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25 Sep 2019

Africapolis @ Afric’Up Summit

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Culture & Society

Urban-rural development

SWAC:

SWAC

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“What’s the role of international institutions in supporting African smart cities?” SWAC Secretariat Director Laurent Bossard presented the Africapolis database as a concrete example of how international organisations can help promote more understanding about the dynamics that shape Africa’s fast growing cities. He was a keynote speaker at the Afric’Up Startup Africa Summit, which gathered some 3 000 entrepreneurs, investors and innovators from 24-25 September 2019 in Tunis. Read on

19 Sep 2019

If Europe misses its appointment with Africa, it will miss a historic opportunity

Topics:

Development co-operation

Opinion:

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In this interview, published by Le Point Afrique, outgoing European Commissioner Neven Mimica offers his vision for better co-operation between Africa and Europe. “Our two continents are facing new challenges which can only be tackled together. We are at a crossroads: Africa is a continent in full swing, with huge economic and human potential. It is a giant in the making, at the gates of Europe. Read on

31 Aug 2019

African plans for a trans-continental road network

Topics:

Infrastructure

Regional integration

Sahara-Sahel

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In 2010, the trans-African master plan consisted of ten highways totalling a length of 57 300 km, from Cairo to Cape Town and from Dakar to Djibouti. The density of this ideal network, equivalent to 1.9 km of road per 1 000 km2 is four times lower than that of the current American interstate highway network. In West Africa, the envisaged highways would link Dakar to N’Djaména via the Sahelian belt, Dakar to Lagos via the Gulf of Guinea and Lagos to the Central African Republic via Yaoundé in Cameroon. Read on

17 Jul 2019

Mali: inter-community dialogue to foster peace, security and development

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The government of Mali, with the support of the UEMOA Commission and its international partners, multiplies efforts to bring back peace in its fragile border regions. They held a three-day workshop to launch an inclusive dialogue on peace, security and development issues in Mali’s border areas. The inception workshop was held in Sikasso, in southern Mali, from 15-17 July 2019. Several intra-community peace agreements have been concluded. Read on

15 Jul 2019

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

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African leaders have reached an important milestone in creating a united African market with the launch of the operational phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on 7 July 2019 in Niamey, Niger. The 54-nation trade bloc will unite 1.3 billion people and create a USD 3.4 trillion economic bloc. It is the largest trade bloc to be created since the the World Trade Organization was founded in 1995. It is set to become the biggest integrated market worldwide uniting some 2.5 billion people by 2050. Read on

13 Jul 2019

UNESCO, Italia launch media campaign on migration issues

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UNESCO, in collaboration with the Italian Agency for Development Co-operation (AICS), launched on 13 July 2019 in Dakar a project on migration issues. Covering eight countries, the 3-million EUR project aims to better inform young people in West and Central Africa about the opportunities and challenges of international migration. The project will focus on capacity-building activities for young journalists and media representatives with a view to producing reliable information and creating a more balanced coverage of migration issues. Read on

07 Jul 2019

West Africa in the African Continental Free Trade Area

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Topics:

Cross-border co-operation

Economy

Regional integration

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ECOWAS

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African leaders launched the operational phase of the new African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at the 12th Extraordinary African Union Summit on 7 July in Niamey, Niger. The 54-nation trade bloc is set to become the biggest integrated market worldwide, uniting some 2.5 billion people by 2050. The African Union’s goal is to make the free-trade area instruments operational by July 2020. To date, 27 countries have ratified the AfCFTA instruments. What's in it for West Africa? Read on

29 Jun 2019

ECOWAS summit focuses on security issues

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ECOWAS leaders gathered at the 55th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government on 29 June in Abuja, Nigeria. Taking stock of 44 years of co-operation, they committed to consolidating the region’s integration. However, security challenges continue to undermine West Africa’s integration efforts. An ECOWAS extraordinary summit will be held on 14 September 2019 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso to better co-ordinate the fight against terrorism. Read on

26 Jun 2019

The AfCFTA is laudable, but its imminent benefits are overstated

Topics:

Cross-border co-operation

Development co-operation

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This op-ed by Archie Matheson, published on the African Arguments blog, suggests that the intra-African trade benefits of the new African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will take time and might be much less significant than thought. “Therefore, it is imperative that the project does not detract energy and resources from initiatives that are having more immediate impacts on intra-African trade and economic growth,” the author concludes. Read on

13 May 2019

Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa

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Some 150 West African bishops, archbishops and cardinals currently gathered for a week at the 3rd General Assembly of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa in Ouagadougou. Burkina Faso’s President Christian Roch Kaboré spoke at the opening ceremony on 13 May and called upon all citizens to stay united regardless of religion or ethnicity. “Terrorists have reorganised their operation methods, seeking first to create inter-communal conflict, and now an inter-religious conflict. Christians have been killed for practicing their religion by people who have no morals or ethics,” deplored the President Kaboré. Read on

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Regional Integration

Africapolis @ Afric’Up Summit

If Europe misses its appointment with Africa, it will miss a historic opportunity

African plans for a trans-continental road network

Mali: inter-community dialogue to foster peace, security and development

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

UNESCO, Italia launch media campaign on migration issues

West Africa in the African Continental Free Trade Area

ECOWAS summit focuses on security issues

The AfCFTA is laudable, but its imminent benefits are overstated

Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa

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