<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GA7DA74QSJKXFKRCPNMRKUIEWI-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-601938" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GA7DA74QSJKXFKRCPNMRKUIEWI-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GA7DA74QSJKXFKRCPNMRKUIEWI-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GA7DA74QSJKXFKRCPNMRKUIEWI-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GA7DA74QSJKXFKRCPNMRKUIEWI-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GA7DA74QSJKXFKRCPNMRKUIEWI-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GA7DA74QSJKXFKRCPNMRKUIEWI.jpg 2027w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Roasted coffee beans are seen on display in Bogota, Colombia June 5, 2019. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez/</figcaption></figure>



KAMPALA, March 26 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;The volume of Uganda&#8217;s coffee exports rose 27.9% in February, compared to the same month a year ago, as high prices pushed traders to release larger quantities from their inventories, the agriculture ministry has said.



Uganda is Africa&#8217;s largest coffee exporter followed by Ethiopia, and primarily cultivates the robusta variety.



In February, the east African country shipped 555,756 60-kilogram bags of coffee, which was 27.9% more than the same month last year, the ministry of agriculture said in a report published late on Tuesday.



Uganda earned $167.7 million from coffee exports in February, more than double received during the same period last year, the ministry said.



&#8220;The prevailing high prices at the international scene prompted exporters to release their stocks,&#8221; the report said.



Uganda earned $1.7 billion from exports in the twelve months to February, compared to around $1 billion in the previous year, according to the ministry.



(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Hereward Holland and Eileen Soreng)

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Uganda’s February coffee exports jump 28% y/y on high prices

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TE3RFSDQENJTFFYC6SW6PIPCBE-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-529685" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TE3RFSDQENJTFFYC6SW6PIPCBE-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TE3RFSDQENJTFFYC6SW6PIPCBE-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TE3RFSDQENJTFFYC6SW6PIPCBE-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TE3RFSDQENJTFFYC6SW6PIPCBE-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TE3RFSDQENJTFFYC6SW6PIPCBE-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TE3RFSDQENJTFFYC6SW6PIPCBE-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">FILE PHOTO: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters building is seen ahead of the IMF/World Bank spring meetings in Washington, U.S., April 8, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



NAIROBI, March 24 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Kenya has applied for a new lending programme from the International Monetary Fund in order to factor in unused money from the current programme, which both sides walked away from last week, Finance Minister John Mbadi said on Monday.



The East African nation and the IMF agreed last week to scupper the ninth and final review of the current programme, which was set to expire next month. Mbadi said the decision to do so was down to time limitations.



&#8220;Because there is a carryover, there is some money that we have not utilized in the ninth review, then we agreed that there&#8217;s a possibility of a funded programme,&#8221; he told Reuters.



Mbadi said there was roughly $800 million left on the table.



President William Ruto&#8217;s government has struggled to get its finances back on track after a borrowing spree led to a surge in debt-servicing costs.



(Reporting by Duncan Miriri, editing by Libby George and Alex Richardson)

FILE PHOTO: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters building is seen ahead of the IMF/World Bank spring meetings in Washington

Kenya has applied for new IMF lending programme, finance minister says

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="5000" height="3333" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ZDLMSIGEBBPQBOFRWSNUUJYYMY.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-601146"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">M23 rebels sit on a truck during the escort of captured FDLR members (not pictured) to Rwanda for repatriation, at the Goma-Gisenyi Grande Barrier border crossing, March 1, 2025. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



March 24 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Angola will step down from its position as a mediator between parties involved in an escalating Rwanda-backed rebel offensive in eastern Congo, the presidency said on Monday, with another African state set to lead efforts to get peace talks back on track.



The ethnic Tutsi-led M23 escalated their long-standing rebellion this year, seizing east Congo&#8217;s two biggest cities since January and encroaching into territory rich in minerals such as gold and tantalum.



As the current rotating African Union (AU) Chairperson, Angola&#8217;s President Joao Lourenco had been trying to mediate a lasting ceasefire and lower tensions between Congo and neighbouring Rwanda, which has been accused of backing M23. Rwanda denies this.



Congo and M23 were scheduled to hold direct talks for the first time in Angola&#8217;s capital Luanda last week after Congo&#8217;s President Felix Tshisekedi, who had long refused dialogue with the rebels, agreed to send a delegation.



M23 pulled out at the last minute, following European Union sanctions against M23 and Rwandan officials.



