Risks continue in Africa amidst US-China tensions
WTO Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warns that while temporary suspension of US tariffs provides short-term relief, there remains a significant risk. She said that if mutual tariffs are revived, global commodity trade could drop by 1.5% if it could have a negative impact on Africa’s export-oriented minimally developed countries (LDCs). Okonjo-Iweala spoke about the need for tariff exemptions to help LDCs support growth and create new markets.
The United Nations condemns escalating violence in North Darfur
The UN Security Council condemned attacks in and around the North Darfur capital, El Fascher, resulting in civilian casualties and mass evacuation. The United Nations calls for all parties involved in the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and promote humanitarian access. Violence has driven out an estimated 400,000 to 450,000 people, exacerbating food insecurity and increasing the risk of an epidemic.
Somalia: Officially call for crackdown on Al Shabaab fighter families
A senior Somali official urged the federal government to expel the wife and children of the al-Shabaab militants of Mogadishu. Officials said allowing these families to stay in the capital would send the wrong message and undermine efforts to combat extremist groups. The call is being run by militias to regain territory from Al-Shabaab in central Somalia.
US tariff structure provides competitiveness in global export markets
Ethiopia is in a position to benefit from the favourable US tariff structure, which imposes a 10% tariff on Ethiopian goods compared to higher rates in other countries. This advantage is expected to increase Ethiopia’s export competitiveness, particularly in sectors such as coffee, leather, flowers and textiles. The government is focused on strengthening the manufacturing industry and increasing production capacity to capitalize on this opportunity.
