Latest news with #Ethiopia
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
What Trump can learn from the Gulf about doing business in Africa
Four years ago, DP World signed a $1 billion trade corridor agreement with the Ethiopian government. The plan: link the logistics giant's port in Berbera, Somaliland, with Ethiopia — a landlocked nation of 120 million people. It wasn't aid. It wasn't a photo op. It was business: strategic, long-term, unapologetically calculated. During my seven years as Dubai Chamber's Chief Representative for Ethiopia covering the Horn of Africa region, I saw the impact of bold, early investment. The Gulf didn't wait for African markets to 'stabilise'. It moved quickly — into ports, infrastructure, agribusiness, and tech — while others hesitated. Now, as the Trump White House prepares to host an Africa trade and investment summit, the US has a chance to reposition itself. But that means showing up with more than handshakes. It means taking Africa seriously — the way the Gulf, and China, already do. Bet early bet big In many sectors, the UAE has already outpaced China. In 2022 and 2023, the UAE committed $97 billion to new investments across Africa — spanning sectors such as renewable energy, ports, mining, real estate, telecoms, agriculture, and manufacturing, according to fDi Markets. These aren't vanity projects. They're strategic investments designed to serve both Gulf supply chains and African growth. Saudi Arabia is moving too. In 2024, it pledged $41 billion in funding to low-income Sub-Saharan countries. By contrast, the US has remained cautious and slow. But Trump's deal-making instincts could resonate in Africa — home to some of the world's fastest-growing economies and increasingly pragmatic leadership. The danger is doing the deals without a plan. Without a long-term strategy, it's just another missed opportunity. From aid to trade Africa doesn't need charity. It needs business — fair, forward-looking, and grounded in mutual benefit. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is set to become a $3.4 trillion economic bloc, connecting over 50 countries and 1.3 billion people. It will be the largest single market in the world by number of participants. The Gulf got the memo years ago. Sovereign wealth funds like ADQ and Mubadala are investing in logistics, food processing, and digital infrastructure — not as favors, but because the returns are real. China moved even earlier with its Belt and Road Initiative, though not without missteps. If the US wants to compete, it needs to move beyond outdated aid frameworks — and focus on deals that still matter a decade from now. Engage the diaspora and mean it As the US representative for the Pan African Chamber of Commerce, I've watched too many diaspora professionals left out of investment conversations. That's a mistake. The Gulf is doing the opposite. Investors are tapping diaspora talent — especially in fintech, logistics, and health tech — because they know how to navigate both worlds. Nigerian-Americans, for example, are among the most educated and economically active US immigrant communities. But their insight rarely informs US-Africa strategy. A smarter approach would bring them in — not as symbolic advisers, but as partners driving capital and execution. Don't sleep on agribusiness Africa's food economy is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2030, according to the African Development Bank. The Gulf is already investing in agritech, cold storage, and processing — not just for African markets, but to secure its own food systems. The US, despite its global leadership in agricultural tech, has been largely absent. That's a lost opportunity. Trump's team should prioritise cross-border agricultural ventures tied to AfCFTA — projects that generate jobs and deliver returns for US investors. AGOA is no longer enough China is now moving to offer African countries tariff-free access to its market — just as America's African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is set to expire in 2025. AGOA has had an impact, but it hasn't shifted supply chains or brought in the long-term capital Africa needs. In some cases, it's even delayed the push toward more sustainable and competitive industries. Africa now needs a new framework — one that supports value-added production, regional integration, and smarter financing to reduce risk for investors. If Trump wants to create something meaningful in the US, he should look to the playbook of sovereign wealth funds like Abu Dhabi's ADQ or Saudi Arabia's PIF — both deeply invested in Africa, both thinking long term. The bottom line Over two decades working across US, and African markets, I've learned this: Africa doesn't need more handouts. It needs real partners. The Gulf got that early. China moved even faster. The US still has a shot — but only if it brings capital, consistency, and a clear strategy to the table. Doing business in Africa isn't without risk — as DP World experienced when Djibouti's government seized control of a container terminal it had built and operated, prompting international arbitration where the logistics giant was awarded $200 million in damages. But the investment landscape is changing. More African leaders are increasingly thinking like investors. Rwanda secured a 60 per cent investment from Qatar Airways in its $1.3 billion international airport — and likely a stake in its state airline. Etihad, meanwhile, has signed a codeshare deal with Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's largest carrier, connecting Abu Dhabi to most capitals on the continent. Both are smart plays — linking the Gulf to fast-growing economies and underserved aviation markets, with long-term returns for Doha and the UAE. Trump talks a lot about winning. In Africa, the next frontier for global growth, winning starts with showing up — and staying the course. The writer is a US-based global business strategist and Founder of Teba Connects.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Revisiting Africa's Agenda 2063 in a time of flux
