment package to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The tour opened on 13 August in Kinshasa and, according to...

 The US Treasury has announced sanctions on four entities, including two Chinese companies, accused of extracting and exporting minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The measures, detailed in a Treasury press release, target the armed group Coalition des Patriotes Résistants Congolais‑Force de Frappe (PARECO‑FF), Congolese mini...

 Since 4 August four of Burundi's five provinces, including the largest city Bujumbura, have been without electricity. State utility Regideso said in a social media statement that the outages are linked to work on connecting a new substation and are expected to continue until 14 August. AFP reported that power supply has been reduced by as muc...

 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and São Tomé and Príncipe Foreign Minister Ilsa Maria dos Santos Amado exchanged congratulatory telegrams marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported. The message said both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuing consultations between Moscow and São...

 The government of Niger has announced the nationalization of the Societe des Mines du Liptako (SML) gold mine, formerly controlled by Australian company McKinel Resources Limited, President Abdourahmane Tchiani said in an official statement cited by AFP. Authorities said the move responds to "serious breaches" and is intended to rescue what t...

 The government of Burkina Faso has urged the United Nations system to reconsider how it intervenes in the country, calling for a staffing approach that favors national experts over international hires. According to a letter cited by AIB, Burkina Faso's authorities say that Burkinabé specialists are underrepresented across UN agencies operatin...

 On August 1, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan ceremoniously inaugurated the construction of Kwala Industrial Park, situated in the Kibaha district in the eastern part of the country. The project's chairman, Jensen Huang, reported this to Xinhua News Agency. The project is being developed in partnership with Tanzania's Group Six Interna...

 South Africa has begun utilizing an innovative initiative by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that applies radiation to combat poaching and illegal wildlife trade. As part of the project, volunteers and nuclear experts treat rhino horns with radiation, complicating their export from the country, according to an IAEA press release...

 South Africa intends to forge ahead with trade deal negotiations with the United States despite the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump's administration, set to take effect in early August. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in an official statement that South African representatives are ready to begin discussions at any time. "South A...

 Kenyan President William Ruto has promised a $4.6 million reward to the national football team if they win the African Nations Championship (CHAN). According to Kenyans, Ruto announced the cash incentive during a meeting with the players in Nairobi on Saturday, August 2. "Friends, it doesn't get any better than this. We've tripled the bonuses...

 The United States is halting visa services at its embassy in Niamey, the capital of Niger, as reported by Reuters, citing a State Department representative and an internal telegram from the agency. The telegram dated July 25 does not specify the reasons for this decision, but the State Department official stated that the suspension, which app...

 Mantra Tanzania Ltd, a subsidiary of Rosatom, is set to start uranium mining in Tanzania soon, according to the country's Minister of Mineral Resources, Anthony Mavunde. The project will commence right after the completion of a mineral processing plant. Construction of the facility in the Namtuumbo region has already begun, with a total budge...

 Serbia considers Africa a vital direction for developing relations and plans to enhance cooperation with African countries, stated Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric during his visit to Benin. This was reported by the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The minister expressed his satisfaction that his trip to Benin marked the first offici...

 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Buti Kgwaridi Manamela as the new Minister of Higher Education and Vocational Training, according to an official statement from the President's office on X. 📚 Leadership Changes Buti Manamela steps into this role after serving as Deputy Minister for Higher Education since 2019. His promoti...

 A wave of flight cancellations has hit South African carrier FlySafair as more than 200 of its pilots have gone on strike, demanding at least a 10% pay increase. The protest, organized by the airline's union, began this week and has already led to significant disruption, according to local broadcaster SABC. 📉 Background and Escalation Initial...

 The World Bank has announced a major commitment of $6.4 billion for the construction of the Mphanda Nkuwa Hydropower Plant on the Zambezi River in Mozambique, according to Bloomberg, referencing World Bank President Ajay Banga. This future hydroelectric facility is set to become the largest in Southern Africa. 💰 Investment Breakdown Of the to...

 South Africa's state-owned energy company, Eskom, has announced its commitment to shift towards renewable energy sources by 2040, according to Africanews Agency, citing the company's official statement. At present, Eskom produces approximately 95% of South Africa's electricity, relying heavily on coal-powered plants. Under its new strategy, E...