A G20 taskforce set up by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is urging the establishment of an international panel to address what experts are calling a global “inequality emergency.” The Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality, chaired by Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, highlighted alarming disparities in a new report: the richest 1% have captured 41% of new wealth since 2000, while the poorest half of the population has gained only 1%. The report warns that rising inequality threatens democracy, economic stability, and social cohesion, worsened by crises like COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. The proposed panel, modeled after…
Author: Montage Africa
Written by Ethel Cofie, Everyone loves to talk about Africa’s next unicorn. The headlines are easy: billion-dollar fintechs, super-apps, AI startups promising to transform everything from health to payments. But beneath the hype lies a quieter truth; without fibre networks, subsea cables, and data centres, none of these digital miracles can exist. Infrastructure is the invisible architecture that holds the digital economy together. Africa’s future unicorns won’t be born from hype, they’ll be born from bandwidth. The Silent Foundation of Innovation Across the continent, the connectivity gap remains one of the costliest constraints on growth. Internet penetration stands at around 40%,…
By Rédaction Africanews with AP In the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, the United States vice president, Dick Cheney, who passed away on Monday has not been remembered fondly by residents. He was the driving force behind the US invasion of the country in 2003 warning of the danger from its alleged stockpile of weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons were ever found. “I don’t think that any American official has a good memoir inside Iraq, or that any Iraqi remembers them in a good way, especially Dick Cheney, in which he contributed largely to undermining the stability in the Middle…
By Africanews Cameroonian security forces killed 48 people in a crackdown on protests against the re-election of President Paul Biya, Reuters reported Tuesday citing UN sources. The Cameroonian government has not provided a figure or conducted an investigation into the killings. The majority of the victims were killed by gunshots while the others succumbed to injuries from being beaten by security forces. Most of the deaths occured in the Littoral region where the port city of Douala is located, Reuters reported. Official results gave President Biya victory with nearly 54% of the vote while his former ally Issa Tchiroma who had declared victory on…
At the Johannesburg leg of his nationwide tour celebrating the release of his third album, Intlambululo: Ukuhlambulula, Mandisi Dyantyis sashayed across the stage as if untouched by worry, turning to each of his bandmates at intervals during the near two-hour performance as though testing their energy. He came across more like a nihilistic rockstar than a revered jazzman – full of attitude and oomph, without any of the mindless showboating that sometimes creeps into live performances. The venue, Emperor’s Palace, was packed with the loyal following he’s cultivated since his debut, Somandla, sent listeners spiraling out of their heads and deep into their feelings…
The Republic of Guinea has completed a major rebasing of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), conducted by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) under the supervision of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation. This revision, carried out with the support of the IMF, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and AFRISTAT, shows a 51.2% increase in GDP, providing a more accurate and comprehensive picture of the country’s economic structure. The rebasing, which updates the national accounts reference year from 2006 to 2018, marks a significant milestone for Guinea’s economic statistics. The number of sectors covered has increased from 34…
By Rédaction Africanews with agencies Morocco’s king has declared a new national holiday to mark the United Nations Security Council’s adoption of a resolution backing Rabat’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara. The Royal Palace said that starting next year, 31 October will be known as Unity Day, to honour Morocco’s territorial integrity. The resolution says that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could be the “most feasible” solution to the 50-year conflict. The Western Sahara has been the scene of Africa’s longest-running territorial dispute since the departure of colonial power Spain in 1975. Morocco considers the territory its own while the…
By Kenneth D. Johnson The Expiration of AGOA On September 30, 2025, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) officially expired, ending 25 years of preferential trade relations between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa. AGOA provided duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 6,500 products from eligible African countries, fostering economic growth, job creation, and deeper commercial ties (USTR). While AGOA strengthened African industries and diversified exports, it did not directly govern the trade of critical minerals. This omission is increasingly significant given today’s strategic competition over mineral supply chains. The expiration of AGOA creates both risks and…
The Ifa Lethu Foundation of South Africa is proud to spearhead another landmark event in the country.This October, it will partner with the SABC as they come together to present Still We Rise, a landmark exhibition of artworks made during South Africa’s Apartheid years. This partnership, through the exhibition theme, bridges the G20’s global significance with South Africa’s unique cultural voice. Opening at the Atrium, Keyes Art Mile on 30 October, the exhibition will run until 23 November 2025, coinciding with the G20 Summit – the first to be hosted on African soil. Rooted in memory, resistance and resilience, Still We Rise showcases…
It’s the day after the New York City Marathon, and on Fifth Avenue, near the Nike flagship store, excited whispers ripple through a group of medal-wearing runners. They’ve spotted Eliud Kipchoge. As he makes his way into the store for a post-marathon Q&A, people call out, asking for autographs. He flashes that megawatt smile — and obliges. The electric moment speaks to how far and wide the Kenyan runner’s appeal has traveled, from his early days training in Kaptagat to this, standing in the heart of the Big Apple. By running the New York City Marathon, his first time taking on…