Compact solutions

Hello readers ????

With the season of summits upon us, this week’s Germany-led G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) gathering underscored the significant shortfalls in continental investment by G20 members. While commitments have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, spending remains far below the peak of USD 53 billion reached in the 2017/2018 fiscal year, according to AU Chair and Comorian President Azali Assoumani. 13 African countries are part of the CwA, with the intention of promoting private investment in Africa. Several others, including Angola, Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia, attended this year’s summit as guests, meeting with representatives from development banks and around 800 investors. Africa’s relationship with donors has historically been marked by paternalism, mistrust and power imbalances, with vulnerable African countries perceived as passive recipients of aid. The evolving geopolitical context and vocal criticism of the Western-led global order has presented Africa with a range of new partnership options. Aware of their waning influence, donors in the West have been looking to reconfigure relations with the continent, as African leaders continue to demand equal representation and decision-making power at negotiation tables. The CwA is one such initiative looking to reimagine a more beneficial partnership.?

Yours in geopolitical wrangling,

AP editorial team

?? 4 BILLION

Germany plans to invest EUR 4 billion (USD 4.3 billion) in green energy projects across Africa until 2030, to be channelled into the common EU-Africa Initiative for Green Energy. This complements an existing EUR 3.4 billion (USD 3.7 billion) in grants already pledged by the initiative.?

?? THE CARBON CONUNDRUM: AFRICA'S CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY UNDER CBAM

The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) represents a major global trade and climate policy shift, with wide-ranging implications for African exporters. Senior Consultant Victor Perez considers the risks facing South Africa as the continent’s most industrialised economy, and identifies opportunities to expedite the country’s energy transition.

???? NO-FLY ZONE

Malawi’s government has ramped up its austerity measures in a bid to tackle the country’s economic distress. President Lazarus Chakwera has banned public-funded international trips for all officials until the end of the financial year in March, while those currently abroad are required to return home. Only travel deemed absolutely necessary will be permitted, pending personal authorisation from Chakwera. Additionally, fuel entitlements for cabinet ministers, principal secretaries, directors and all members of senior management of public institutions have been reduced by 50%. This comes as the central bank devalued the kwacha by 44% against the US dollar earlier this month, leading to major fuel and electricity price hikes.?

???? GRACIOUS DEFEAT

Former vice-president Joseph Boakai has been elected president of Liberia with 50.64% of the vote, defeating incumbent George Weah who secured 49.36%. Weah was commended for a poignant concession speech where he emphasised that while his CDC party may have lost the election, Liberian democracy won. The elections were the first without the presence of UN peacekeepers, who were deployed after the end of the civil war in 2003. While polling was conducted peacefully, in the aftermath of Bokai’s victory a vehicle in Monrovia struck celebrating supporters, causing three deaths and injuring 28 people. Conflicting accounts have emerged, with the police calling it an "accident" while Boakai's party characterised it as an "act of terrorism” – the driver has been remanded in custody.

???? ?? PLASTIC IMPASSE

Between 13-19 November, delegates gathered at the UN Environment Programme headquarters in Nairobi for further negotiations on the first global treaty to tackle plastic pollution. Last week’s talks made limited progress, with some countries pushing for substantial cuts in plastic production, resulting in accusations that major petroleum producers and international energy companies were swaying opinions towards a focus on recycling. Activists and scientists hoped Kenya’s role as host would serve as inspiration for a plastic-free future, as the country moves towards implementing new producer-responsibility legislation to enforce its ban on the manufacturing and import of single-use plastics.

???? RIVAL FORMATIONS

Ahead of the DRC’s 20 December election, opposition figures are forming alliances in efforts to defeat incumbent Félix Tshisekedi. Former prime minister Augustin Matata Ponyo has dropped out of the race and is now backing the candidacy of Mo?se Katumbi. Katumbi, a businessman and former governor of the Katanga region (2007-2015), launched his campaign on 20 November. At odds with former president Joseph Kabila, Katumbi lived in self-imposed exile from 2016-2019, having been barred from participating in the 2018 polls. Katumbi has also received the backing of several other candidates in his bid for the presidency, running on a campaign of economic reform, job creation, and fighting corruption. A lawsuit questioning his eligibility on grounds that he allegedly held dual nationality was dismissed in October 2023.?