&#8220;Angola considers the need to free itself from the responsibility of the mediator of this conflict&#8221; to &#8220;devote itself more&#8221; to the AU&#8217;s overall priorities, the presidency said in a statement that mentioned the &#8220;aborted&#8221; meeting in Luanda.



Another head of state will be appointed to the task in coming days, the statement said.



There have been several attempts to resolve the conflict, rooted in the fallout from Rwanda&#8217;s 1994 genocide and competition for mineral riches, including several ceasefires that were violated, international condemnations, sanctions and regional summits.



The regional blocs of southern and eastern Africa will hold a second joint summit on Monday to address the crisis. Kenya&#8217;s President William Ruto and his Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa will co-chair the virtual event.



M23 last week dismissed a joint call for an immediate ceasefire by Congo and Rwanda and reiterated demands for direct talks with Kinshasa, saying it was the only way to resolve the conflict.



The rebel group said over the weekend that it would withdraw forces from the seized town of Walikale in support of peace efforts.



In response, Congo&#8217;s army said it would observe the announced withdrawal and refrain from any offensives against enemy forces to encourage de-escalation.



A civil society source and a resident in Walikale said on Monday that M23 were still in the town.



(Reporting by Congo newsroom; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Hereward Holland and Toby Chopra)

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Angola to end east Congo conflict mediation role, presidency says

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="410" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/108099964-1739192857747-gettyimages-1499178181-vcg111441609233-820x410.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-599301" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/108099964-1739192857747-gettyimages-1499178181-vcg111441609233-820x410.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/108099964-1739192857747-gettyimages-1499178181-vcg111441609233-300x150.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/108099964-1739192857747-gettyimages-1499178181-vcg111441609233-160x80.jpeg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/108099964-1739192857747-gettyimages-1499178181-vcg111441609233-768x384.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/108099964-1739192857747-gettyimages-1499178181-vcg111441609233.jpeg 884w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Chinese national flag fluttering with the Lujiazui Financial District in the background.
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



NAIROBI, March 20 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) will invest $1.4 billion to upgrade the Tanzania-Zambia railway, the line&#8217;s operator said on Thursday,&nbsp;improving a key route for copper exports from central Africa.



The railway, widely known by its initials, TAZARA,&nbsp;also offers&nbsp;a way to bypass logistics bottlenecks in South Africa that have slowed copper and cobalt exports.



&#8220;The decision to grant a concession follows an in-depth evaluation of TAZARA&#8217;s challenges over the years, which necessitated urgent intervention,&#8221;&nbsp;TAZARA Authority CEO&nbsp;Bruno Ching&#8217;andu&nbsp;said&nbsp;in a statement.



China signed a deal to revive the 50-year-old TAZARA last year, as the United States was throwing its financial weight behind a rival transport corridor for minerals called Lobito, after an Angolan port.



Some $1 billion of CCECC&#8217;s investment will go towards the rehabilitation of the TAZARA&#8217;s rail tracks, while the balance will be used to purchase 32 new locomotives and 762 new wagons to boost capacity, Ching&#8217;andu said.



TAZARA released the statement on the sidelines of the Zambia International Mining and Energy Conference, where Ching&#8217;andu made a presentation to investors and executives.



The 30-year concession will be structured into three years of construction work and 27 years of operation and maintenance, Ching&#8217;andu said, adding that negotiations between both sides have not yet been completed.



Former President Joe Biden visited Lobito at the end of his term to highlight the $550 million U.S. loan for the corridor, which links mineral-rich Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia to Angola&#8217;s Atlantic coast, but current President Donald Trump has not publicly indicated his plans for the project.



The Africa Finance Corporation, which also backs Lobito alongside commodities trader Trafigura and others, said the project will go forward regardless of U.S. involvement.



The CCECC investment in TAZARA is a significant boost to China&#8217;s lending to Africa, which hit a 20-year low in 2022 after peaking at $28.4 billion in 2016.



The country, which bankrolled more than $5 billion to construct a modern rail line in Kenya and secured some railway construction contracts in Nigeria, has adopted a more cautious approach to big-ticket lending to projects in Africa after some countries struggled to repay debt and Zambia and Ghana defaulted.



