Musings From Abroad

US excludes Burkina Faso from trade agreement with African countries. Here’s why

Published

2 years ago

November 3, 2022

The recent wave of military incursion in government in the West African country, Burkina Faso has led to its exclusion from a United States trade agreement with African countries.

The White House made the announcement Wednesday while justifying the decision by the lack of progress toward a return to democracy. Burkina Faso has witnessed two military coups since early 2022.

Burkina Faso’s ruling junta, the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR) under Colonel Damiba’s reign had signed a charter setting a three-year transition period before the country held elections.

But Damiba was in October ousted through a coup by a trusted associate, Captain Ibrahim Traore, who has promised to stick with the transition arrangement.

The US President Joe Biden said in a letter sent to Congress, “I have made this decision because I have determined that the government of Burkina Faso has not established, or made continued progress toward establishing, respect for the rule of law and political pluralism,” which are necessary elements of the African Growth Opportunities Act (Agoa) program.

According to the statement, the US Trade Ambassador, Katherine Tai emphasized the need for “Burkina Faso to make the necessary decisions to meet the terms of the agreement and the return of democracy.

“I will provide Burkina Faso with a clear roadmap to reintegrate into the program and our administration will work with them to make that happen,” Tai said.

The United States and Burkina Faso engage in a number of relations mainly in form of military training and exchange programs, including counterterrorism and peacekeeping operations.

Related Topics:Burkina Faso Featured Joe Biden

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Musings From Abroad

Brazilian meatpacker JBS invests $2.5 billion in Nigeria, builds six facilities

Published

2 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Brazilian meatpacker JBS says it has inked a memorandum of understanding with the Nigerian government for a $2.5 billion investment plan that will include the construction of six new plants in the African nation.

Three of the plants would deal in poultry, two in beef, and one in pork, according to a statement from JBS.

In accordance with the memorandum of understanding, JBS stated that it would develop a five-year investment plan in Nigeria, which would include budget estimates, feasibility studies, and an action plan for the development of the local supply chain.

The Nigerian government would then guarantee the sanitary, regulatory, and economic conditions required for the project’s viability, JBS continued.

Musings From Abroad

China’s Xi meets with Morocco’s Crown Prince

Published

2 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Morocco’s official media reports that Chinese President, Xi Jinping, visited Morocco briefly on Thursday.

According to Morocco’s MAP, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan welcomed Xi in Casablanca. The visit demonstrated the close ties of camaraderie, collaboration, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, it said.

China’s official broadcaster, CCTV, said that Xi and Hassan had a “cordial conversation” at the airport after being received by the Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

After attending the G20 Summit in Brazil, Xi paid the visit.

In recent years, China has increased its investments in Morocco’s rail and infrastructure. Morocco is desirable for Chinese electric car battery manufacturers because of its proximity to Europe, free trade agreements with important EU and US markets, and an established automotive sector.

Morocco was chosen by Chinese EV battery company Gotion High Tech in June to establish Africa’s first gigafactory, which will cost $1.3 billion in total.