G20 + AU

Hello there ????

News of the AU's permanent seat at the G20 – henceforth known as the G21 – marks a pivotal development in Africa’s role globally. It recognises Africa's geopolitical and economic importance on the international stage and acknowledges the AU’s growing centrality in Africa’s economic governance. Of course, the AU will not be immediately able to represent all 55 member states with differing priorities, let alone the six countries currently suspended for military-led coups. For now, the G20’s primary focus on economic matters will enable AU leadership to focus on pushing African interests in areas of established consensus, such as the urgent need for debt restructuring.

Next up, a permanent AU Security Council seat??

AP editorial team?

??? UNGA SCIENCE SUMMIT

Africa Practice’s very own Associate Director Magdalene Kariuki will be speaking at the Science Summit at the UN General Assembly on 15 September. Magdalene will explore how regulators can keep up with fast-evolving AI systems, and the role that AI governance can play in the achievement of the SDGs in Africa. Sign up to attend her virtual session.?

?? BYTE-SIZE TECH: PAN-CONTINENTAL AI STRATEGY

Technical advisers on the AU’s AI strategy convened in Ethiopia in August, finalising the policy framework ahead of its expected launch at the January 2024 summit. There is exciting – and timely – movement on AI on the continent, from public policy design to private sector initiatives like Google’s AI First accelerator program. While governments determine whether to approach governance from a (negative) disruption-based or (positive) innovation-enabling perspective, businesses should be vigilant as regulatory changes loom. Regulation will be a critical enabling factor to strengthen AI in Africa, demonstrated by Rwanda’s quick action which made it InstaDeep’s first choice for its African research hub.?

?? AFRICA LEADS THE ENERGY FUTURE

For decades now, debates about climate and Africa’s energy future have been shaped by geopolitical interests that are detached from the climate and development realities that African nations face. Following the historic Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change during the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Senior Consultant Agwu Ojowu considers what is needed to move from mere declarations to effective implementation.?

?? 40 BILLION??

To support effective participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, the African Export and Import Bank will double its financing for intra-African trade to USD 40 billion on a revolving basis by 2026, an increase from USD 20 billion in 2021.

???? ONE YEAR

Today marks one year since Kenyan President William Ruto came to power, amid a challenging fiscal context that has complicated plans for bottom-up economic transformation. The country’s problems are not unique; most African nations face dollar shortages , backsliding currency and rising import prices. Ruto’s accelerated action plan to tackle these issues has spurred a host of changes that could make even the most seasoned analysts dizzy. Recent softening inflation , boosted by falling food prices, is much-needed encouragement for citizens and the private sector, who are key to Ruto’s plans for the road ahead.?

???? RE-CONNECTING FLIGHTS

Nigeria has reached an agreement with the UAE to lift a visa ban imposed on Nigerian travellers since October 2022. The decision follows a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which also saw Etihad Airways and Emirates Airline agreeing to resume their activities in the country. Emirates had suspended flights to Nigeria due to difficulties in repatriating funds. Both nations agreed to a foreign exchange liquidity programme and a multi-sector investment framework worth billions of dollars. The agreement consolidates the UAE’s expanding geopolitical influence on the continent and legitimises President Tinubu’s pro-investment reforms.

???? SIMA ASCENDS

Following the coup in Gabon, Raymond Ndong Sima was appointed head of the transitional government by the junta. Sima, a former prime minister under deposed leader Ali Bongo’s rule, previously ran against Bongo in both the 2016 and 2023 presidential elections. His new cabinet consists of former ministers and military officers, likely limiting both his power and the transitional government’s autonomy. Major opposition figures from the most recent elections are absent. Sima has suggested an election deadline of two years without any firm commitments but would be prevented from running himself, as per the country’s transitional charter.?

? READY PLAYER 24

The lineup for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is set , with Cameroon and Namibia securing the final two spots. Originally scheduled for June 2023, the tournament was moved to January and February 2024 to avoid the rainy season in C?te d’Ivoire, the host nation. Underdogs like Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea have also qualified, adding excitement to the mix. Now, teams await the draw to discover their opponents in the group stage. Defending champions Senegal, along with Egypt, Nigeria and World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, are expected to be strong contenders, but with talent spread across all 24 qualifiers, fierce competition for continental glory awaits.

???? RESIGN & RERUN

Election fever is officially in full swing in Madagascar, with voters set to head to the polls on 9 November. President Andry Rajoelina resigned on 9 September, in line with constitutional requirements for incumbents seeking re-election. While leadership of the country is supposed to be handed over to the leader of the Senate in the interim, the respective leader declined to take on this role. Power now rests in the hands of the collective government, headed by Prime Minister Christian Ntsay, a close Rajoelina ally. Opponents have dubbed this an “institutional coup ”, with ten of the 13 presidential candidates rejecting the decision.

??? SEISMIC LOSS

Morocco's UNESCO World Heritage sites have suffered extensive damage in the wake of a recent earthquake. Among the casualties is the medieval medina in Marrakech with buildings that date back to its foundation in the 11th century. The Tinmel mosque, a pilgrimage site in the High Atlas Mountains, has also been almost entirely destroyed. The earthquake affected the Ksar of A?t Ben Haddou, a fortified city with a rich history resulting in damaged and cracked buildings. As Morocco mourns the rising death toll, its precious heritage sites in remote areas have also fallen victim to the quake's devastating impact.

?? BEYOND LIMITS FELLOWSHIP

The Beyond Limits Fellowship for Founders Programme is a six-week learning experience designed to assist African early-stage start-up founders with skill development across several critical domains including leadership, product and marketing, and funding and finance. Deadline is 22 September.?

?? A DANCE FOR THE DEAD – NUZO ONOH

Dubbed the “Queen of African Horror”, Nuzo Onoh’s A Dance for the Dead blends Igbo traditions with elements of the supernatural in a tale where Diké, heir to his kingdom and leader of a terrifying warrior cult, falls asleep in his bedroom only to wake up trapped within the secret shrine of the village deity.?

?? JUNGLE – MHD

Mohamed Sylla, better known as MHD, is well known for his role in pioneering Afro trap, spitting lyrics on the struggles of growing up in Parisian suburbs over West African-inspired beats. In his latest track “Jungle”, MHD takes a pause from grandiose boasting on?fame and money to share nuggets of wisdom, enlightened by his arrest in 2019 and years of using his talent to provide for family in Senegal and Guinea.

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