(Reporting by Duncan Miriri, editing by Libby George, Alex Richardson and Sharon Singleton)

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China’s CCECC to invest $1.4 billion in Tanzania-Zambia railway

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="525" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AAGIZ6UVINNGHDGICOCSUFSH2U.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-599628"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Judith Tuluka Suminwa, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo attends a meeting during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union at the African Union Commision (AUC) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 14, 2025. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



March 19 (Reuters) &#8211; The Democratic Republic of Congo intends to impose export quotas on cobalt following a four-month export ban, and plans to partner with Indonesia, another key producer, to manage global supply and pricing, according to DRC&#8217;s prime minister.



The announcement was made during a cabinet meeting on Friday.



In a bid to curb a global supply glut, the quotas will be enforced in two parts, one focusing on exports and the other on local mineral transformation, according to the cabinet meeting minutes seen by Reuters on Wednesday.



Sources told Reuters in February that DRC, the world&#8217;s leading cobalt producer, was contemplating export quotas following the imposition of an export ban.



Cobalt, a crucial component in batteries for electric vehicles and mobile phones, has seen its prices fall to historically low levels due to weak demand from automakers and increased copper production, from which cobalt is a by-product.



Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka said that plans were afoot to collaborate with Indonesia, another significant cobalt producer, to better regulate the supply and price of cobalt on the global market.



Indonesia conducted initial discussions with the DRC during a visit by the DRC delegation to Jakarta before the DRC launched its export restrictions, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry senior official Dadan Kusdiana told Reuters.



&#8220;Discussions were held regarding the global cobalt supply policy strategy and initial discussions to explore various potential opportunities for cooperation,&#8221; he said.



Dadan said cobalt is among the minerals that will be affected by Indonesia&#8217;s plan to increase production royalty fees. Cobalt content in nickel matte production would see a 2% royalty fee.



Cobalt is a byproduct from Indonesia&#8217;s nickel, which typically contains 1% to 2% cobalt, he said.



(Reporting by Sonia Rolley Additional reporting by Fransiska Nangoy in Jakarta; Writing by Bate Felix; Editing by Mark Potter)

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Congo plans cobalt export quotas, partnership with Indonesia to tackle glut

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-952daa05-1-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-599625" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-952daa05-1-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-952daa05-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-952daa05-1-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-952daa05-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-952daa05-1.jpg 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sudan&#8217;s army soldiers celebrate the army&#8217;s liberation of an oil refinery, in North Bahri, Sudan, January 25, 2025. REUTERS/El Tayeb Siddig</figcaption></figure>



DUBAI, March 20 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Sudan&#8217;s state TV said on Thursday that the army is close to taking control of the Presidential Palace in Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, marking a significant shift in the two-year-old conflict that threatens to fracture the country.



Late on Wednesday, heavy clashes erupted near the palace, with explosions heard and airstrikes by the army targeting central Khartoum, witnesses and military sources told Reuters.



After nearly two years of war, the RSF controls most of the west of Sudan and parts of the capital Khartoum, but has been losing ground in central Sudan to the army.



The two military factions staged a coup in 2021, derailing a transition to civilian rule, and warfare broke out in April 2023 after plans for a new transition triggered violent conflict.



The war has led to what the U.N. calls the world&#8217;s largest humanitarian crisis, with both the RSF and the army accused of widespread human rights abuses.



(Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Writing by Jana Choukeir; Editing by Tom Hogue and Michael Perry)

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Sudan TV says army close to taking control of Presidential Palace from paramilitary RSF group

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="540" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/LICCCZ2WGFMAHKMAXFS2TADMXM.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-599355"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A man walks along a street in the Rwanda&#8217;s capital Kigali, May 11, 2016. REUTERS/Ed Cropley/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



KIGALI, March 19 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Rwanda&#8217;s economy grew 8.9% in 2024 compared&nbsp;with 8.2%the previous year, the country&#8217;s&nbsp;statistics office said&nbsp;on Wednesday,&nbsp;driven by good harvests, and a robust performance in the industrial and service sectors.



The economy expanded 8% in the fourth quarter of the year, said Ivan Murenzi, director general of the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda.



Last year the agricultural sector grew 5%, while industry and services each grew 10%, Murenzi told a news conference.



Rwanda&#8217;s central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 6.5% RWREPO=ECI in February for the second monetary policy meeting in a row, saying that despite a recent pickup in inflation it expected it to remain within its target band.



