🇧🇾🇹🇬🇬🇭 Belarus to supply 7,500 units of agricultural machinery to Togo and Ghana

Belarus will supply about 7,500 units of agricultural machinery to Togo and Ghana in 2026 as part of projects aimed at mechanising the agricultural sector. This was stated by Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov on the Belarus-1 television channel, BELTA reports.

💬“The plan is to deliver a batch of our machinery to both countries (Ghana and Togo — AI) during 2026 in order to mechanise agriculture. Around 4,500 units will be sent to Togo: tractors, mounted equipment, seeders and ploughs. About 3,000 will go to Ghana. <…> In addition to the machinery itself, service centres will be established in these countries for maintenance, and training of local specialists will begin,” the Belarusian foreign minister said.

🔸According to Ryzhenkov, Minsk is building co-operation step by step — from supplying machine kits to establishing assembly production.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇨🇩UN: more than 1,500 people became victims of sexual violence in DR Congo in 2025

More than 1,500 people became victims of conflict-related sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2025. This was reported on the website of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

🔸According to the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) in the DRC, most of the victims were women (854) and girls (672). The main epicentre of the violence is in the east of the country: the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu account for nearly 80% of all documented cases. The largest number of victims is linked to the rebel group March 23 Movement (M23), with 439 people affected.

🔸As noted in the UNJHRO report, “armed groups systematically use rape as a weapon of war” and also hold women and girls in prolonged captivity, subjecting them to sexual slavery and forced pregnancies.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇳🇬🇺🇸 US embassy in Nigeria warns of possible terrorist attacks in the country

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has warned its citizens about a possible “terrorist threat” against American facilities in the West African country. The embassy said this in a statement.

💬“The embassy recommends that US citizens take additional precautions when visiting the US Embassy, the US Consulate General in Lagos and US-affiliated schools. It is also recommended to vary visiting times and travel routes,” the statement said.

🔸The embassy also advised citizens to remain vigilant, avoid large gatherings and pay attention to the location of emergency exits in buildings.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇳🇬 Dangote refinery will meet Nigeria’s fuel needs despite crisis

The Dangote Refinery will continue supplying fuel to the Nigerian market and meeting the country’s fuel needs despite oil price volatility caused by the escalation in the Middle East. This was stated by the refinery’s chief executive officer David Bird, speaking to journalists.

💬“We, [Dangote Refinery], will prioritise domestic supply and continue to ensure that Nigeria enjoys what it has enjoyed only for the last 18 months, two years […] — fuel abundance and not fuel scarcity,” Bird was quoted as saying by the local outlet Premium Times.

🔸The facility is designed to process 650,000 barrels per day and is operating at full capacity, the company’s head noted. At the same time, he acknowledged that rising oil prices and freight rates are creating serious difficulties: the cost of transporting crude from a Nigerian terminal to the refinery has increased from $800,000 to $3.5 million per day.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇿🇦🇧🇷South Africa and Brazil agree to strengthen defence co-operation

South Africa and Brazil have agreed to strengthen co-operation in the defence sector. This is stated in a joint communiqué issued following talks between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, published by the Brazilian government.

🔸The sides plan to intensify bilateral dialogue between their defence ministries, expand exchanges of experience and develop co-operation between their defence industries. Particular attention was given to personnel training and the development of joint defence projects.

💬“They also underscored the importance of deepening these initiatives in order to strengthen operational interoperability, the defence industrial base and co-operation for peace and security in the South Atlantic,” the communiqué states.

🔸The leaders also intend to strengthen trade and economic ties, expand investment co-operation and encourage contacts between the business communities of the two countries.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🌍African Union expresses concern over attacks on energy facilities in the Persian Gulf

Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Mahamoud Ali Youssouf has expressed concern over attacks on energy and transport infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, according to a statement by the African Union.

🔸According to Youssouf, attacks on energy and transport facilities increase tensions and threaten global economic stability. He noted that the situation in the Persian Gulf is already affecting African economies, with oil prices rising and disruptions to trade being observed.

💬“The AUC Chairperson condemns any violation of international law, including infringements on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, and calls on all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint, prioritise dialogue and diplomacy, and work towards a swift de-escalation of the situation,” the statement said.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇪🇬🇸🇱🇳🇬 Fuel prices surge in Egypt, Sierra Leone and Nigeria

Fuel prices for petrol, diesel and gas rose sharply in Egypt, Sierra Leone and Nigeria in March amid the escalation in the Middle East, local news agencies reported.