The African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 is the 50-year continental development framework adopted by the AU Assembly in 2015. It articulates aspirations and 20 goals of the 'Africa We Want in 2063'. From envisioning a high standard of living and well being of the continent's citizens, its wide-ranging goals specifically address education and health, economic transformation and job creation, Africa' confederation quest, infrastructure development, continental financial and monetary institutions, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, peace and security, cultural renaissance, gender equality, youth empowerment and development financing modalities. Its implementation is fashioned around 10-year implementation plans: the first of which covered the period 2014-2023. An assessment of that first implementation plan led by the AU's Commission and its Development Agency, NEPAD, revealed modest progress. The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on Africa's socio-economic landscape is cited as one factor that negatively affected implementation progress during this phase. Overall, only 10 countries were judged to have implemented at least 50 percent of the Agenda 2063 goals. Rwanda leads the pack having achieved a 63 percent implementation milestone, followed closely by Ethiopia and Senegal (63 percent), Zimbabwe at 61 percent, Togo (60 percent), Tunisia and Uganda at 54 percent, Algeria (53 percent) and Kenya at 51 percent. Mauritius (50 percent) completes the list of 10 countries hitting the 50 percent implementation mark.11 countries have reached a 30 percent (or less) implementation rate. They are Botswana and Burundi (29 percent), Namibia (28 percent), Zambia (27 percent), Lesotho (26 percent), Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and South Africa are tied at 22 percent, while Mauritania and Benin have reached 11 percent and six percent performance, respectively. Of the Agenda 2063 phase one goals (20 in total), only five have reached a 70 percent plus attainment level. These are the goals related to citizens health and nutrition, infrastructure development, confederation, peace and security and gender equality. Progress in implementing the African Continental Free Trade area (AfCFTA) accounts for the score given to the confederation goal. In contrast, progress towards continental integration via an African passport to ease the free movement of people is terribly slow. Since its adoption in 2018, only four member states (Mali, Niger, Rwanda, and São Tomé and Principe) have ratified the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons. 15 ratifications are needed for a Protocol to come into force. In the meantime, given restrictive visa regimes, Africans continue to pointlessly face constraints on movement across countries within the continent. The slow-paced implementation of the Trans-African Highway Missing Link and the African High Speed Rail Network flagship projects further limit the aspiration for a more integrated and united Africa. Agenda 2063 profiles 15 flagship projects. The other 13 are: the AfCFTA, the Single Africa Air Transport Market, the African Commodity Strategy, the Pan-africa E-Network, Cyber Security, the Pan African Virtual and E-University, the African Outer Space Programme, the Great Museum of Africa, Silencing of the Guns and End Wars in Africa by 2020, the Free Movement of all Persons and African Passport, the Continental Financial Institutions, the Grand Inga Hydropower project and the African Economic Platform. Strikingly, the worst performing goal (at 17 percent level of implementation) is the economic transformation and jobs creation one. Which is an indictment on the continents progress on economic development, manufacturing, and industry. The other notable poorly ranked goal is the one related to transformative leadership and 'capable' institutions. Despite the ratification of the African Charter on Democracy, Election and Governance by 39 countries (and being in force since 2012), an overall weak performance of 42 percent was recorded. On the aspiration towards a continent that fosters a people-oriented development, the assessment confirms that Africa did not meet Agenda 2063's 'youth-related goals and targets' citing especially the high youth unemployment rate and an increase in the incidence of child labor. The second 10-year implementation phase (2024-2033) is underway since last year, with seven 'moonshot' targets set in what the AU describes as the 'decade of acceleration' to soar up implementation based on the lessons and milestones from the first implementation phase. The 20 goals for this implementation phase have a similar orientation to the first phase and cover, wealth creation (so that all member states attain at least middle-income status), infrastructure development and energy security, 'responsive democracy', social cohesion, skills development for citizens and pro-active positioning of the continent as a strong and influential global player. There are obvious glaring gaps around the domestication of Agenda 2063 to ensure better alignment with national development plans. Related to this is limited citizens awareness of the plan which undermines its ownership at national levels. Moreover, the lack of costing and an anchor strategy for own financing as well as pooling of the requisite abilities and skills for execution are a self defeating own-goal. Given fast changing global trends, Agenda 2063 also requires a robust cushioning framework against external risks and shocks. It is an opportune moment for introspection and 'out-of the box' rethinking.