(Reporting by Philbert Girinema; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Bate Felix)

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Rwanda’s economy grew 8.9% in 2024, stats office says

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="720" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FR6EK3XJLBJTTH6TF2BLTMSD44-1.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-599216"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Democratic Republic of the Congo&#8217;s President Felix Tshisekedi attends a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, at a Carrinho facility, near Lobito, Angola, December 4, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



DOHA, (Reuters) &#8211; Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame called for a ceasefire in eastern Congo on Tuesday during their first meeting since M23 rebels stepped up an offensive there in January.



A joint statement issued along with Qatar, whose emir mediated the sit-down in Doha, said the ceasefire should be &#8220;immediate and unconditional&#8221;.



But it was unclear whether that would stop the M23 insurgents who now control more territory than ever before in eastern Congo, including the region&#8217;s two biggest cities.



Congo accuses Rwanda of sending arms and Rwandan troops to support the rebels, whose offensive has plunged eastern Congo into its worst conflict in decades.



Rwanda has said its forces are acting in self-defence against Congo&#8217;s army and militias hostile to Kigali.



Neighbouring countries have been working to broker a ceasefire but an attempt to bring Congo&#8217;s government and M23 leaders together at a meeting in Angola on Tuesday failed when M23 pulled out on Monday afternoon.



At Tuesday&#8217;s meeting in Qatar, Tshisekedi and Kagame &#8220;agreed on the need to continue the discussions initiated in Doha in order to establish solid foundations for lasting peace,&#8221; the joint statement said.



A diplomat briefed on the talks said the meeting was &#8220;informal&#8221; and &#8220;not meant to replace any existing efforts.&#8221;



The conflict in east Congo is rooted in the fallout from Rwanda&#8217;s 1994 genocide and competition for mineral riches. It has spiralled since January, with thousands of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced from their homes.



The Gulf Arab state of Qatar has acted as a mediator in a number of conflicts, most recently working with Egypt and the U.S. to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which broke down earlier on Tuesday.



Qatar&#8217;s close ties with Rwanda mean Kagame would have had a hard time refusing an invitation to Tuesday&#8217;s meeting, something Tshisekedi would have also recognised, said Congolese analyst Bob Kabamba of the University of Liege in Belgium.



&#8220;Developments on the ground are making things difficult for Felix Tshisekedi. He needs to find a solution,&#8221; he said.



(Reporting by Andrew Mills and Aaron Ross; Additional reporting by Sonia Rolley; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Gareth Jones, Sharon Singleton and Daniel Wallis)

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Congo and Rwanda presidents call for east Congo ceasefire during Qatar sit-down

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="640" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FR6EK3XJLBJTTH6TF2BLTMSD44.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-599213"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Democratic Republic of the Congo&#8217;s President Felix Tshisekedi attends a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, at a Carrinho facility, near Lobito, Angola, December 4, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



DOHA, March 18 (Reuters) &#8211; Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame called for a ceasefire in eastern Congo on Tuesday during their first meeting since M23 rebels stepped up an offensive there in January.



A joint statement issued along with Qatar, whose emir mediated the sit-down in Doha, said the ceasefire should be &#8220;immediate and unconditional&#8221;.



But it was unclear whether that would stop the M23 insurgents who now control more territory than ever before in eastern Congo, including the region&#8217;s two biggest cities.



Congo accuses Rwanda of sending arms and Rwandan troops to support the rebels, whose offensive has plunged eastern Congo into its worst conflict in decades.



Rwanda has said its forces are acting in self-defence against Congo&#8217;s army and militias hostile to Kigali.



Neighbouring countries have been working to broker a ceasefire but an attempt to bring Congo&#8217;s government and M23 leaders together at a meeting in Angola on Tuesday failed when M23 pulled out on Monday afternoon.



At Tuesday&#8217;s meeting in Qatar, Tshisekedi and Kagame &#8220;agreed on the need to continue the discussions initiated in Doha in order to establish solid foundations for lasting peace,&#8221; the joint statement said.



A diplomat briefed on the talks said the meeting was &#8220;informal&#8221; and &#8220;not meant to replace any existing efforts.&#8221;



The conflict in east Congo is rooted in the fallout from Rwanda&#8217;s 1994 genocide and competition for mineral riches. It has spiralled since January, with thousands of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced from their homes.



The Gulf Arab state of Qatar has acted as a mediator in a number of conflicts, most recently working with Egypt and the U.S. to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which broke down earlier on Tuesday.



