AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE A bell rings, and the floor of Ethiopia’s Commodities Exchange (ECX) is flooded with traders dressed in colored coats, waving hands, and shouting bids for coffee, sesame seeds and haricot beans. After a feverish shouting match, prices are agreed upon, and the deal is sealed with a high five between buyer and seller. Established in 2008, the ground-breaking ECX has boosted exports in Ethiopia, improved conditions for producers, and is now inspiring other countries in resource-rich Africa to set up their own exchanges to ensure their people are the main beneficiaries of commodity exports. It has allowed “price…
ADF
ADF
ADF is a professional military magazine published quarterly by U.S. Africa Command to provide an international forum for African security professionals. ADF covers topics such as counter terrorism strategies, security and defense operations, transnational crime, and all other issues affecting peace, stability, and good governance on the African continent.
REUTERS A railway that runs from Kenya to Uganda will be extended to Rwanda by March 2018 as part of efforts to deepen trade ties in the region. The countries, part of the East African Community trade bloc, plan to extend the line that starts at Kenya’s Mombasa seaport and upgrade the existing route. “The ministers responsible should put in place a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to ensure the [railway] project remains on course, within budgetary provisions,” according to the statement signed by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame in August 2013. Upgrading the…
Muhammad Ture was a politician, a ruler, a conqueror and a businessman. In the late 15th century, he used his considerable skills to expand the Songhai Empire, making it the largest country in West Africa’s history. At its peak, the empire stretched from the Atlantic Ocean east to what is now Niger. He led the way for Africa to expand trade with Europe and Asia, and made Islam a key component of his governing strategy. He became known as Askia — “forceful one” — and is remembered to this day as Askia the Great. He came to power through will,…
CLUES: Many tourist sources incorrectly describe this site as featuring natural geysers caused by volcanic activity. The spouts actually are cold and man-made. Water rich with carbon dioxide, lime and iron flows from this site as it reaches the end of pipes installed for nearby mines. The dissolved lime and iron forms mounds up to 4 meters tall around the mouths of these artificial geysers. Metal from the dissolving pipes adds a rusty orange color. There are at least four — and by some reports five — of these cold-water geysers in this region, and they have become well-known tourist…