Dear <<First name>>,

When one tries to explain why resource-rich countries in Africa are not transforming this richness into revenue for their citizens, the issue of illicit financial flows is often brought up. The focus of our new paper is Tanzania, one of Africa’s most productive gold mining countries. The country’s president has been trying to address the problem of tax evasion and avoidance in the mining sector in a complex balancing act between generating more tax revenue and attracting foreign investment.

It’s that time of the year again: next week we will join the international cooperation crowd from around the world for the European Commission’s Development Days. Two days of interviews, panel discussions and brainstorming labs will be devoted to this year’s main theme of ‘addressing inequalities’. We hope to see you there.
 
For the Arabic speakers among you and your networks, we are hiring a junior policy officer to work on North-Africa Europe relations. Details, as usual, are below. 

All the best,

Virginia 

Many African countries are rich in natural resources, but tax evasion and avoidance limit the revenue from their extraction. Luckystar Miyandazi looks at Tanzania, which is taking notable measures to tackle illicit financial flows in the mining sector. Read the paper >>

Natural resources

The Citizen asks: Are minerals in Tanzania a blessing or a curse?

The South African Institute for International Affairs looks at the challenges and opportunities for the EU in Africa’s extractives sector…

…and argues that the trade relationship between Europe and Africa in terms of the extractive sector is characterised by inequitable resource interdependence.


Gender

In an article for The Guardian, Ellie Mae O'Hagan argues it’s no surprise that not one country is set to achieve gender equality by 2030, as ‘men built this system’.

South Africa’s cabinet has made historic strides to achieve a 50% gender balance with the appointment of new female ministers, reports the World Economic Forum.


African Continental Free Trade Area

Policymakers and the business community should prioritise, develop and implement smarter local strategies for industrialisation in Africa, argues Brookings.

The Conversation states that more work lies ahead to make Africa’s new free trade area succeed.

Dr. Francis Mangeni looks at what’s next after the coming into force of the African Free Trade Area.


Governance

This special open access issue of the Journal of African Law focuses completely on the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

The BBC reports that the African Union has suspended Sudan’s membership, following the rise of violence in Khartoum.

African Arguments looks at how the Egyptian revolution has failed, warning Sudan’s military could meet a similar fate if it continues down the same path.

The cancellation of Algeria’s elections is an opportunity for democratisation, argues Brookings’ Sharan Grewal.


Food security

Despite economic growth in Africa, almost 60 million children are still beset by hunger, writes The Guardian.

Ending hunger by 2030 is possible, but it will require stronger commitment by governments and the private sector, argues Project Syndicate.


Peace and security

The transformation of fragile states requires a renewed international consensus, according to the Overseas Development Institute…

… and the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that European policy regarding the private sector in fragile states must become more conflict-sensitive.


Climate change

EURACTIV reports that climate has become a top priority in the EU’s 2020 budget.

At the Berlin Call to Action summit last week, the German foreign minister warned that climate change may become an ‘unconscionable’ threat to peace.


Migration

 EURACTIV obtained a draft EU strategic agenda for 2019-2024, indicating national leaders want to focus on migration and protection of external borders.

Dina Ionesco from the International Organization for Migration suggests we start talking about climate migrants rather than climate refugees.

The Norwegian Refugee Council published a list of the world’s most neglected displacement crises in 2018, topped by Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic.


Other

Last week, the European Commission proposed an EU budget of €168.3 billion for 2020, which focuses on jobs, growth and security.

Do countries use foreign aid to buy geopolitical influence?, asks Bernhard Reinsberg from the University of Glasgow.

The United Nations Development Programme just released its annual report, which is also available in a short video format.

Afriurbana interviews ECDPM’s Alfonso Medinilla on the post-Cotonou agreement, agriculture and Brexit.