Africa

1. Get insured
2. Measuring influence
3. Tragic pattern
4. One big tent

Also, Ethiopia’s 60-year love affair with the VW Beetle.

Hello! Welcome to Semafor Africa Weekend. Back in February, while on a trip to Nairobi, I attended a fascinating event hosted by Odipo Dev, Africa Data Hub, and Africa Uncensored. They discussed their work collecting and using data to tell stories on everything from economics and business to politics. As someone who has used his columns one time too many to lament the lack of user data in many sectors of African economies, I was immediately taken with the conversation.

The researchers focused on their work supporting the anti-femicide movement in Kenya who had been protesting a week or two earlier. It has been really important work to help track the scale of this problem and hopefully influence policymakers.

I was reminded of their work with the tragic news of the killing of Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei in Kenya, allegedly by her boyfriend. As Martin notes in his piece about the awful pattern of attacks in Kenya’s athletic circles, it’s clear that the sports world is merely a microcosm of what’s happening in wider society.

🟡 We had two must-read analysis pieces on the three-day China-Africa summit hosted in Beijing. Alex looked at what to expect while Martin reported on the $51 billion pledged with a decidedly green focus. Alex also dug into the reasons behind another fuel scarcity crisis in Nigeria.

🟡 🟡 Have you followed us on WhatsApp yet? What are you waiting for?

Zanzibar turns underwriter

The cost of a mandatory travel insurance policy that all tourists planning to visit Zanzibar will need to purchase at the point of entry starting Oct 1. This follows a new directive announced last month. The insurance, valid for 90 days, will be exclusively available for purchase from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation. It is expected to cover everything from medical care and lost luggage to accidents and emergency evacuations. The government said the new regulation is intended to enhance traveler safety and security while in Zanzibar. However, opposition politicians have called for the withdrawal of the policy, arguing most visitors usually have existing coverage from their home countries. Tourism is Zanzibar’s leading economic sector, making up about 27% of GDP.

A youthful take on China

Young Africans see China as the most influential international player in their respective countries, according to the 2024 African Youth Survey commissioned by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation. But China’s perceived influence has been in slight decline since 2020 (83%), falling to 79% in 2022 and 76% this year.

The survey was conducted through in-person interviews with 5,604 respondents aged 18-24 in 16 African countries including Congo Brazzaville, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa. Despite the supposed waning of Chinese influence, the young respondents generally believed China’s impact has been positive for their countries, at 83% on average compared to 79% for the United States.

Kenyan athletics has a domestic violence problem

Kenya’s athletics community is grappling with cases of domestic violence against female athletes. Recent deaths and injuries at the hands of abusive partners have amplified demands for justice, and calls for authorities to curb the worrying trend.

Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, this week succumbed to injuries sustained after her former boyfriend allegedly doused her in petrol and set her on fire. The incident took place at her home in Endebess, western Kenya. Her alleged killer, a Kenyan man called Dickson Ndiema Marangach, was taken to hospital with burns from the incident. He is yet to face criminal charges.

Cheptegei’s tragedy was the latest in a growing list of deadly cases of domestic violence against female athletes in the country. In October 2021, star distance runner Agnes Tirop was killed in Iten, a famous high-altitude athletics training hub in western Kenya. She broke the world 10 kilometer women’s record just a month before her death. Her husband Ibrahim Rotich was eventually arrested and charged with murder. The case is yet to be concluded, with Rotich out on bail since November last year.

Just six months after Tirop’s death, another gruesome death rocked the athletics community. Kenyan-born runner Damaris Muthee, who competed for Bahrain, was found dead in a house in Iten after being strangled. Police launched a manhunt for her alleged killer, her Ethiopian partner Eskinder Hailemariam Folie, who allegedly fled with her ID and bank documents.

And other Kenyan runners, including Ruth Bosibori and Joan Chelimo, have come out publicly to reveal that they escaped abusive relationships.

September 24, 2024 | New York City | Request Invitation

Dr. Bosun Tijani Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Nigeria and Sadek Wahba, Chairman and Managing Partner, I Squared Capital will join the stage at The Next 3 Billion summit — the premiere U.S. convening dedicated to unlocking one of the biggest social and economic opportunities of our time: connecting the unconnected.

The world’s largest football stadium will be in Africa

The world’s largest football stadium is being built just north of Casablanca and is expected to be ready in time for the 2030 FIFA World Cup tournament which Morocco will host jointly with Spain and Portugal. The Grand Stade de Casablanca will have a 115,000-capacity and is located on a 100-hectare site in the town of El Mansouria. The project consortium is led by Paris/Casablanca-based architects Oualalou + Choi and Populous, a Kansas City-headquartered global design firm. The design scheme is said to take inspiration from Moroccan traditional social gatherings known as a “moussem” often under a grand, tented roof. The venue will later be a host for two of Casablanca’s local clubs and will also likely boost Morocco’s future interest in hosting Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

Weekend Reads

🇪🇹 Ethiopia’s enduring love for the Volkswagen beetle is unrivaled. The classic vehicle arrived in Ethiopia during the reign of Haile Selassie. It remains popular in part because of Ethiopia’s distorted car market, where import duties of up to 200% mean secondhand vehicles are wildly expensive, writes Fred Harler for The Guardian.

🇬🇳 Three years since a junta took power in Guinea, the promise of a new constitution, elections, and a transition to civilian government is in question as the military administration tightens its grip on power. Vincent Foucher and Joseph Petit write for African Arguments that the junta is taking “an increasingly authoritarian turn.”

🇰🇪 Kenyan police officers leading a UN-backed security mission in Haiti are struggling with salary delays and shortages of equipment and manpower, Edwin Okoth and Aaron Ross report for Reuters. The situation is fueling fears that the mission may not be able to meet deadlines set by the transitional government in its tussle for control with local gangs.

🇳🇬 Nigeria’s oil industry is in freefall as oil majors exit a market whose future looks bleak after decades of mismanagement, chronic investment, and corruption, bemoans the editorial board of Business Day newspaper. “These divestments are not business as usual…the multinationals are not just retreating; they are fleeing a sinking ship.”

🗓️ Week Ahead

Sept. 8 — Algeria’s presidential election results will be announced after voting on Sept. 7.

Sept. 11 — Nigeria’s High Court will rule on allowing bail for 10 protesters charged with treason and conspiring to incite the military to mutiny following last month’s nationwide protests against economic hardship.

Sept. 11 — West Africa’s central bank, the BCEAO, will announce its interest rate decision.

Sept. 12 — South Africa’s largest gathering of retailers and ecommerce entrepreneurs will take place in Johannesburg.

Sept. 13 — A court in DR Congo is expected to announce a final verdict on an alleged coup attempt by around 50 men in May.

 Sept. 15 — Nigeria’s statistics office will release the latest inflation data as fuel price rises exacerbate tough times.

• How Elon Musk is winning the AI race.
• In Congress? Don’t count on a promotion if your presidential candidate wins.
• Investors hope tech for hog poop ponds can solve AI’s water problems.

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— Yinka, Alexis Akwagyiram, Alexander Onukwue, Martin Siele, and Muchira Gachenge