South Sudan’s central bank took steps Wednesday to bolster the economy amid the COVID-19 lockdown, but an analyst warned the economy will only improve after the government restores peace and security. The COVID-19 disease is caused by the coronavirus. The central bank lowered interest rates from 13% to 10%  and lowered the cash reserve ratio from 15% […]

The United States and Kenya formally launched negotiations Wednesday on a bilateral trade deal, which the countries hope could be replicated across Africa. “Under President [Donald] Trump’s leadership, we look forward to negotiating and concluding a comprehensive, high-standard agreement with Kenya that can serve as a model for additional agreements across Africa,” said U.S. Ambassador […]

Seven suspects accused of taking just over $132 million from VBS Mutual bank in South Africa have pleaded not guilty to dozens of fraud and theft charges. On Thursday, the court set their individual bail at $5,733. The suspects, including a former VBS executive, where arrested Wednesday during raids in Gauteng and Limpopo provinces. An […]

The African Development Bank (AfDB) on Thursday said “no decision” had been taken regarding a U.S. push for an outside probe into its chief, accused by whistleblowers of ethics breaches. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says Washington is dissatisfied with the outcome of an internal inquiry that has exonerated AfDB chief Akinwumi Adesina. The chair […]

Zimbabwe welcomed the U.S. decision Thursday to remove two of its banks from the sanctions list, saying the move will allow them to easily obtain credit to address the country’s moribund economy. However, the ruling ZANU-PF party is calling for more from the U.S. and other Western countries that imposed the sanctions in 2002. The […]

The World Health Organization, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Economic Forum have issued guidelines for African countries looking to reopen their economies after weeks of lockdown due to the coronavirus.  Health authorities are concerned that opening up too quickly could trigger a fresh wave of COVID-19 cases on the […]

Journalists in Somalia routinely face many difficulties but this year, under the stress of the spread of COVID-19, they say feel even more threatened by intimidation and arrest by what they call hostile leaders. Cautiously celebrating World Press Freedom Day, a number of Somali journalists and journalists’ rights activists shared their experiences with the VOA […]

The Russian Agriculture Ministry announced Sunday that it was suspending its export of most grains until July 1, seemingly ignoring warnings from international organizations who are asking countries not to disrupt global food supply chains during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The ministry said the Russian cutoff affected shipments of wheat, corn, rye, barley and meslin, […]