ADF

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE In Libya, new Qurans can be hard to find, especially during Ramadan. Volunteers are working to restore older copies of Islam’s holy book. Khaled al-Drebi, one of Libya’s best-known restorers of Qurans, is among the artisans who work in a Tripoli shop to meet the needs of the influx of customers during Ramadan. For Muslims, Ramadan is a month of spirituality, in which a daily dawn-to-dusk fast is accompanied with prayer and acts of charity — often translating into a surge in Quran sales. “The purchase of new Qurans traditionally increases before the month of Ramadan, but this…

The United States and Kenya have launched a strategic trade and investment partnership to pursue commitments to boost economic growth, support African regional economic integration and deepen trade cooperation. The U.S. and Kenyan governments announced the partnership on July 14, 2022, saying they would develop a road map for engagement in areas including agriculture safety and digital trade standards, regulatory practices, and customs procedures. Kenya has long sought a full free trade agreement with the U.S., and negotiations for such a deal to lower bilateral tariffs were launched in 2020. Kenya enjoys substantial duty-free access to the U.S. market through…

REUTERS An international group has launched a $73 million bus assembly unit in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, as it bets on local production for the Ivoirian and regional markets. The assembly unit launched by the car manufacturer Iveco Group will produce “made in Côte d’Ivoire” minibuses in conjunction with its long-standing partner, the Société des Transports Abidjanais. The latter company was established in 1960 and is now 60% owned by the government and 40% by subsidiary IVECO Bus. The assembly line is in the southern part of the Ivoirian economic capital. Its production capacity is 1,000 18- to 26-seat buses per…

ADF STAFF Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused the price of Russian nickel to soar, and Tanzania is positioning itself to meet the global demand and expand its share of the nickel market. Even before the invasion, Tanzania was looking to increase its nickel mining. In January 2022, Australian mining company BHP Group announced that it had invested $40 million in a Tanzanian nickel project, marking the first new investment by the company in years. United Kingdom-based private company Kabanga Nickel will be in charge of the project and expects to start producing in 2025. The operation aims for a…

ADF STAFF The Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, dates to the seventh century, the time of the Prophet Muhammad. But Muslims believe the pilgrimage dates back thousands of years earlier, to the time of Abraham. All able-bodied Muslims must make the journey at least once in their lifetime, as long as they are financially able and can continue to support their families during their absence. Financial considerations were not an issue for Mali Empire ruler Mansa Musa in 1324, when he traveled to Mecca in fantastic fashion, bringing along 60,000 subjects and 12,000 slaves, 500…

CLUES Walled towns and settlements, known as paletas, were built on high plains or hills to provide a strategic and defensive advantage. Dry stone terraces prevent soil erosion, collect water and create terraced fields used in agriculture. Spaces in the walled towns, called moras, serve as cultural and ceremonial gathering places. Towns in the 230-square-kilometer site have wooden statues that represent respected members of communities and heroic events. ANSWER  Konso Cultural Landscape, Ethiopia

ADF STAFF Whether in the deserts of Somalia, across the porous borders of Niger or along the Gulf of Guinea coast, many African nations are facing similar threats of lawlessness and violent extremism. African air forces can — and must — play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges by providing strategic airlift, humanitarian and disaster relief, and the ability to gather intelligence while monitoring threats. That’s why air force chiefs and other personnel from nearly 40 countries met in Dakar, Senegal, from February 28 through March 3 for the 12th iteration of the African Air Chiefs Symposium (AACS) to…

ADF STAFF The spread of extremist violence in West Africa gave this year’s Exercise Flintlock an air of urgency, as counterterrorism training took center stage. Ghana Armed Forces Col. Richard Mensah, commander of the Joint Military Headquarters for Flintlock 2023, linked the regional situation to the exercise. “The global threat to terrorism is real, and we need to be ready now because special operations are not created during emergencies,” he said during a news briefing. “The main aim of the exercise is to build partnerships, train and get ready for any threats. We are also strengthening partnerships with our West…

ADF STAFF “The Grey Zone” is the name of the Telegram channel affiliated with Russia’s Wager Group mercenaries — a name that also reflects the lawless space in which Wagner works. “The Grey Zone” is also the title of a new analysis of Wagner’s activities by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime. Subtitled “Russia’s military, mercenary, and criminal activity in Africa,” the report outlines the group’s operations across multiple African countries and its illicit and illegal enterprises. “The Wagner Group is unique as an organization in the breadth, scale and boldness of its activities,” the report’s authors, Julia Stanyard,…

ADF STAFF Besides clogging supply chains and sending prices for food and other goods skyrocketing, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may also be a boon for terrorists in some parts of Africa. In Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Mali, Nigeria and Somalia — areas where economies were already reeling from COVID-19 and other crises — terrorists are recruiting young fighters who need work, according to a January report by the Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism (AOCE). Since Russia invaded its neighbor, efforts to combat extremist and terrorist organizations on the continent have faltered. Analysts say the activities of Russia’s mercenary…