$3.93B East Africa Rail Link Nets $696M in Financing From Development Bank
Construction of a 651-km electrified single track standard gauge railway line linking the Eastern Africa countries of Tanzania and Burundi has received a $696 million financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the project’s initial mandate lead arranger. The new $3.93 billion standard gauge railway (SGR) line will run from Tabora in Tanzania to landlocked Burundi’s mineral-rich Musongati area. A contract for the construction of the Tabora to Kigoma SGR line was awarded in December 2022 to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Railway Construction Company (CRCC). The section encompasses 411 km of the main line with 95 km of alternating lines. An initial project brief shows the Tanzania/Burundi SGR line has a design speed of 160 kph for passenger trains and a maximum of 120 kph for freights trains.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 30, 2023 04:59 UTC
African, Asian Migrants Seek Nicaragua Shortcut to US
Nicaragua has become a hot spot for migrants from around the world seeking to avoid a brutal trek through the Darien Gap jungle. He said that for Nicaragua, the new air route is an "opportunity to worsen the migration crisis to the United States and, in the process, make money." From the capital, Managua, migrants travel to Honduras and Guatemala, then to Mexico to the southern border with the United States, paying thousands of dollars to smugglers. Most of them "are destined for Nicaragua" a spokesperson for El Salvador's immigration authority told AFP. Colombia says that the majority of passengers arriving from Turkey are Africans in transit to San Salvador and then to Nicaragua.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 30, 2023 04:41 UTC
Turkmen Speaker, Turkish Defense Companies Discuss Ties
The speaker of the Turkmen People’s Council, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, discussed closer cooperation with the heads of Turkish defense firms. BMC, a prominent Turkish defense company, manufactures a diverse range of military assets, including drones, tanks, armored vehicles, personnel carriers, and military trucks. Notably, its Bayraktar TB-2 UCAV has seen deployment in Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and North Africa. The UCAV exported to Turkmenistan features a three-bladed engine, similar to the Bayraktar TB2 UCAV systems exported to Azerbaijan. Turkmenistan showcased its Turkish Bayraktar drones for the first time at the country’s Independence Day parade on September 27, 2021.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 30, 2023 04:33 UTC
Pakistan declared ‘best performing’ in tourism
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan was the ‘best performing destination’ in terms of tourism during the first nine months of 2023, according to the ‘World Tourism Barometer’ published by the World Tourism Organisation of the United Nations. A strategic online outreach, along with launching of the “Salam Pakistan” tourism brand in August 2023, contributed significantly to attracting a diverse range of visitors from across the globe. Key findings of the barometer show international tourism recovered 87pc of pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023. Europe, the world’s largest destination region, reached 94pc of pre-pandemic levels, supported by robust intra-regional demand. Against this backdrop, international tourism is well on track to fully recover pre-pandemic levels in 2024 despite economic challenges and uncertainty derived from certain geopolitical tensions and conflicts, WTO says.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 30, 2023 03:08 UTC
South Africa files case at ICJ accusing Israel of ‘genocidal acts’ in Gaza
Israel, which has been accused of meting out collective punishment on Palestinians, has rejected the case at the UN court. The ICJ, also called the World Court, is a UN civil court that adjudicates disputes between countries. As members of the UN, both South Africa and Israel are bound by the court. The Palestinian group has said its attack was against Israel’s 16-year-old blockade of Gaza and expansion of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Settlement expansions pose the biggest hurdle in the realisation of a future Palestinian state comprising Gaza, occupied West Banka and East Jerusalem.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 30, 2023 03:00 UTC
U.S. Maintains Unchanged Stance on the Moroccan Sahara: Denial of Allegations and Highlighting Geopolitical Tensions with Iran – The North Africa Post
The U.S. State Department recently reiterated that the United States’ stance on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara remains “clear and consistent.” This confirmation follows former President Donald Trump’s declaration in December 2020, recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara. The United States reaffirms unwavering support for the position on the Moroccan Sahara and warns against Iranian influence. This reiteration aims to counter allegations from certain Algerian media suggesting a supposed shift in the U.S. stance on the Sahara following the recent visit of the U.S. diplomat to Algiers. Regarding the Western Sahara within Morocco, U.S. support extends to Arab, African, Asian, and European countries. Currently, the Polisario is militarily funded by Iran, seeking to enhance its influence in various regions, thereby challenging the interests of the United States and other Western countries.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 29, 2023 22:30 UTC
Crash knocks down 2 utility poles in North Smithfield
NORTH SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WPRI) — Power has been restored in North Smithfield after a crash Thursday night knocked down two utility poles. Crews responded to the scene around 7:30 p.m. on Victory Highway. Hundreds of Rhode Island Energy residents were without power, but the electricity has since been restored. Police said one person was taken to the hospital, but their condition remains unknown. No word on what caused the crash at this time.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 29, 2023 22:20 UTC
U.S. Sees Minor Uptick in Oil Rigs
The total number of active drilling rigs in the United States rose this week by 2, according to new data that Baker Hughes published on Friday. Since this time last year, Baker Hughes has estimated a loss of 157 active drilling rigs. The number of oil rigs rose by 2 to 500. The number of gas rigs stayed the same this week at 120, a loss of 36 active gas rigs from this time last year. Miscellaneous rigs stayed the same at 2.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 29, 2023 22:00 UTC