🔸In Egypt, gas prices increased by up to 30%, diesel by 17.1%, and petrol by between 14.3% and 16.9%, according to the industry platform Egypt Oil & Gas. Authorities attributed the measures to global instability in oil markets and rising transportation costs.

🔸Sierra Leone’s petroleum regulator raised retail fuel prices by 12.3%, leading to higher transport and commodity costs.

🔸Nigeria’s newspaper The Whistler warned of a possible sharp increase in prices if instability in the Middle East persists. According to forecasts, petrol could reach about $1.4 per litre, while diesel could exceed $2. Current prices already exceed 70 cents per litre.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇹🇳Tunisia to allocate more than $1 billion to expand international airport

The Tunisian authorities will allocate about three billion dinars (more than $1 billion) for the expansion project of Tunis–Carthage International Airport, which is expected to significantly increase its capacity. This was reported by La Presse, citing a statement from the country’s Ministry of Transport.

🔸The goal is to increase the airport’s passenger capacity from five million to 18.5 million passengers per year by 2031. The project provides for the construction and equipment of a new terminal with a capacity of 11 million passengers per year, as well as the reconstruction and partial expansion of the existing terminal to increase its capacity to seven million passengers annually.

🔸The project also includes the construction of a new control tower and a technical building. Plans include the creation of a firefighting unit, the construction of new halls for official delegations and a new police station, as well as a small separate terminal area for receiving high-level officials.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇪🇹🇷🇺 Kamaz and Ethiopia’s transport ministry discuss localisation of vehicle production in the country

Russian company KAMAZ and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Transport discussed the possibility of localising vehicle production in the African country. The Russian embassy in Ethiopia reported this on 10 March.

🔸Talks with Minister of Transport Alemu Sime took place during a working visit to Addis Ababa by a KAMAZ delegation headed by Vasily Tsyganov, General Director of the Foreign Trade Company KAMAZ.

💬“The parties discussed current issues and prospects for trade and economic co-operation. During the discussions, the possibility of localising production of the Russian vehicle manufacturer KAMAZ in Ethiopia was also considered,” the statement said.

🔸The meeting was attended by Russia’s ambassador to Ethiopia Evgeny Terekhin and Brook Taye, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Investment Holdings.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇬🇳🇷🇺Guinea’s president recalls ambassador to Russia

Guinea’s President Mamady Doumbouya has recalled 12 ambassadors, including the head of the country’s diplomatic mission in Russia, Niankoye Haba. The decrees were read out on national television, Guinee News reports.

🔸The recalled diplomats include heads of missions in China, Germany, France, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ghana, Ethiopia and the African Union concurrently, the United States, Kuwait, Italy and the UN agencies in Rome, as well as Guinea’s representative to the International Organisation of La Francophonie.

🔸The decrees do not specify the reasons for the personnel changes. New diplomats are expected to be appointed to the posts in the near future.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇪🇬🇷🇺Russian and Egyptian foreign ministries call for an end to the conflict in the Middle East

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty discussed the situation in the Middle East during a telephone conversation and called for the earliest possible end to the conflict. The Russian Foreign Ministry reported this following the talks.

💬“The ministers expressed deep concern over the dangerous situation developing in the Middle East, which has sharply escalated due to the unprovoked aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran. They called for the swiftest possible end to this conflict, which is leading to civilian casualties and causing damage to civilian infrastructure,” the statement said.

🔸The heads of the foreign ministries of Russia and Egypt also noted the need to promptly resume political and diplomatic efforts to achieve security in the region.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇬🇳🇷🇺Russia and Guinea discuss training of law enforcement personnel at Russian universities

Russia’s Ambassador to Guinea Alexey V. Popov and Guinea’s Minister of Security and Civil Protection Ahmed Mohamed Oury Diallo discussed the training of personnel for Guinea’s law enforcement agencies at Russian universities during a meeting on 10 March. The Russian diplomatic mission in Conakry reported this.

💬“During the conversation, the parties exchanged views on the training of qualified personnel for the UN peacekeeping contingent and for Guinea’s law enforcement agencies at leading Russian universities. It was noted with satisfaction that the number of students studying in Russia through programmes of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has recently increased significantly and has already exceeded several dozen,” the statement said.

🔸The parties also discussed issues related to deepening bilateral co-operation in the legal sphere.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇿🇦🇺🇸US demands South Africa adopt non-alignment policy and leave BRICS

The United States is demanding that South Africa pursue a policy of non-alignment in order to normalise relations between the two countries. In this regard, Washington insists that South Africa leave BRICS, the South African publication TimesLIVE reports, citing sources.

