WTO: U.S. refuses Nigerian candidate for top job

The leadership race for the World Trade Organization has been thrown into disarray after the United States opposed the appointment of former Nigerian finance and Foreign affairs minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, whose candidacy has been also supported by the European Union. The American delegation has not explained the reasons of the refusal. Following discussions among EU…

#EUCO: Africa high on agenda

The European Council taking place in Brussels on October 15-16 will also discuss EU-Africa relations. At present the EU and the African countries and cooperate through multiple frameworks such as: the Cotonou agreement; the joint Africa-EU strategy; and in addition to these frameworks, the Council has adopted three regional strategies for the: Horn of Africa;…

Libya: speaker Aguila Saleh rise

Brussels 03.10.2020 Libya’s oil output has risen to 270,000 bpd as the OPEC member ramps up export activity following the easing of a blockade by eastern part of the country. On October 1 Libya’s oil terminals at Hariga, Brega, and Zueitina were open for business and welcoming tankers to ship oil, although the biggest port…

EU: Post-Cotonou informal discussion

Brussels 29.09.2020 The African Union – European Union partnership, post-Cotonou agreement were on the top of the agenda of the informal meeting of EU Development Ministers the EU top diplomat Josep Borrell has chaired today. #Africa, #AUEU partnership and #newACPEU #postCotonou negotiations were on the agenda of the informal meeting of EU Development Ministers I…

Kenyan aims at WTO top job

Kenya’s candidate to become the next Director-General of the World Trade Organisation pledged on September 23 to integrate climate change issues into the WTO agenda if selected. Honoured to be selected to advance to the next round in the selection process to appoint the next @wto Director General! I would like to thank all the…

EU-AU diplomats update Post-cotonou

Brussels 21.09.2020 “Our ambition is clear: we want a stronger EU-Africa partnership. At informal development ministers meeting next week, we will continue our discussions on how to further step up our relations” said the EU top diplomat Josep Borrell, concluding the Council of the bloc foreign ministers. Our ambition is clear: we want a stronger…

Botswana dimond trade plunges

Botswana’s rough diamond exports plunged 68% in the second quarter of the year, data published by the central bank showed on August 7, as the COVID-19 pandemic affected demand, and trade. Sales of rough diamonds from Botswana fall due to a travel ban and production crunch linked to the coronavirus pandemic https://t.co/ceCYYrrW9f — Bloomberg (@business)…

China trade in donkey hides devastates communities

Describing the scale of the animal abuse in Chinese trade in donkey hides and its devastating impact for local communities in developing countries, especially in Africa, the Members of the European Parliament called for an urgency of action to protect the equidae as an indefensible contributor to harmonious rural lifestyle. During the European Parliament Strasbourg…

South Africa advances exports of lion’s skeletons

The export of lion skeletons is fuelling the business of these criminal enterprises and South Africa should be held to account for encouraging them, conservationists say. The issue came to public attention after the decision of South Africa officials to double quota of exports of skeletons of lions in captivity. South Africa’s Department of Environmental…

Hungary expects post-Cotonou reflects reality on illegal migration

Hungary is “absolutely interested” in negotiation of a new post-Cotonou agreement insured Péter Szijjártó, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, however it has also some expectations concerning the Migration Chapter of the agreement, namely reflecting reality on illegal mass migration. The mandate to the European Commission negotiators led by Neven Mimica can be given by…