🔅 Retirement Benefits Revoked: Zambia's Former President Returns to Politics
Plus, Germany & Tanzania Discuss Reparations, Congo Sees 6.9 Million Displaced
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Gambia | The IMF and Gambia have reached an agreement for a three-year support package worth $100 million. The program will focus on tackling inflation and foreign exchange pressures, reducing debt, and fostering growth in the West African country.
*Data accurate as of the close of markets across the continent
Brief & Bright: Africa's Top Five
Retirement Benefits Revoked: Zambia's Former President Returns to Politics
Retirement is usually a time for relaxing, travelling, and finally starting that hobby you’ve always wanted to try. But for Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu, retirement didn’t last long. He lost the presidency in 2021, but after just a few months of retirement, he says he’s back in the game and ready to run for office again in 2026. Unfortunately for him, the government has decided to take away his retirement benefits and privileges, including security officers, a diplomatic passport, state cars, and immunity from prosecution. Ouch. Looks like someone’s not getting a gold watch and a beach house after all. The government says he’ll be treated like any other senior citizen from now on. And hey, at least he’ll have plenty of time for his weekly jogs—unless the police stop him for “political activism.”
Germany and Tanzania Discuss Colonial Legacy and Reparations
It’s time to talk about the elephant in the room, Germany. And by elephant, we mean the colonial legacy of Germany in Tanzania. President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, have agreed to open negotiations about reparations and the return of human remains currently on display in German museums. These remains were acquired during the country’s three decades of colonial rule in Tanzania and are thought to have been used for some “pseudoscientific” studies. The negotiations will also address the 1905-1907 Maji Maji rebellion, in which tens of thousands of people died from hunger after German troops targeted their food sources. This isn’t the first time Germany has had to confront its colonial past—in 2021, they apologized for the slaughter of 75,000 Namibians and agreed to fund projects there. Meanwhile, next door in Kenya, Britain’s King Charles has just expressed "deep regret" for similar colonial abuses but fell short of a full apology.
Belgium is Putting the Brakes on Dirty Fuel Exports to West Africa
Looks like Belgium is getting in on the trend of tightening environmental rules, following in the footsteps of the Netherlands. And it’s about time too—did you know that the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub is the world’s top exporter of gasoline and diesel? With new legislation in the works, Belgium should no longer be contributing to the health problems caused by fuels in Africa. Of course, this might mean higher costs for poorer nations. The new rules are expected to become law by February next year. Nigeria had set an upper limit of 150 ppm for sulphur content in gasoline, three times the limit proposed by Belgium. Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and a huge importer of refined fuel products from Europe.
President Ruto's Frequent Flyer Miles: Are They Worth It?
President Ruto of Kenya has been racking up some serious miles with his frequent trips abroad, much to the chagrin of his critics. But he's not worried about the haters—he says these trips have actually been good for the country's economy. He says he's been able to secure jobs and bilateral deals that open up markets for local goods. So, while everyone else is complaining, Ruto is out here hustling for Kenya. His destinations include Saudi Arabia, China, Congo-Brazzaville, Belgium, Comoros, Netherlands, and the UK. And hey, at least he's trying to save some cash—he recently announced that he slashed the executive's travel budget by $73 million. But the local paper is still calling him "the flying president", and Kenyans are making light of it all by making memes of his recent trips.
Congo's Never-Ending Conflict: A Record 6.9 Million Displaced
Imagine being forced to pack up your life and flee your home because of conflict. Now imagine that happening to 6.9 million people in Congo. That’s the reality for millions of Congolese who have been displaced by the country’s decades-long conflict. It’s especially bad in the eastern provinces, where armed groups are fighting for control of the region’s resources. And it’s not just the displaced who are struggling—host families are also feeling the strain of taking in so many people (nearly 4.8 million people live with host families). The violence in the east does not seem to have an end in sight, and the Congolese government recently told a regional force and the UN peacekeeping mission to leave the country.
Food for Thought
"The chicken that can dig for food will not sleep hungry."
— Congolese Proverb