BUSINESS
COOPERATION – Libya and Tunisia have a trade and transport partnership
The Tunisian and Libyan governments intend to relaunch their cooperation in the field of transport and trade. Tunisian Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi visited Libya on Saturday, 22 May 2021 to renew economic and political cooperation between the two countries. To this end, air traffic between the two nations should resume after a seven-year suspension.
On the sidelines of a visit by Tunisian Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi to Tripoli on Saturday, May 22, the partnership between Libya and Tunisia is expected to resume after being broken for several years because of the political-security crisis that prevailed in Libya.”This fraternal visit reaffirms the political, economic and human historical ties between the two countries,” said the Tunisian Prime Minister upon his arrival in Tripoli. “Our economies are complementary and everything that is beneficial for Libya is also beneficial for Tunisia,” he added.
The resumption of this partnership will concern maritime, land and air transport, as well as cross-border trade and the free movement of goods and people. Cooperation was renewed thanks to the visit of Tunisian President Kais Saied to Tripoli on 17 March 2021, following the establishment of a transitional government led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah. On this, the Tunisian head of state had stated his will “to establish new visions that strengthen the bonds of cooperation existing between Tunisia and Libya, and a global solidarity that responds to the legitimate aspirations of the two peoples brothers to stability and development.”
The Libyan authorities are also committed to supporting Tunisia in its fight against the spread of the coronavirus. Indeed, the country already has more than 335,000 reported cases and deplores 12,236 deaths, hence the importance of this Libyan support in the fight against the progressive evolution of the disease. Abdelhamid Dbeibah, who maintains the tradition in Tripoli, said so in the press room of the Libyan government’s presidential headquarters in Tripoli. “What unites us is very strong and ancient, even strengthened in recent years. We will not let Tunisia face Covid and its aftermath alone. We will do everything in our power to show our solidarity,’ he said.
The airline Tunisair announced that flights to Libya would resume after seven years of suspension due to the political crisis that Libya had to go through following the death of Muammar Gaddafi.
The presidency of Togo has announced that the project to exploit the manganese mine of Nayega, located in the Savanes region in the north of the country, is entering its operational phase. According to a statement issued on June 10, 2025, production is scheduled to start at the end of June 2025, with an initial volume of 4,000 tons per month, which should gradually double to reach 8,000 tons per month.
Keras Resources is the technical partner retained by the Togolese government to carry out this project. A statement from Keras, relayed by the presidency, details that the company signed a cooperation agreement in 2023 with the Togolese state, owner of the mine through the Togolese Manganese Company (STM). Under the terms of this agreement, Keras will receive a remuneration of 1.5% of the mine’s gross revenue for three years for its advisory services, as well as 6% for brokering services.
The reserves of the Nayega mine are estimated at 8.5 million tonnes, which would allow exploitation over a period of 11 years. The authorities of Lomé welcome the expected contribution of the mine to the national budget, a benefit that should be strengthened by the rigorous management of the generated revenues, as indicated by our colleagues from Agence Afrique.
With a growing global demand for manganese, particularly in steel alloys and renewable energy technologies, Togo is seeking to assert itself as an essential supplier of this strategic ore. This positioning could play a catalytic role for the national economy, always according to information from the Africa Agency.
Source: senego / Photo credit: Republicoftogo.com
The Gabonese government decided on Friday to ban the import of broilers in order to promote national poultry production and ensure food security, according to the final communiqué of the council of ministers chaired by the head of state, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
The ban will be effective from 1 January 2027, thus leaving a period of 18 months (1 year and 6 months) for actors in the sector to structure themselves, invest and prepare to meet national demand.
“This measure aims to restore domestic poultry production, boost agricultural investment, reduce food dependency and strengthen the trade balance,” the government hopes. Gabon also hopes to foster “the emergence of a network of rural jobs, the rise in quality of products consumed locally and the creation of an economic ecosystem around this sector”.
The government has also planned a detailed operational plan to be presented within 45 days by the ministers responsible for economy and trade.
Libreville dreams of reducing its dependence on poultry imports and strengthening the country’s food security. In addition, the promotion of local poultry farming should have a positive impact on rural areas, generating jobs and contributing to the development of a vibrant poultry ecosystem.
Imported frozen chicken is the most consumed food in Gabon because of its low price and packaging ready to be thrown into a pot.
“The star of the freezer” is how Gabonese people refer to frozen chicken because it is often the only food, if not the default food, found in the freezers of Gabonese families.
Frozen chicken and meat are generally imported from Latin America and Europe. Their massive presence on the market has destroyed local production.
The Council of Ministers also announced a ban on exporting crude manganese from 1 January 2029. The objective is to promote local industrial development, create jobs and maximize the value of this resource, of which Gabon is the world’s second largest producer.
Sources: gabonactu.com
Mauritania is in the spotlight. On Thursday, May 29, 2025, Sidi Ould Tah was elected president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), at the annual meeting of the institution held in Abidjan. He succeeds Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, in office since 2015.
His election came after a hard-fought duel against Samuel Munzele Maimbo of Zambia, who finished in second place. The election, which was marked by major geopolitical and economic issues, took place against a background of high expectations regarding governance and development financing on the continent.
The Senegalese Amadou Hott, long perceived as one of the favorites, finishes in third place, followed by the South African Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala. Despite significant diplomatic support, notably for Hott, the momentum in favour of Sidi Ould Tah has prevailed in the last few rounds.
Former minister and general manager of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), Sidi Ould Tah is recognized for his experience and strategic vision. He will officially take office on 1 September 2025.
Photo credit: Forbes Africa
