Originally scheduled for October 13-15, President Joe Biden’s visit to Angola was set to be historic—the first by a sitting U.S. president to an African nation in nearly a decade. While Hurricane Milton delayed the trip, the urgency to reschedule remains high due to its strategic significance, emphasizing Africa’s growing role in global economics. Angola, along with regional neighbors Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is emerging as
Author: Constance Makungu
KRA System Outage at Mombasa Port Stalls Operations
A sudden breakdown in the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) system has brought operations at the Port of Mombasa to a standstill, causing significant financial losses. Kenya’s tea sector, which typically generates around $25 million (Sh3.2 billion) per week by exporting roughly 150 tea containers daily, has been particularly affected, with a backlog of 750 containers now stranded at the port. Exporters are incurring heavy losses from mounting demurrage and logistics
Congo Airways Resumes Operations, Boosting National Connectivity
Congo Airways, the national airline of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has officially announced its return to the skies, with the first flight scheduled for November 10, 2024. In a press release, the airline’s management expressed gratitude to the Congolese Government, the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), and the airline’s dedicated staff for their collective efforts in making this long-anticipated relaunch possible. The resumption of Congo Airways flights is a
Grindrod Halts Mozambique Port Operations Amid South Africa Border Closure and Unrest
Logistics company Grindrod has suspended port and terminal operations in Mozambique following South Africa’s temporary closure of the main border with its northeastern neighbor. The border closure was enacted over safety concerns due to violent post-election protests in Mozambique, which human rights organizations report have resulted in at least 18 deaths. The suspension is expected to impact goods and commodities transport in a region already grappling with logistical bottlenecks. State-owned
DP World Unveils £1-Billion Expansion to Transform London Gateway into UK’s Largest Container Port
Global logistics leader DP World has announced a £1-billion expansion of London Gateway, set to establish it as Britain’s largest container port within five years. The investment will fund the construction of two additional shipping berths, bringing the port’s capacity to six berths capable of accommodating the world’s largest container vessels. Additionally, a second rail terminal will be constructed to support the anticipated growth in containerized trade. By the end
SARS Approves Year-Long Jet Fuel Importation to Prevent Holiday Airport Fuel Crisis
South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has authorized a special year-long exemption to allow the importation of jet fuel, preventing a potential supply shortage at OR Tambo International Airport and other major airports over the busy December travel period. The exemption, effective from October 21, 2024, to October 20, 2025, comes after concerns were raised by the fuel industry about a looming shortage of jet fuel, or aviation
Yapi Merkezi Secures $3 Billion Contract for Major Railway Project in Uganda
Turkish engineering firm Yapi Merkezi has won a $3 billion contract to construct a 272-kilometer railway line connecting Kampala to Malaba, a key Ugandan border point with Kenya, the country’s preferred route for port access. This project marks one of the most substantial international undertakings for a Turkish construction company. Perez Wamburu, coordinator of Uganda’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project, shared that this agreement covers the first phase of a
Global Shipping Industry Faces Challenges with Ageing Fleet Amid Shipbuilding Boom
The global shipping industry is grappling with an ageing merchant fleet, and even the current surge in shipbuilding may fall short of replacing older vessels in time, according to Xclusive Shipbrokers’ latest weekly report. The report highlights a significant rebound in shipbuilding over the past two years, primarily fueled by a recovery in freight rates post-Covid-19. “This surge has led to a notable increase in the orderbook-to-fleet ratios across various
Emirates Expands Fleet with Order for Five More Boeing 777 Freighters
Emirates has announced a firm order for five additional Boeing 777 freighters, scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2026. This latest order brings the airline’s pending deliveries of the Boeing 777F to a total of 14, set to arrive by the end of 2026. To further bolster its cargo capacity, Emirates has also extended a multi-year lease with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise for four Boeing 777 freighters currently in its fleet.
Maersk Defies Russian Threats with New Weekly Container Service to Ukraine
Maersk has launched a new weekly container service to Ukraine, pushing forward amid escalating Russian attacks on merchant ships and Ukrainian ports. According to the Ukrainian news portal Dumskaya, the first vessel under this service departed from Port Said, Egypt, on Thursday and is scheduled to reach Chornomorsk on October 22. Maersk’s Ukraine office issued a statement to clients, emphasizing that the new service “marks a significant step forward in