Angola’s capital Luanda has been ranked as Africa’s most expensive city and the second most expensive city to live in worldwide, losing the first spot it held initially, to Hong Kong.

Luanda lies on Africa’s west coast, and accommodates about six million residents. 

The city’s high cost of living can be put down to the massive infrastructural investments taking place in response to the relentless domestic product growth from mining operations.

Ranking of the world’s most expensive cities to live in was conducted by the investment consultancy firm Mercer as part of its annual Cost of Living Survey.

Other African cities that ranked highly in the survey are; Kinshasa (6), N’Djamena (9), Lagos (13), Victoria (16).

Mercer

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Rita Akana

04.Jul.2016

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According to UK's Daily Mail, middle-aged white women are traveling overseas to engage in “sex tourism.” These clandestine getaways are strictly for the purpose of seeking out Black males for sexual favors.

In many cases, these types of men are referred to as “bumsters” in Gambia, “Rastitutes” or “beach boys” in the Caribbean and “sanky pankies” in the Dominican Republic, reports the publication.

The vast majority of these men are impoverished, uneducated, and in some cases, illiterate. So, prostituting has proven to be a viable source of income for those who lack vocational skills to seek substantial employment.

Many of the women who seek these men out travel alone or in groups. Some are single while others may be involved in unfulfilling relationships or even bad marriages. Sex tourism is an escape from the stress of everyday life and these men are paid to provide service.

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Rita Akana

29.Jun.2016

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The UK referendum on whether to stay in the EU will have an impact far beyond Europe. Africans are also watching closely - and have to prepare to deal with the vote's consequences for themselves as well.

What does Brexit - the withdrawal of Britain from the EU - have to do with Africa? A lot, says Uzo Madu, a British citizen with Nigerian roots. The blogger told DW that Africa played an important role for Britain when it joined the EU. When Britain's colonial empire ended, the economy faltered as well. "I think Africa was a strong motivation for the European integration process. Also, in the context of Britain, its withdrawal from the empire and declining economic strength due to this made the move towards the European experiment somewhat inevitable," says Madu.

She also points to the historical importance of British EU membership for the country's former colonies: "If we look at how Britain joined the EU in the early 70s, it also meant that also Commonwealth Africa would now join the EU-Africa relations club. The British ascension agreement included a lot of provisions about Commonwealth African countries who were able to get EU preferential trading schemes."

Madu's Brussels blog "What's in it for Africa?" examines the impact of EU policy on Africa. "From what I've read and what I know is that overall there doesn't seem to be much in Brexit for Africa," she says.

The latest polls for the Brexit referendum suggest the vote will be close. British society is divided, and British citizens with African roots are no different. Many are asking themselves: What impact will Brexit have on Africa?

What will become of trade relations?

Trade relations between the EU and Africa are defined by the Cotonou Agreement of 2000, as well as a series of so-called Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) - for instance the West African ECOWAS or the East African EAC. The agreements outline bilateral privileges for the exchange of goods and services.

Initially, Brexit would fundamentally change contractual trade agreements between Europe and Africa, says Robert Kappel, Africa policy expert at the GIGA Institute in Hamburg. "Nevertheless, I assume that in the event of a Brexit, the British government will proceed pragmatically and uphold existing contracts within the framework of the Cotonou Agreement."

Developmental cooperation: realignment is inevitable

However, developmental cooperation will have to be restructured. The EU is Africa's most important donor in the area, and Britain - due to its colonial past - contributes much of its aid.

"The UK's position within the EU, being one of the more consistent development aid donors, but also providing some of the biggest budgets towards EU development aid, I think that could have quite a substantial impact, not only on the amount of development aid that's given to sub-Saharan Africa but also the way that it's spent and its effectiveness," says Madu. Moreover, warns GIGA's Kappel, British expertise in questions of EU developmental cooperation would no longer be available.

EU agricultural policy at the expense of African farmers?