Qatar&#8217;s close ties with Rwanda mean Kagame would have had a hard time refusing an invitation to Tuesday&#8217;s meeting, something Tshisekedi would have also recognised, said Congolese analyst Bob Kabamba of the University of Liege in Belgium.



&#8220;Developments on the ground are making things difficult for Felix Tshisekedi. He needs to find a solution,&#8221; he said.



(Reporting by Andrew Mills and Aaron Ross; Additional reporting by Sonia Rolley; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Gareth Jones, Sharon Singleton and Daniel Wallis)

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="480" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BLUQMZADUZKOLHER6AWH47IIC4.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-598481"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">M23 rebels gather around a truck during the escort of captured FDLR members (not pictured) to Rwanda for repatriation, at the Goma-Gisenyi Grande Barrier border crossing, March 1, 2025. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



NAIROBI, March 17 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Belgium and Rwanda announced the expulsion of each other&#8217;s diplomats, as relations deteriorated over allegations about their respective roles in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.



Kigali said it was severing diplomatic relations and giving Belgian diplomats 48 hours to leave the East African country, accusing Brussels of &#8220;using lies and manipulation to secure an unjustified hostile opinion of Rwanda.&#8221;



Belgium&#8217;s foreign affairs minister Maxime Prevot said the move was &#8220;disproportionate and shows that when we disagree with Rwanda they prefer not to engage in dialogue.&#8221;



Brussels will reciprocate by declaring Rwandan diplomats persona non grata, he added.



African leaders have been trying to establish a lasting ceasefire in Congo, where the Rwandan government is accused of supporting an offensive by M23 rebels in eastern Congo.



(Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Bate Felix)

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Rwanda and Belgium expel each other’s diplomats over Congo conflict

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="720" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/TWV5ODKIWNI75BNZPE3VSGMPAA.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-598410"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">M23 rebels sit on a truck during the escort of captured FDLR members (not pictured) to Rwanda for repatriation, at the Goma-Gisenyi Grande Barrier border crossing, March 1, 2025. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



March 16 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Democratic Republic of Congo will send a delegation to Angola on Tuesday for talks aiming to resolve a spiralling conflict against Rwandan-backed rebels in the east, the presidency said on Sunday.



Angola said last week that direct peace talks between Congo and M23 rebels would begin in the Angolan capital Luanda on March 18.



President Felix Tshisekedi, who has long ruled out dialogue with M23, had been considering changing his position after a string of defeats as regional support for Congo has waned.



&#8220;At this stage, we can&#8217;t say who will make up the delegation,&#8221; presidency spokesperson Tina Salama said.



M23 has acknowledged receipt of Angola&#8217;s invitation,&nbsp;its spokesperson&nbsp;Lawrence Kanyuka said on X on Sunday,&nbsp;without saying whether it would participate.



M23 made a series of demands after the talks were announced, including asking Tshisekedi to publicly express his commitment to negotiate with them directly.



Angola has been trying to mediate a lasting ceasefire and lower tensions between Congo and neighbouring Rwanda, which has been accused of backing the Tutsi-led rebel group. Rwanda denies those allegations.



The conflict, which has blighted eastern Congo for decades, is rooted in the spillover into Congo of Rwanda&#8217;s 1994 genocide and the struggle for control of Congo&#8217;s vast mineral resources.



It escalated significantly this year, with M23 gaining ground it had never controlled before, including east Congo&#8217;s two biggest cities and a host of smaller localities.



Congo&#8217;s government has said at least 7,000 people have died in the fighting since January. At least 600,000 people have been displaced by the fighting since November, according to the U.N. humanitarian affairs office.



Angolan President Joao Lourenco on Saturday urged all parties to cease hostilities from midnight to create a conducive climate for the talks.



&#8220;The ceasefire must include all possible hostile actions against the civilian population and the occupation of new positions,&#8221; he said in a statement.



Both Congo and M23 have repeatedly accused each other of violating ceasefires in the past.



Fighting did not appear to have stopped on Sunday, as a local official reported clashes in the Walikale region.



(Reporting by Sonia Rolley and Congo newsroom; Additional reporting by Olivia Kumwenda in Johannesburg; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Louise Heavens and Kevin Liffey)

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Congo says it will join peace talks with Rwanda-backed rebels on Tuesday

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-1251784570-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-484765" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-1251784570-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-1251784570-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-1251784570-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-1251784570-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-1251784570-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-1251784570-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters during the spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, April 13, 2023. The IMF trimmed its global-growth projections, warning of high uncertainty and risks as financial-sector stress adds to pressures emanating from tighter monetary policy. Photographer: Samuel Corum/Bloomberg via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



NAIROBI, March 17 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;The International Monetary Fund has received a formal request for a new programme from Kenyan authorities and will engage with them going forward, it said on Monday.



