Africa – 25 June 2015
British police arrest Rwandan spy chief
British police have arrested Rwandan Intelligence chief Karenzi Karake at the request of Spain, where he is wanted in connection with war crimes. The director general of Rwanda’s National Intelligence and Security Services, Karenzi Karake, was arrested at London Heathrow Airport on Saturday for crimes related to the Rwandan genocide.
“Karenzi Karake, 54, a Rwandan national appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court … after being arrested on a European arrest warrant on behalf of the authorities in Spain, where he is wanted in connection with war crimes against civilians,” British police said on Monday in an emailed statement.
Mail& Guardian
ANC says ICC is dangerous and South Africa should withdraw
The International Criminal Court is “dangerous” and South Africa should withdraw from it, a leader of the ruling African National Congress said on Monday, defending the government’s decision not to arrest indicted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
President Jacob Zuma’s government and the ANC have come under fire for allowing Bashir, who faces charges of genocide at the court, to slip out of South Africa through a military air base after attending an African Union summit last week.
TimesLive
Pan-African collaboration key for economic progress on the continent
Much has been said about the race amongst Africa’s economic powerhouses to become the preferred destination for foreign investment on the continent. If we are to attain the common goal of achieving meaningful economic growth that will improve the lives of all Africans, it is critical that a shift towards a collaborative, rather than an adversarial approach be taken between the continents’ leading companies and countries.
This view was strongly voiced at the 25th African Union Summit, which took place recently in June and where economic integration was one of the major themes. This underlines the union’s continuous commitment to political and economic solidarity between African countries, which is critical role in helping to address infrastructural investment shortfalls, amongst others.
howwemadeitinafrica.com
Investors buying into hype, not reality, in Africa’s consumer markets
THE admission by Nestlé that it overestimated the size of Africa’s middle class has caused ripples in the “Africa rising” story. But it is also a much needed reality check for companies that have pinned their hopes — and their investments — on ambitious growth forecasts of the middle-class pot of gold.
Last week, the multinational food producer said it was cutting 15% of its workforce across 21 African countries and reducing its product lines. In 2008, it decided to invest heavily in sub-Saharan Africa based on projections of rising middle-class demand. Last week, it said turnover was way short of growth forecasts.
Business Day
Bright young things: meet Africa’s top entrepreneurs under 30
A new list compiled by Forbes Africa has set out to prove that age is no barrier to success, profiling thirty top entrepreneurs on the continent who have yet to reach that milestone.
They range from tech startups to medical solutions; food production to the media. Despite their diverse backgrounds they all share one thing in common: the drive and vision to succeed in the booming African market.
CNN
Africa is future for software entrepreneurs
Software and Africa are going to be a very interesting combination in the future, Meltwater founder and chief executive Jørn Lyseggen has said.
For Lyseggen, the world had to consider the “incredible fact” that by 2040, 50% of the world’s working population – between the ages of 18 and 60 – would be in Africa. “Africa will play a very incredible role in future politics on the global scene,” he said. “As a continent, I think it has a lot of potential.”
SouthAfrican.info