Features

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – The difficulties of relocating staff during a pandemic has postponed some finance jobs from moving out of London and into the European Union, according to EY. “Travel restrictions over the last two years have challenged the practicalities of relocation,” said Omar Ali, head of financial services for Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa at EY. “Depending on the trajectory of the omicron variant and its impact on international…

JOHANNESBURGH (Capital Markets in Africa) – South African hospitals reported having slightly fewer Covid-19 patients than yesterday, the first decline in weeks. Still, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, does caution that figures can be skewed by late reporting of admissions. Even so the number could be taken as more evidence that the wave of infections caused by the omicron variant may be slowing. On Friday the South African Medical Research Council said that wastewater…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Africa’s newest gas producers are concerned that projects utilizing the resources to broaden access to electricity are under threat by a push to avoid the funding of fossil fuels.  “Many companies operating in the sector are scaling down or pulling out completely” following COP26 pledges to lower carbon emissions, Senegal Oil Minister Sophie Gladima said in an interview at the sidelines of the MSGBC Conference in the city of Diamniadio. Senegal…

BAMAKO (Capital Markets in Africa) – The Economic Community of West African States threatened over the weekend to impose new sanctions on Mali to compel the country’s military leaders to set a timetable for Feb. 27 elections that would restore democratic rule. Ecowas, as the regional economic bloc is known, is considering “economic and financial sanctions” from Jan. 1, according to a statement issued after a summit in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Sunday. The bloc…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria’s daily Covid infections have jumped more than fivefold over the past week following the discovery of the omicron variant in the country of 200 million people. The average number of Nigerians who tested positive for the pathogen has risen to 451 a day for the week ending Dec. 12, compared with 76 in the preceding week, according to data from the National Center for Disease Control.The commercial hub…

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The West’s excessive focus on African debt has blinded it to China’s widening engagement in a region of 1.4 billion consumers. Myths tend to linger longer than fact, and few have been more resilient in the face of evidence and data than the idea of a Chinese debt trap ensnaring African economies. Last week alone, Britain’s spy chief warned of Beijing trying to “get people on the hook,” while…