Internet shutdowns have remained widespread despite the proliferation of a wide range technologies, including sophisticated ones, used by Governments for censorship, propaganda and surveillance.
To take on internet platforms calls for collective bargaining from not just media companies but regulators or regional countries in order to leverage their strengths.
AU currently heavily relies on donor funding at 91 per cent. Member States contribute only 9 per cent of the budget needed to carry out its activities. This has a bearing on its independence.
Current cleanup technologies are ‘clean-washing traps’ which Govts in Africa, a continent disproportionately affected by the global waste menace caused largely by industrialized nations, should not fall for.
Circular startups battle multitude of constraints ranging from limited access to funding, inadequate policy frameworks to provide incentives, and limited demand for circular products, among others.
More than 80 per cent of the environmental impact linked to production could be addressed at products’ design stage, and the responsibility falls on companies.
Current data extraction trend has been linked to both the legal loopholes and lack of infrastructure such as data centres on the continent to act as repository for data generated locally.
If adopted, the legislation could see all non-essential single use plastic items — from cutlery, plates, cups, cotton buds, straws, balloons, sweet wrappers to wet wipes and others — banned across all the seven EAC countries.
Interacting properly with animals, wildlife, livestock and pets can help reduce outbreaks of zoonotic diseases. It is equally important to routinely vaccinate animals.
Governments in Africa need to expedite the ratification of the Addis Ababa Convention and move ahead to enforce it as a matter of urgency if the continent is to catch up with the rest of the world, address parity in education quality, and tackle the rampant brain drain.
African Union officials confirmed that work is underway to establish the African Monetary Institute, after which the continent will be in a position to establish the African central bank and later a single African currency.
With common trade rules, movement of people and transport connectivity, Africa becomes a market large enough to attract investors from across the world, and a vehicle for industrialization, analysts say.
