The government of Lagos state in Nigeria is cracking down on street vendors.

The authorities are enforcing a previously widely-flouted law.

Street hawkers and those who buy from them face a fine of more than $300, or six months in jail.

A BBC correspondent in Lagos says there are far fewer hawkers in the streets today than usual because they are scared of being arrested.

Many hawkers have complained that if they are not able to work, they will not be able to support themselves.

BBC

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Rita Akana

05.Jul.2016

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A stylish grandfather from Texas has caused the internet to go into a frenzy after his good looks were shared on social media.

Photos of 54-year-old Irvin Randle, an elementary school teacher from Houston, started surfacing on social media with the hashtag 'MrStealYourGrandma' this week.

In the images, the dapper grandfather sported a peppered beard and appeared in stylish outfits, and some even showed off his fit body.

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Rita Akana

04.Jul.2016

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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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