Africa Becomes a Focal Point in Russia's Global Strategy
On a far more public level, Putin met with the heads of 17 African states at a summit in St. Petersburg in July, a month after the rebellion. “It was just a very vivid demonstration of Putin’s blatant disregard for the real priorities in Africa -- a sobering realization that to Russia, Africa is just a pawn in its broader geostrategic interests,” he said. “Russia has very little to offer” African nations, Anku said. But Russia does share a deep grievance with a number of African nations about what they see or portray as an unfair, Western-led world order. During those visits, the United States announced aid and investments in Africa running into the billions of dollars.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 29, 2023 21:05 UTC
Scatec’s 540MW PV + 1,140MWh Battery Storage Project In South Africa Begins Supplying Electricity To National Grid
The hybrid solar and battery storage plant integrates solar and battery technologies, overcoming intermittency challenges and bolstering grid stability. With a total investment of approximately $1 billion, Scatec says the Kenhardt project marks the largest commitment in its history. The Kenhardt project symbolises not only a technological triumph but a commitment to shaping a sustainable future,” says Terje Pilskog, CEO of Scatec. It’s great to see more large energy storage projects coming online in South Africa. Just 2 months ago, Eskom unveiled another large battery storage project.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 29, 2023 20:44 UTC
Diplomacy Must Prevail in Israel-Hizbollah Conflict
The latest round in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has ushered in a new phase in the long-running standoff between Israel and Hizbollah, the powerful Shiite militia-cum-party in Lebanon. But Hizbollah shows no inclination to reset the status quo so that it conforms to Resolution 1701, which is precisely what Israel insists on. As one former high-ranking Lebanese official said to Crisis Group, “In practical terms, Resolution 1701 has been abrogated”. They began with passage of Resolution 1701 but were in fact based on tacit understandings that both Hizbollah and Israel had an interest in upholding. Against this backdrop, outside actors are exploring whether there might be ways to encourage better compliance with Resolution 1701 without running up against Hizbollah’s outright resistance.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 29, 2023 17:38 UTC
Mobile Money Is Now Making Capital Available to Disadvantaged Entrepreneurs
In a significant move this summer, Kenya’s leading telecoms operator, Safaricom, extended its innovative mobile money service, M-Pesa, to Ethiopia. “Mobile money platforms help out in places where credit information is missing and infrastructure isn’t well developed,” said Agarwal, the paper’s lead author. The authors argue that these features empower mobile money platforms to address institutional voids in credit markets in three critical ways. Through their decentralized networks, mobile money platforms connect various financial services and products from partners like banks. “Mobile money is providing a one-stop-shop to access a whole range of financial services,” Agarwal said.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 29, 2023 15:41 UTC
Deadliest Year for Children in West Bank – UNICEF
“This year has been the deadliest year on record for children in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with conflict-related violence reaching unprecedented levels,” said UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Adele Khodr. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says that 2023 has been the deadliest year on record for children in the West Bank, with 83 children killed in the past twelve weeks. The number of children killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, reaches unprecedented levels. Read the full statement by @AdeleKhodr: https://t.co/CTfRi4WvUT — UNICEF (@UNICEF) December 28, 2023According to UNICEF, “conflict-related violence has killed 124 Palestinian children and 6 Israeli children since the start of 2023.”“Grave violations against children, in particular killing and maiming, are unacceptable’, Khodr added. UNICEF, she stressed, is extremely concerned about the right of children in the West Bank including East Jerusalem to safety and protection, and their inherent right to life.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 29, 2023 15:39 UTC
Morocco cuts water use due to drought – The North Africa Post
Morocco’s interior ministry ordered a ban of using drinking water to irrigate public parks, swimming pools, and cleaning streets due to a shortage of rainfall. Rainfall was 67% lower so far this year, compared to an average year, auguring ill for a rain dependent farming sector. The desalination plants launched by OCP in El Jadida and Safi are also planned to start pumping fresh water in 2024, he said, as the government plans a larger plant in Casablanca to be ready by 2027. Drought means lower economic growth as the farming sector represents 14% of Morocco’s GDP. It would also trigger higher fresh produce prices and higher unemployment in rural areas.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 29, 2023 14:34 UTC
Africa’s Hydrogen Race: TAQA Morocco to Develop $27B Green Hydrogen Plant
The project will generate 6,000 MW of renewable energy, which will be used to produce and export green hydrogen to meet global demand for decarbonized energy. The investment is expected to help reach Morocco’s goal of becoming a leading player in the global green hydrogen sector and attract further investments in the region. This has triggered a series of renewable energy investments by both public and private sector Emirati companies, including Infinity Power, AMEA Power and Masdar, among others. Among these agreements, AMEA Power signed over eight Memoranda of Understanding with Mozambique, Uganda, Ethiopia and Mauritania, focusing on solar, hydropower and green hydrogen projects. This mission will be at the forefront of the upcoming Invest in African Energy 2024 forum, taking place in Paris next May.
Source:The North Africa Journal
December 29, 2023 13:56 UTC