???? JULIE THE GIANT

Renowned Ethiopian-American artist Julie Mehretu has set a new record for the highest auction price achieved by any African-born artist. Her abstract masterpiece "Walkers With the Dawn and Morning” fetched an impressive USD 10.7 million at Sotheby's in New York. This ink and acrylic on canvas piece, inspired by a Langston Hughes poem, is a testament to Mehretu's exceptional talent. Born in Ethiopia amidst political unrest, she moved to the US in 1977. The painting was part of her 2005 exhibition responding to Hurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans, showcasing her poignant artistic response to societal challenges. Adding to her achievements, she was selected to craft BMW's upcoming Art Car earlier this year. Her distinctive artwork will adorn a BMW vehicle featured in the 2024 edition for racing in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.?

?? BYTE-SIZE TECH: STARLINK SEEKS GROWTH IN AFRICA

After first launching in Nigeria in January 2023, Starlink has made slower progress towards continental ubiquity than hoped and is currently only available in seven African markets. Licensing has been a tough battle for SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who has butted heads with African regulators, including a public spat with Tanzania’s Minister for ICT Nape Nnauye on the platform formerly known as Twitter. SpaceX has put out a call for its first African growth manager and entered discussions with Nigeria to create a programme to support the labour market through training for hardware specialists, seemingly seeking to demonstrate goodwill. This is unlikely to convince Senegal, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to lift their bans on unlicensed adoption, as communications authorities seek to bring Starlink to the negotiating table regarding licensing requirements, despite Musk’s apparent reluctance.?

??? MONACO HYDROGEN ALLIANCE FORUM

On 27-28 November, Africa Practice’s Managing Director for East Africa, Richard Kiplagat, will be speaking at the Monaco Hydrogen Alliance Forum in his capacity as chairman of the advocacy taskforce of the African Hydrogen Partnership (AHP). Taking place in Monte Carlo, under the theme of “Driving the Green H2 Revolution: Innovation, Investment, and Infrastructure,” the forum is the first platform exclusively dedicated to mobility and renewable hydrogen.

?? AFRICAN PEACEBUILDING NETWORK FELLOWSHIP

The African Peacebuilding Network invites research fellowship applications from African scholars, researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners working on conflict and peacebuilding issues. The fellowships are intended to support six months of field-based research, from June-December 2024 – up to 17 individual fellowships of a maximum of USD 15,000 each will be awarded. Deadline is 11 February 2024.?

?? ROOTLESS – KRYSTLE ZARA APPIAH

Krystle Zara Appiah’s 2023 debut novel Rootless explores the ideals of motherhood, friendship, love and sacrifice through the story of a British-Ghanaian marriage in crisis after an unplanned pregnancy. Providing an intimate look at what happens after a marriage collapses, the novel follows the thread of two people rediscovering what they ultimately want – and if it's still each other.

?? DND – Rema

Nigerian wunderkind Rema has hit fresh controversy following his sold-out show at the O2 Arena in London. His latest EP Ravage has seen his visualisations shift from technicolour to severe use of black and red, sparking debates on his supposed “satanic” leanings. Rema was first accused of devilish intentions by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in September, which forced the cancellation of his concert in Addis Ababa. Rema has dismissed the claims, highlighting that the imagery of fire, bats and carved masks are part of his Edo heritage, stating “My Ancestors’ bronzes sit in the museum of this very city so I remade mine.” Like much of Ravage, “DND” is an outlet for Rema to diverge from his typically humble, soft-spoken nature, reiterating his impressive accomplishments with fiery defiant energy.

Copyright ? 2023?Africa Practice, All rights reserved.

Enquiries: [email protected]