The Congolese government is choosing to compromise with Luanda by signing agreements of limited scope rather than going to court to assert its rights to its offshore oil resources. [...] An agreement signed on 22 December between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola was not in the end a major step in the revision of the Zone of Common Interest (ZIC) agreed in 2007 by the two countries. It concerns the sharing of production from just two offshore oil fields, Negage and Menonge. The fields are located in block 14 off the coast of the Congolese province of Kongo-Central and are operated by a consortium led by the US firm Chevron. The agreement reached in December lets the two countries, via

ogbe Afede XIV, Paramount Chief of Asogli state “The Ghana we have today is obviously not what our founding fathers dreamt of”, the Paramount Chief of Asogli state, Togbe Afede XIV, has said. “We have failed woefully but have pretended otherwise,” he emphasised. According to him, instead of giving hope, Ghana’s leaders have created a frightening sense of helplessness among the populace, especially the youth. Referring to a statement he made during a courtesy visit by the Speaker of Parliament in December 2021, he reiterated his concern that if Ghana were a company, it would have filed for bankruptcy. He pointed to the nation's recourse to the IMF for a bailout and the implementation of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), resulting in defaulting on

FOURTH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE COORDINATING COUNCIL WAPO SEVEN MEMBER COORDINATING COUNCIL Communique The Coordinating Council of the West Africa Peoples Organization met in Accra on 10th December, 2023, to hold its Fourth Ordinary Session and mark the commemoration of the first anniversary of the formation of the organization in Winneba. All the members of the Coordinating Council were physically present, namely: Philippe NOUDJENOUME, President Martins EGBANUBI from Nigeria, First Deputy President Kadidja N'DIAYE from Senegal, Second Deputy President Kafui KAN-SENAYA from Ghana, Secretary General Ekissi ACHY from Côte d'Ivoire, Treasurer General Alassane ABOUBACAR from Niger, Imani na IMOJA from Guinea Bissau, Members In attendance were Kwesi Pratt Junior, General Secretary of the SMG and Mama Sanni from Niger who took part in the opening session and the debates on the

Shoprite Mall has announced its intention to cease operation in its Kano branch, Northwest Nigeria from January 14, 2024. This was contained in a circular signed by the management of the retail supermarket on Thursday, December 14, 2023. The mall, located in Bayero Kano State, said it would not continue its operations in the state due to the current financial situation of the mall in the state as well as the difficult business climate in the country. In the circular, the supermarket noted that the decision is regrettable, however necessary, hinting that all the employees working at the mall will be laid off once it ceases operation in the state. The circular reads; “I regret that our store in Ado Bayero Mall, Kano, will

Nnamdi Kanu Olakunle Olasanmi The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is to remain in detention. The Supreme Court, Friday, upheld the appeal by the federal government, challenging the Court of Appeal decision, which ordered Kanu’s release. The apex court ordered him to return to the Federal High Court, Abuja, to face his seven-count of terrorism. The apex court in October fixed the date after counsel for both the federal government and the detained IPOB leader adopted their final briefs of argument. Chief Mike Ozehkome, SAN, who argued the appeal prayed the court to not only order the immediate release of his client from detention but to equally award very heavy and punitive costs against the Federal Government. In his submission, however,