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al Jazeera
The Cat Man Eshete: An Ethiopian refugee's life on the streets of New York
The extraordinary story of Eshete, a refugee who escaped war in Ethiopia as a young man and is now a devoted caretaker of a feral cat colony in New York City. Eshete has become the heart of a close-knit community while living on the streets. Together with neighbours who help feed the cats and look out for him, Eshete's story reveals a moving portrait of grassroots community care. The Cat Man Eshete is a documentary film by Laura Checkoway.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump considers travel ban on another 36 countries after restricting people from 19 nations from entering the US
President Donald Trump is considering extending his extraordinary travel bans to encompass a further 36 countries. Trump imposed a full ban on nationals from 12 countries, and partial restrictions for visitors from another seven countries earlier this month as part of an ongoing effort to rid the United States of foreign threats and secure the borders. Now it can be revealed the State Department also identified another 36 nations in an internal memo which are on the cusp of being added to the no-fly list. These nations included Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe. They were given 60 days to improve on a series of benchmarks to be considered safe under the Trump administration. Each of the affected nations has been ordered to provide remediation plans by Wednesday 8pm or risk being added to the dreaded no-fly list. According to documents viewed by The New York Times, they must each 'take immediate action to mitigate ongoing vetting and screening concerns, develop corrective action plans to remediate deficiencies and evaluate progress.' The countries have been added to the list for any number of reasons, including but not limited to previously having high rates of visa overstays, or failing to cooperate in taking back citizens who have been deported. Trump also flagged countries which don't have a central government which produces reliable identity documents, or the ability to adequately inform the US government of criminal records. Nations where citizens have been involved in terrorism, or 'antisemitic and anti-American activity in the United States' have also been flagged. This was particularly apparent with the inclusion of Egypt days after an Egyptian citizen who overstayed his visa in the United States set fire to a group of pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, California. Trump said the tragedy in Boulder 'underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted. 'We've seen one terror attack after another from foreign visa overstayers... thanks to Biden's open door policies today there are millions and millions of these illegals who should not be in our country.' The president then directed several of his top national security chiefs to investigate whether Egypt should also be added to the list of restricted nations. 'In light of recent events, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence, shall provide me an update to the review of the practices and procedures of Egypt,' he wrote in his initial proclamation. Countries could also earn their way off the list or help to mitigate the government's concerns if it agreed to accept third-country nationals from the United States whom they had tried to deport but could not return to their country of origin. Similarly, if nations agree to act as a 'safe third country' which accepted migrants who had applied for asylum in the US, they would be looked upon favorably, the publication stated. El Salvador, Panama and Costa Rica have accepted third-country deportees, while Kosovo recently agreed to temporarily accept up to 50 deportees annually in a new deal with Trump. Nationals of Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen were barred from entering the United States from June 9. Citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela are partially restricted from traveling under the order, removing access to all immigrant visas and several non-immigrant travel options. 'We don't want 'em,' Trump said bluntly in a video released shortly after the ban was announced. 'Very simply, we cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen.' White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson wrote on X: 'President Trump is fulfilling his promise to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors that want to come to our country and cause us harm. 'These commonsense restrictions are country-specific and include places that lack proper vetting, exhibit high visa overstay rates, or fail to share identity and threat information. 'President Trump will ALWAYS act in the best of interest of the American people and their safety.' Several of the nations facing bans have been targeted because their screening and vetting capabilities are not up to the president's standards. Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Sudan and Yemen were all placed on the banned list in part due to limited screening and vetting measures, Trump noted. Trump said the list is 'subject to revision' if nations work toward improving the vetting system of their nationals. Similarly, other nations can be added to the list if Trump later believes they pose a risk to national security. For the seven nations who have had their access to the United States severely restricted, Trump has clarified that authorities will no longer accept any immigrant visa applications. Additionally, a host of nonimmigrant visa options will be revoked, and those that remain will have 'reduced validity... to the extent permitted by law.' This directive is part of an immigration crackdown Trump launched at the start of his second term, which has included deporting hundreds of Venezuelans suspected of being gang members. He has also set about barring Harvard from admitting foreign students and cracked down on antisemitism on campus, seeking to deport students who have been active participants in on campus protests. 'We are constantly reevaluating policies to ensure the safety of Americans and that foreign nationals follow our laws,' a senior State Department official said, declining to comment on specific internal deliberations and communications. 'The Department of State is committed to protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process,' the official said. During his first term in office, Trump announced a ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. Former President Joe Biden, a Democrat who succeeded Trump, repealed the ban in 2021, calling it 'a stain on our national conscience.' But Trump touted the successes of his initial 2017 travel bans in his proclamation earlier this month. 'During my first Administration, I restricted the entry of foreign nationals into the United States, which successfully prevented national security threats from reaching our borders and which the Supreme Court upheld,' the president wrote. 'It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes. 'The United States must be vigilant during the visa-issuance process to ensure that those aliens approved for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans or our national interests. 'More importantly, the United States must identify such aliens before their admission or entry into the United States. 'The United States must ensure that admitted aliens and aliens otherwise already present in the United States do not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles, and do not advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists or other threats to our national security.'
Zawya
4 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Ambassador of the Republic of Sierra Leone paid a courtesy call on African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson
AFRICA H.E. Harold Bundu Saffa, Ambassador of the Republic of Sierra Leone to Ethiopia&Permanent Representative to the AU, paid a courtesy call on H.E. @ymahmoudali, Chairperson of the AU Commission, to convey a message of congratulations on his election. They took the opportunity to exchange views on the ongoing efforts to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Guinea&on the broader developments in the West African region. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU). Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an 'as is' and 'as available' basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release. The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages. © ZAWYA 2025