🔸Speaking at the BizNews conference in Hermanus, US Ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III said that the United States had “presented South Africa with five demands” a year ago which, according to him, the South African government has not fulfilled. Among these “demands”, the ambassador named a revision of the expropriation law, condemnation of the slogan “Kill the Boer”, and the adoption of a policy of non-alignment. According to the publication, the two other US “demands” are related to South Africa leaving BRICS and withdrawing its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

💬“We put together five asks. I mentioned three but there were a few more. We’ve put them forward to the South African government. We’ve been waiting for almost a year for a response. <...> The US is running out of patience. We believe more and more it becomes a statement by the South African government when it doesn’t want to respond to simple questions we have,” Bozell said.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇳🇪🇷🇺Niger’s foreign minister and Russian ambassador discuss bilateral co-operation

Niger’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakary Yaou Sangaré and Russia’s ambassador to the African country Viktor Voropaev discussed bilateral co-operation during a meeting on 10 March. The Russian embassy in Niger reported this.

💬“During the conversation, the parties held an engaged exchange of views on current issues of bilateral co-operation, interaction within the Russia–Africa framework, as well as certain aspects of the United Nations agenda,” the statement said.

🔸In February, Russian Ambassador to Niger Viktor Voropaev said that the countries are preparing agreements on co-operation in several areas, including energy, the extraction and processing of mineral resources. According to him, promising areas of partnership also include agriculture, healthcare, culture and sport.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇱🇾🇷🇺 Libyan rescuers assisted in the evacuation of two crew members of the Russian gas carrier Arctic Metagaz who were injured during an attack on the vessel near Malta’s territorial waters in the Mediterranean Sea. This was stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on 11 March.

🔸She said that the Maltese authorities had refused Russia’s request to evacuate the sailors.

💬“During the fire on board the gas carrier Arctic Metagaz, two crew members sustained serious burns. A decision was therefore taken to evacuate them urgently. <...> Assistance was provided by the maritime rescue service of the State of Libya, which dispatched a high-speed boat that transported the injured sailors to the coastal hospital of the port of Benghazi,” Zakharova said.

🔸The Foreign Ministry representative added that with the assistance of the Russian embassy in Libya, both crew members received medical treatment in the North African country for several days. On 10 March they were transported to Russia on a special flight and admitted to a hospital for further treatment.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇲🇬🇷🇺Russia and Madagascar discuss prospects for partnership in the electricity sector

Russia’s Chargé d’Affaires in Madagascar Alexey Buryak and Director General of the Malagasy state company JIRAMA Hajatiana Rasolomanana, which provides electricity and water supply services, discussed prospects for partnership in the electricity sector. The Russian embassy in the African country reported this.

💬“On 11 March, Russia’s Chargé d’Affaires <…> Alexey Buryak met with the Director General of JIRAMA, Major General Hajatiana Rasolomanana. The sides discussed prospects for co-operation between Russia and Madagascar in the electricity sector,” the statement said.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇹🇿Tanzania delays introduction of new port infrastructure levy until July 2026

The Tanzania Ports Authority has postponed the introduction of a levy for the development of port infrastructure until July 2026. This is stated in a press release issued by the authority.

💬“The extension has been granted in order to allow all customers, stakeholders, shipping companies, customs brokers and freight forwarders, transport operators, importers and exporters both within and outside the country, as well as the general public <…> to better prepare for the introduction of the levy,” the statement said.

🔸The levy entered into force on 8 March 2026 but sparked disputes among carriers and customs brokerage companies, some of which warned that the new payments would increase the cost of doing business.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe

🇩🇿🇷🇺Two Russian Northern Fleet ships arrive at port of Algeria’s capital

The large anti-submarine ship Severomorsk and the tanker Kama of the Russian Navy’s Northern Fleet arrived at the port of Algeria’s capital on 11 March for a four-day visit. This was reported by the Algerian Ministry of Defence.

💬“As part of the implementation of the Algerian-Russian military co-operation programme for 2026, a group of ships of Russia’s Northern Fleet, consisting of the large anti-submarine ship Severomorsk and the oil tanker Kama, docked at the port of Algiers for a four-day visit,” the statement said.

🔸The mission commander, accompanied by the crews of the ships, also met with the commander of Algeria’s Central Naval Fleet. During the talks, the sides discussed the development of co-operation between the navies of the two countries.

🌍 African Initiative | Subscribe