Africa Briefs

Botswana diamond exports fall tumbles

Botswana's rough diamond exports plunged 68% percent in the second quarter of the year, data published by the central bank showed on Friday, as the coronavirus pandemic hit demand while global travel restrictions hurt trading.

In a bid to curb the spread of the virus, Botswana closed its borders in March, locking out international buyers from centres such as Mumbai, Antwerp and China who traditionally travel to Gaborone ten times a year to view and buy diamonds.

Exports of diamonds from Debswana, a joint venture between Botswana and diamond mining giant De Beers, a unit of Anglo American, stood at US$293 million in the second quarter of 2020, from US$916 million in the preceding period.

No exports were recorded in May, while only US$20 million worth of diamonds were exported in June, the Bank of Botswana's data showed.

The fall in diamond exports is expected to hurt Botswana's balance of payments deficit, as diamonds constitute 70% of the country's exports. – Nampa/Reuters

WB approves US$114 mln for Nigeria

The World Bank has approved US$114 million to help Nigeria tackle its coronavirus pandemic, the global lender said on Friday.

The money comes in the form of a US$100 million loan and a US$14 million grant to be split between Nigeria's 36 states and federal-level procurement of medical equipment, tests and medicine.

Africa's most populous country has recorded more than 45 000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 930 deaths, but low levels of testing have left a muddy picture of the outbreak's severity.

"Nigeria has ramped up its efforts to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, but more needs to done at the state level, which are at the front line of the response," Shubham Chaudhuri, the World Bank's director for Nigeria, said in its statement on Friday. – Nampa/Reuters

France offers aid Mauritius oil spill

French president Emmanuel Macron pledged on Saturday to send teams and equipment to help Mauritius deal with an oil spill that environmentalists fear could be a major ecological disaster.

The bulk carrier MV Wakashio ran aground on July 25 on a reef on the south east coast of the Indian Ocean island.

Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, prime minister of Mauritius, declared a state of environmental emergency and pleaded for international help on Friday.

The vessel is leaking diesel and oil into lagoons, threatening the survival of thousands of species which are at "risk of drowning in a sea of pollution," according to Greenpeace.

Mauritius, famous for its pristine beaches, is popular with tourists who last year contributed 63 billion Mauritius rupees (US$1.59 billion) to the economy. – Nampa/AFP

Egypt, Greece ink economic zone deal

Egypt and Greece signed an agreement Thursday to set up an exclusive economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean amid regional tensions over energy resources in the area.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry announced the deal, which delineates the maritime borders of both countries, at a Cairo news conference alongside his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias.

It comes after Turkey last year signed a deal with the UN-recognised government in Libya on maritime jurisdiction, with several countries accusing Ankara of trying to assert its dominance in the region.

The deal "allows Egypt and Greece to move forward in maximising the benefits of the available resources in the exclusive economic zone for each of them, especially oil and gas reserves," Shoukry said.

"This agreement is the exact opposite of anything illegitimate like what was signed between Turkey and Tripoli," he added.

Egypt, Cyprus and Greece have denounced a contentious deal, including a security agreement, signed last year between Ankara and the embattled Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA). – Nampa/AFP