A ninth review under its current extended fund facility and extended credit facility programmes will not proceed, IMF said in a statement.



The IMF did not specify the kind of programme Kenya was seeking. Finance Minister John Mbadi told Reuters last month that it would be a financing programme.



The East African economy needs continued help from the lender to keep its economy on track after its debt-servicing costs surged due to a borrowing spree over the past decade.



The government has been scrambling for new financing after deadly protests last year forced it to abandon a plan to raise extra revenue via tax hikes.



(Reporting by George Obulutsa and Duncan Miriri; Editing by Jamie Freed)

Spring Meetings Of The International Monetary Fund And World Bank

IMF has received a formal request for a new Kenya financing programme

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1440" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RJQQJCNPY5N5TEMOPIA3PHPUWY.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-596924"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A drone view shows construction on the 3.2 kilometre Kigongo–Busisi Bridge, named John Pombe Magufuli Bridge that crosses the southern end of Lake Victoria at a cost of approximately $300 million USD, in Mwanza, Tanzania October 14, 2024. REUTERS/Emmanuel Herman/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



DAR ES SALAAM, March 13 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Tanzania plans to increase overall spending by 13.4% in the fiscal year from July, according to a draft budget that focuses on the country&#8217;s debt repayment needs, the cost of a coming general election, and U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s pause in overseas aid.



The east African country plans to spend 57.04 trillion shillings ($22 billion) in the 12 months starting in July, up from 50.29 trillion shillings this year, according to a budget paper seen by Reuters.



Finance Minister Mwigulu Nchemba presented a paper titled &#8220;Budget Framework and Expenditure Ceiling For 2025/26&#8221; to a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.



The final budget for the coming fiscal year will be read in June.



Of the total amount, the government expects to raise 40.97 trillion shillings from domestic revenue sources and the rest through both domestic and external debt, according to the paper.



Tanzania is taking steps to reduce its dependence on unpredictable sources of revenue or debt with unfavourable terms, the paper showed.



Like some other developing countries Tanzania has also been hit hard by U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s freeze on all foreign aid for 90 days.



The budget has taken into consideration, the paper said, &#8220;the potential impact that is likely to happen due to changes of policies from development partners, especially the United States.&#8221;



In the next financial year the government will focus on boosting production of manufactured goods and services, and the promotion of trade and investment among other factors, the paper said.



&#8220;Specific priorities include covering costs on government debt repayment, salaries, the general election of 2025 and promotion of democracy in the country,&#8221; Nchemba said in the paper.



Tanzania is set to hold a general election in October in which voters will choose the next president, lawmakers and local government officials.



President Samia Suluhu Hassan will be seeking re-election for a second term of five years, having come to power in 2021 after the death of her predecessor.



($1 = 2,610.0000 Tanzanian shillings)



(Reporting by Nuzulack Dausen; Editing by Elias Biryabarema and Hugh Lawson)

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Tanzania plans to raise spending by 13% in fiscal year from July, draft shows

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="477" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DVQKLY4YJJK5PKHGOPTI6H2OBA.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-593829"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">South Sudan&#8217;s Vice President Riek Machar is seen at the opening session of parliament in Juba, South Sudan August 30, 2021. REUTERS/Jok Solomun/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



NAIROBI, March 5 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;South Sudanese forces have arrested the petroleum minister and several senior military officials allied with First Vice President Riek Machar, Machar&#8217;s spokesperson said on Wednesday, jeopardising a peace deal that ended a five-year civil war.



The arrests follow intense fighting in recent weeks in the strategic northern town of Nasir between national forces and the White Army militia, a loosely-organized group mostly comprising armed Nuer, Machar&#8217;s ethnic group.



The White Army fought alongside Machar&#8217;s forces in the 2013-2018 civil war that pitted them against predominantly ethnic Dinka troops loyal to President Salva Kiir.



Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, who hails from Nasir, and the deputy head of the army Gabriel Doup Lam were arrested, while all other senior military officials allied with Machar were placed under house arrest, said Machar&#8217;s spokesperson, Puok Both Baluang.



