Across the continent in 352 days

Greetings ????

While debates rage around who, exactly, was the first to run the length of Africa, the achievement of Russ Cook, a Briton – who ran from Cape Agulhas in South Africa to Ras Angela in Tunisia – piqued our interest in mobility and access. Disparities persist in terms of freedom of movement, with foreigners able to access the continent more readily than Africans. Admittedly, not even the “Hardest Geezer” was immune from visa troubles, taking to social media to share his difficulties in securing an Algerian visa so he could complete his running challenge. Nevertheless, US, UK and EU passport holders have tended to have a much easier time travelling across the continent for short stays, compared to locals. In 2016, Africans needed visas to enter 55% of the states on the continent, compared to North Americans at 45%. The ease of intra-African travel has thankfully begun to improve, with countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, Benin, Seychelles and The Gambia now offering visa-free entry to all African travellers. Hopefully, one day, all Africans who wish to take on a sadistic running challenge will be free to do so – as only then will the real race begin!

Yours in free movement and strenuous exercise,

AP editorial team

?? 6?

Zimbabwe’s new gold-backed currency, dubbed the ZiG, will be the country’s sixth attempt at establishing a credible local currency since 2008. The ZiG will replace the Zimbabwean dollar, or Real Time Gross Settlement dollar, from 30 April, initially valued at 13.56 to the US dollar.

??? VOICES OF AFRICA – WANJIRA MATHAI

In the latest episode of Voices of Africa, Wanjira Mathai, Managing Director for Africa at the World Resources Institute (WRI), sits down with Africa Practice CEO Marcus Courage. Wanjira, a powerhouse championing a greener future for Africa, shares the profound impact her iconic mother’s environmental activism had on her, and delves into her current work at WRI. Listen to learn how she is tackling Africa's biggest challenges – climate change, food security, and sustainable cities – by bridging the gap between global ideas and the power of local action.?

?? AFRICA’S FUNVESTMENTS ON THE RISE

Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, Africa has witnessed a rising tide of investments in the audiovisual sector – a trend that shows no sign of slowing down. Associate Consultant Chuma Mashita examines the extent of these investments and their economic potential, as well as their welcome boost to Africa’s soft power.

???? TRANSITION DIALOGUE

Gabon launched its milestone national dialogue last week, as the country pursues a return to civilian rule following the August 2023 coup d’état which ousted President Ali Bongo and ended his family’s 55-year rule. The opening of the month-long dialogue by Transitional President General Brice Oligui Nguema and overseen by Catholic Archbishop Jean-Patrick Iba-Ba – was attended by civil society groups, opposition parties and ordinary civilians, as well as broadcast live on television. The outcomes are set to inform a draft constitution, which will then be approved by referendum on a to-be-determined date. The Gabonese junta has stated that General Oligui will rule for a mere 24 months, making plans to hold an expedited dialogue a key early test for the regime’s transition agenda.?

???? NOMAD’S LAND

South Africa’s long-awaited “digital nomad visa” came into effect on 28 March this year, only to be withdrawn on 9 April following heavy criticism. The visa was intended to allow foreigners to work in South Africa for up to three years. However, there were significant caveats: if staying for six months or more, foreign workers would be required to register with the tax authority. Additionally, there was a minimum annual salary requirement of ZAR 1 million (USD 54,000), and workers must be employed by a foreign company, thereby excluding freelancers and self-employed entrepreneurs. The process – while long overdue – was also rushed through, with the amended regulations published a day before public comments closed, indicating none of the input was taken into account. The new iteration of the immigration regulations is set to be re-gazetted within the next week.?

???? KUNA MATATA

Uganda’s efforts to promote greater uptake of Kiswahili, its second official language, have stalled, with some 2,000 teachers currently unemployed. While a revised education curriculum provides for the language to be taught from the primary school level, it is only taught for two years of secondary school, and is slated as an option thereafter. This situation discourages schools from hiring specialised staff and lowers students’ willingness to learn the language at such a late stage in their education. Kiswahili remains tainted by its association with dictator Idi Amin Dada, and faces deeply entrenched cultural barriers, since the highly influential Kabakas and Christian missionaries successfully lobbied for its removal from instruction language back in 1952, leaving the language a preserve of the armed forces. It is clear that legislative action alone will not surmount this issue and that broader adoption will require a cultural upheaval that the government remains ill-equipped to spur.?

???? TOO HOT

On 4 April, the Malian city of Kayes recorded the hottest day in African history, with temperatures of 48.5°C. The Gabriel Touré University Hospital in Bamako received over 100 heat-stricken patients, but was unable to save their lives. The effects of climate change have exacerbated the recurrent El Ni?o phenomenon, raising ocean and atmospheric temperatures across West Africa – a region that lacks the requisite social infrastructure to cope with the situation. The government has now reduced schooling hours, noting that the young and elderly remain the most vulnerable to heatwaves, in an attempt to reduce the number of casualties. However, these measures are unlikely to mitigate the worsening effects of climate change.?

?? TELEVISION TAKEOVER

French broadcasting conglomerate Canal+ Group has moved one step closer to acquiring MultiChoice – Africa’s largest pay-TV operator. The companies released a joint statement on 8 April, explaining that a combined group would be in a better position to “address key structural challenges and opportunities resulting from the progressive digitalisation and globalisation of the media and entertainment sector”. Canal+ already owns a 36.6% share in Multichoice, and intends to offer ZAR 125 (USD 6.7) per share for the remainder – an increase from February’s proposal of ZAR 105 (USD 5.6) per share – valuing MultiChoice at around ZAR 55.5 billion (USD 3 billion). Following the cooperation agreement, the next step is to overcome South Africa’s regulatory hurdles, which include limitations on foreign ownership of local broadcast licences.

??? SKOLL WORLD FORUM

The 2024 Skoll World Forum is currently taking place from 9-12 April in Oxford, UK, and online. The forum brings together a community of social innovators and change makers looking to explore solutions to the most pressing problems of our time. Our East Africa Managing Director, Richard Kiplagat, will be in attendance. If you’d like to connect, reach out to him via LinkedIn.?

?? AFRICAN DATA JOURNALISM ACADEMY

The African Data Journalism Academy is a data skills training project for mid-career journalists working in African newsrooms. It offers a five-month, part-time course in data journalism for those looking to add data skills to their storytelling toolkits. Deadline is 17 April.?

??HOW AFRICA TRADES – DAVID LUKE

Featuring a wealth of data-driven evaluations of trade negotiations and policy choices, How Africa Trades helps to make sense of the continent’s major trade challenges, including commodity dependence, competitiveness, and how African countries engage with often unconducive international trade rules that distort global markets.

?? SIAMINI? – TID

TID, a Bongo Flava artist from Tanzania, is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. While younger East Africans on TikTok are discovering him for his funny and energetic approach to interviews, older fans remember him as a chart-topping powerhouse in the early 2000s. His hit, “Siamini” (Swahili for "I Can't Believe"), draws influence from coastal sounds such as taarab and more popular genres such as reggae.?

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