Moody’s Sees East African Economies Expanding Fastest Globally

Moody’s Sees East African Economies Expanding Fastest Globally

NAIROBI (Capital Markets in Africa) – East African economies will be among the fastest growing globally over the next two years with rates of 5.5 percent to 7 percent, driven by public spending on infrastructure, according to Moody’s Investors Service. Rwanda and Tanzania are expected to grow at 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent annually, while Uganda and Kenya could see rates of 5 percent – 6 percent. The services sector, which makes up the largest share of…

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World Bank, IMF Raise Rwanda’s 2018 Growth Estimate to 7.2%

World Bank, IMF Raise Rwanda’s 2018 Growth Estimate to 7.2%

KIGALI (Capital Markets in Africa) – The World Bank and International Monetary Fund revised their projection for Rwanda’s economic growth this year to 7.2 percent as rains improved food supply. The revision comes after Rwanda’s government posted 10.6 percent growth in gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2018 after services, which make up almost half of national output, accelerated. Rwanda is one of Africa’s top performers and has expanded an average of more than…

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Investor Demand and Business Activity to Increase as Political Stability Returns to Kenya

Investor Demand and Business Activity to Increase as Political Stability Returns to Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya, December 17, 2017/ — Kenya is emerging from a protracted presidential election process and seeing a return to political stability. Nonetheless, challenges will persist in 2018 for organizations operating in the country and East Africa more widely. High debt levels in Kenya and unpredictable policymaking in Tanzania are among the key risks for businesses operating in the region in the year ahead, says specialist global risk consultancy Control Risks (www.ControlRisks.com) in its annual…

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Rwandan President Sees Growth Accelerating on Banking, Mining

Rwandan President Sees Growth Accelerating on Banking, Mining

KIGALI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Rwandan economic growth is expected to accelerate this year and next as the outlook for industries including financial services, tourism and mining improves, President Paul Kagame said. The pace of expansion is expected to increase to 7 percent next year from about 6 percent this year, Kagame said Thursday in an interview in Dubai. That compares with 2016’s growth rate of 5.9 percent, which was a three-year low. The pace of…

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Rwanda Asks UN for Details After Anti-Torture Panel Halts Visit

Rwanda Asks UN for Details After Anti-Torture Panel Halts Visit

KIGALI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Rwanda’s government called on the United Nations to publicly describe the impediments the global body said prompted its torture prevention panel to cut short a fact-finding visit to the East African country last week. The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, which was on the fifth day of its one-week visit, said Oct. 20 it couldn’t continue because of “a series of obstructions” from authorities and fears of reprisals among those…

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Rwanda Army Tortured Suspected Rebels, Opponents, Group Says

Rwanda Army Tortured Suspected Rebels, Opponents, Group Says

KIGALI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Rwanda’s military detained suspected rebels and supporters of an exiled opposition group, subjecting them to beatings, mock executions and electric shocks, Human Rights Watch said. The New York-based advocacy group has confirmed 104 cases of people illegally detained, many of whom were tortured, in army detention centres between 2010 and 2016, it said Tuesday in a report. The total number is probably higher because of the secret nature of…

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Selected Capital Markets, Economic and Political News Around Africa

Selected Capital Markets, Economic and Political News Around Africa

Ethiopia Devalues Birr by 15%, Increases Interest Rate: Ethiopia devalues birr by 15% from Oct. 11, Fana Broadcasting Corp. reports, citing National Bank of Ethiopia Deputy Governor Yohannes Ayalew. Dollar will exchange for 26.9303 birr. Drop in global commodity prices has hurt nation’s export earnings from coffee, oil seeds, leather, gold. Interest rate will increase to 7% from 5% Mozambique’s Zandamela Says FX Reserves, Exchange Rate Stable: The exchange rate of the Mozambican currency, the…

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