&#8220;As of now, there&#8217;s not any reason provided to us that led to the arrest or the detention of (these) officials,&#8221; Baluang told Reuters.



South Sudanese troops were also deployed around Machar&#8217;s residence, although he had been able to travel to his office on Wednesday morning, Baluang said.



In the government&#8217;s first comments since the arrests, Information Minister Michael Makuei accused forces loyal to Machar of collaborating with the White Army and attacking a military garrison near Nasir town on Tuesday.



Makuei did not comment on the detentions, but said Kiir had vowed that the country would not go back to war.



&#8220;The government is in the process of addressing this situation and people should not panic or listen to unfounded and unrealistic wild rumours that are being spread by enemies of peace and stability,&#8221; Makuei said in a statement.



BRINK OF WAR



South Sudan&#8217;s civil war, which erupted just two years after the country gained independence from Sudan, killed an estimated 400,000 people, drove 2.5 million from their homes and left almost half the nation&#8217;s 11 million citizens struggling to find enough food.



A peace deal struck in 2018 has mostly avoided outright fighting between Kiir and Machar&#8217;s forces, though localized violence routinely flares up.



Daniel Akech Thiong, senior analyst on South Sudan at the International Crisis Group, said the oil-rich country appeared to be on the brink of war, fuelled by increased access to weapons due to the conflict in neighbouring Sudan.



&#8220;The fragile peace that has maintained a delicate balance among competing armed leaders since 2018 is at risk of collapsing,&#8221; he said.



The war in Sudan has also disrupted South Sudan&#8217;s oil exports, which represented 90% of its foreign exchange earnings.



Last week, the African Union and United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan called for de-escalation in Nasir&#8217;s Upper Nile State and warned about the potential for &#8220;widespread violence&#8221;.



Ter Manyang, head of the Juba-based Center for Peace and Advocacy, linked the arrests to the fighting in Nasir and said he feared for the future.



&#8220;The country is likely to slide to war unless the situation is managed by the top leadership of the country,&#8221; he said.



(Writing by George Obulutsa and Hereward Holland; Editing by Ammu Kannampilly, Aaron Ross, Gerry Doyle, Peter Graff, Aidan Lewis)

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South Sudan detains oil minister and military officials, VP’s office says

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="452" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NO4TOVVM25M47I2PXXUQDPYPXI.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-593759"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pedestrians walk past the Platinum plaza that hosts wholesale and retail stores along Tom Mboya Street in downtown Nairobi, Kenya July 17, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



NAIROBI, March 5 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Kenya&#8217;s private sector held steady in February, expanding at a similar pace to the previous month, a survey showed on Wednesday.



The Stanbic Bank Kenya Purchasing Managers&#8217; Index (PMI) rose to 50.6 in February from 50.5 a month earlier. Readings above 50.0 signal growth in activity.



&#8220;Sector divergences were apparent &#8230; with output and new business growth driven by agriculture, manufacturing and construction. Meanwhile, wholesale &amp; retail and services firms recorded declines,&#8221; Stanbic Bank said in comments accompanying the survey.



However, most companies surveyed took a dim view of business conditions overall.



&#8220;Only 5% of surveyed firms expect output to rise over the next 12 months, with positivity only recorded in three of the five monitored categories: construction, wholesale &amp; retail and services,&#8221; Stanbic Bank said.



The finance ministry forecasts the economy will grow 5.3% in 2025 and 2026, speeding up from an estimated 4.6% expansion last year.



(Reporting by George Obulutsa; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

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Kenya’s private sector growth holds steady in February, outlook dim

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="5000" height="3150" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/S6HQ7VEU4ROAHDG56OUF4DYLEI-1.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-593292"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A general view shows a street in Kigali, Rwanda, April 26, 2024. REUTERS/Jean Bizimana/File Photo </figcaption></figure>



March 4 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Rwanda said on Tuesday that Canada&#8217;s position on the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was &#8220;shameful&#8221;, adding that measures announced by Ottawa against Kigali would not solve the conflict.



Late on Monday, Canada announced it had suspended the issuance of permits for the export of controlled goods and technologies to Rwanda, as well as suspending pursuing new government-to-government business and trade missions with Rwanda, and support to private-sector business development activities.



It also said it would review Canadian government participation at international events hosted by Rwanda in the future.



