Author: NLM Editor

There is renewed concern about the sustainability of rising debt levels in many African countries. Much of this debt is incurred through foreign currency denominated Eurobonds issued on international financial markets. The value of Eurobonds issued between 2018 and 2019 was more than the value of all bonds sold between 2003 to 2016. African governments are issuing and listing their Eurobonds on established international debt markets – usually London and Irish Stock Exchanges. African governments would venture offshore a lot less if domestic bond markets were active and liquid. But besides South Africa, African bond markets are largely underdeveloped with…

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A new law signed by Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo that gives the central government powers to sell the country’s oil blocks for commercial drilling and giving his administration full control of the unexploited crude deposits has caused unease within the Kenyan government. The new Petroleum Act paves the way for creation of a state-owned oil company with authority to sign exploration deals with foreign entities that have been lining up for the country’s more than 200 petroleum blocks. The law also raises a new dimension in the ongoing maritime dispute between Kenya and Somalia, as it unlocks Mogadishu’s powers…

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Despite progress in a few countries, the African Union (AU) has fallen short of its target to bring peace to the continent by 2020. Making the commitment seven years ago, the bloc must this weekend face the reality that insecurity and warfare continue to blight many corners of the African continent. There have been more than 55,882 grave violations against children – including killings, mutilations or sexual assault – in conflict areas in Africa between 2014 and 2018, according to analysis by Save the Children. The NGO voices concern over the increase in incidents since the AU committed to peace…

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On 30 January, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) sounded an alarm that the ongoing infestation of desert locusts, mainly in Eastern Africa – Ethiopia (B1 negative), Kenya (B2 stable), Somalia, Eritrea and Djibouti – is threatening the food security and livelihood of millions in the Horn of Africa, and that there is a risk that it will spread to other neighbouring countries, including Uganda (B2 stable). The locust outbreak is the worst in decades and was nurtured by unusually heavy rains in recent months. The locust infestation is credit negative for agriculture-dependent countries, particularly Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, which…

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The 2019 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) report concludes that “no country is on track to meeting all the goals” of the 15- year project to end poverty. Indeed, the report acknowledges actual retreat in environmental areas, notably the threatened extinction of a million species and that “we are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide.” In this short essay, I can only outline the SDG project, summarize the overall findings for sub-Saharan Africa, those specifically for Kenya, and express my fundamental reservations about the way the annual reports are structured and…

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Without delving into details: Locust swarms have, for months now, camped in different parts of the country, deflating farmers’ dreams and promising Kenyans hungry months aheadVideos on social media Kenyans working in the Middle East either being tortured or even killedCompanies are closing shop, rendering thousands upon thousands joblessThe judiciary is at a crisis – in leadership, integrity, ingrained corruption and piling case backlogsPrices for basic food items are through roofThe National Hospital Insurance Fund is about to crumbleUnemployment rate stands at about 12 percentThe economy is taking a beating with no respite in sightPublic coffers have been looted dryIn…

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By Brian Omwenga In the not too recent past, the unveiling of 5G technology had China and the United States locked up in a tussle that can only be interpreted as a jostling for technological supremacy. Elsewhere in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the government’s commitment and funding towards quantum computing research. In the EU, legislation around data and privacy as well as attempts in digital tax (France) and control of the EU digital marketplace have been making headlines. Quite clearly, governments have become aware of the importance of technological autonomy and supremacy as a clear competitive advantage in…

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The world’s first Financial Prosperity Barometer investigated the concept of prosperity across multiple markets and global regions. The report focused on the relationship between financial services and prosperity in high-growth markets and discovered myriad views on what defines prosperity and financial inclusion.  The report targeted Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa to gather insights from these high-growth African markets and to establish the limitations of financial inclusion, the value of financial services, and the key characteristics that define prosperity. Surprisingly, Kenya (88 percent), Nigeria (94 percent) and South Africa (70 percent) had an overwhelmingly positive view on how their household situation…

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By John McDermott When I was a shithead 22-year-old working my first job out of college, I got assigned to sit within 10 feet of the start-up’s founder/CEO. It was miserable. Aside from absolutely hating the work I was doing, I had to sit under the watchful eye of the guy who ran the place. He quickly picked up on my bad attitude and made no effort to hide his contempt for me. He shot me mean glares every day, and audibly grumbled when I was on the phone with customers. I once set up a meeting with a potential…

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Is the modern state is quietly killing civil society in the Western world? And what can non-Western societies do to build a vibrant civil society? By Niall Ferguson Nearly ten years ago I bought a house on the coast of South Wales. With its rugged, windswept Atlantic coastline, its rain-soaked golf courses, its remnants of industrial greatness and its green hills just visible through the drizzle, it reminded me a lot of where I grew up, in Ayrshire – only slightly warmer, nearer Heathrow airport and with a rugby team more likely to beat England. I bought the house mainly…

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