Another contentious issue is the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). For years, critics have complained that high EU subsidies for European producers have been driving African farmers to ruin - they simply cannot compete with the artificially low prices of the Europeans. Britain is one of the most prominent opponents of the Common Agricultural Policy. "If we want to consider how the Common Agricultural Policy could be better, it can only improve with the UK inside the EU," says Madu.

Might Britain - should it leave the EU - increase its military engagement in Africa in the future? Kappel thinks it highly unlikely, although, he points out, the country could theoretically react more quickly to a crisis as a bilateral partner than as a member of the EU. "I don't think that they will follow France's example and set up bases all over the African continent." The financial burden alone would preclude such a commitment, says Kappel.

Britain as a role model on the question of independence

The topic of Brexit is also being hotly discussed in Africa itself. On the DW Huasa department's Facebook page, Anwar Muhammad of Nigeria comments: "When a country as strong as Great Britain leaves the Union, it will no longer be able to stand on its own." Tanzanian Muharami Salim sees Brexit as an opportunity for Africa - on the DW Swahili department's Facebook page he writes: "Maybe it will provide a good opportunity for us Africans to think about how we, too, can become more independent."

The only thing that is clear is the fact that a British withdrawal from the EU would bring far-reaching changes for Africa. Yet, like so much in the Brexit debate, all prognoses for the future are, above all, speculative.

DW

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Rita Akana

21.Jun.2016

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Jeune Afrique Magazine based in France, released its annual 52 Most Influential Cameroonians list for 2016 on Monday, June 21, 2016

In making its selection of this V.I.P personalities who are the shakers and movers of Cameroon, the magazine tapped into the economy, political, religious, sporting, cultural, media, associations and business sectors of activities in Cameroon.

Find below the list:

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Rita Akana

20.Jun.2016

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The 300 sitting capacity hall christened Canal Olympia was instated on 14th June 2016 by the Prime Minister and Head of Government Philemon Yang.

The hall is a gift from the French business magnet Vincent Bolloré whose aim is to improve the academic status of young Cameroonian students and to improve the field of Cinematography in the country.

Apart from the 300 inner seats, the hall has an open stage that can accommodate thousands of people; with screening halls, concerts and show rooms.

While inaugurating the well-equipped hall, the Prime Minister and Head of Government Philemon Yang lauded the great initiative, saying that it was a wonderful University with not only good Professors and teachers but a good cinema hall.

The Minister of Higher Education Jaque Fame Ndongo on his part said the facility will enable theatre Arts students turn knowledge into skills.

The students also showed a sign of excitements as the new cinema hall has come a long way to ease their pursuit on cinematography and theatre arts as a whole.

It was also revealed during the event that two more cinema halls will be created in Douala and Yaounde.

CRTV

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Rita Akana

16.Jun.2016

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An Ohio(US federal State) man says he lunged at his daughter's killer in court because the defendant smiled disrespectfully at him. Courtroom deputies in Cleveland grabbed Van Terry after he leaped across a courtroom table Thursday minutes after a judge sentenced Michael Madison to death in the killings of his daughter and two other women.

Terry told WJW-TV that he was thinking about his daughter when he went after Madison. Madison didn't appear to be injured.Prosecutors say Madison mutilated Terry's 18-year-old daughter Shirellda Terry. Terry family members told CBS Cleveland affiliate WOIO-TV that Madison was smiling at them during their final testimonies.

"He was upset because when he's telling you that he lost his baby, his baby girl, that's his baby, OK? That's his heaven," Van Terry's sister Sonya Richardson told the station. "That's his slice of heaven. He's sitting over there smiling like, 'Yeah.'" Richardson said it looked like Madison was just brushing off their heartfelt comments about Shirellda Terry, WOIO-TV reports. The victims' bodies were found near Madison's East Cleveland apartment in 2013. Terry says it's fine if he's charged with going after Madison because he did the right thing. A spokesman for the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office says the attack is being reviewed.

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Rita Akana

05.Jun.2016

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