Canada joins the European Union and the United Kingdom that have also announced plans to suspend bilateral aid to Rwanda. The U.S. also announced sanctions against James Kabarebe, a Rwandan state minister for foreign affairs.



The Tutsi-led M23 rebel group entered the city of Goma at the end of January and have since made an unprecedented advance into eastern Congo, capturing territory and getting access to valuable minerals.



Their ongoing onslaught, which started in late December, is already the gravest escalation of a long-running conflict rooted in the spillover into Congo of Rwanda&#8217;s 1994 genocide and the struggle for control of Congo&#8217;s vast mineral resources.



Congo, U.N. experts and Western powers accuse Rwanda of backing the group.



Rwanda denies this and says it is defending itself against ethnic Hutu-led militias bent on slaughtering Tutsis in Congo and threatening Rwanda.



On Monday, Canada&#8217;s Foreign Affairs, International Development; and Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development ministers repeated the accusations against Rwanda while announcing the suspensions.



(Reporting by George Obulutsa in Nairobi; Editing by Ammu Kannampilly and Lincoln Feast.)

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Rwanda says Canada export permit, business suspension over Congo war ‘shameful’

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="5000" height="3035" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CXYS7WC5YRPUPNY2HNXRUOQOYQ.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-582750"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An aerial view shows the skyline of downtown in Nairobi, Kenya October 8, 2024. Picture taken on October 8, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



NAIROBI, Feb 28 (Reuters) &#8211; Kenya&#8217;s annual consumer inflation rose for the fourth month in a row to 3.5% in February from 3.3% in January, the statistics office said on Friday.



Core inflation remained at 2.0% in February, unchanged from January, while non-core inflation rose to 8.2% in February from 7.1% the previous month, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement.



Kenya&#8217;s central bank cut its main interest rate for the fourth meeting in a row to 10.75% on February 5, saying it wanted to do more to support lending and boost economic growth.



The central bank said inflation was expected to remain below the midpoint of the 2.5%-7.5% target range in the near term.



(Reporting by Hereward Holland; Editing by Jan Harvey and Kevin Liffey)

East Africa

Uganda’s February coffee exports jump 28% y/y on high prices

Kenya has applied for new IMF lending programme, finance minister says

Angola to end east Congo conflict mediation role, presidency says

China’s CCECC to invest $1.4 billion in Tanzania-Zambia railway

Congo plans cobalt export quotas, partnership with Indonesia to tackle glut

Sudan TV says army close to taking control of Presidential Palace from paramilitary RSF group

Rwanda’s economy grew 8.9% in 2024, stats office says

Congo and Rwanda presidents call for east Congo ceasefire during Qatar sit-down

Congo and Rwanda presidents call for east Congo ceasefire during Qatar sit-down

Rwanda and Belgium expel each other’s diplomats over Congo conflict

Congo says it will join peace talks with Rwanda-backed rebels on Tuesday

IMF has received a formal request for a new Kenya financing programme

Tanzania plans to raise spending by 13% in fiscal year from July, draft shows

South Sudan detains oil minister and military officials, VP’s office says

Kenya’s private sector growth holds steady in February, outlook dim

Rwanda says Canada export permit, business suspension over Congo war ‘shameful’

Kenya annual inflation rises for fourth month in a row

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East Africa

Uganda’s February coffee exports jump 28% y/y on high prices

Kenya has applied for new IMF lending programme, finance minister says

Angola to end east Congo conflict mediation role, presidency says

China’s CCECC to invest $1.4 billion in Tanzania-Zambia railway

Congo plans cobalt export quotas, partnership with Indonesia to tackle glut

Sudan TV says army close to taking control of Presidential Palace from paramilitary RSF group

Rwanda’s economy grew 8.9% in 2024, stats office says

Congo and Rwanda presidents call for east Congo ceasefire during Qatar sit-down

Congo and Rwanda presidents call for east Congo ceasefire during Qatar sit-down

Rwanda and Belgium expel each other’s diplomats over Congo conflict

Congo says it will join peace talks with Rwanda-backed rebels on Tuesday

IMF has received a formal request for a new Kenya financing programme

Tanzania plans to raise spending by 13% in fiscal year from July, draft shows

South Sudan detains oil minister and military officials, VP’s office says

Kenya’s private sector growth holds steady in February, outlook dim

Rwanda says Canada export permit, business suspension over Congo war ‘shameful’

Kenya annual inflation rises for fourth month in a row

News Tips

Advertise With Us

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