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Ethiopia to dismantle regional special forces in favour of ‘centralized army’

By Dawit Endeshaw ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – The Ethiopian government said on Thursday it intends to integrate all regional special forces either into the national army, or the federal or regional police, a move likely to be perceived as an attempt to diminish the autonomy of individual regions. Ethiopia is organised in 10 regions that …

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Dollar dips vs most currencies ahead of US nonfarm payrolls

By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss NEW YORK (Reuters) – The dollar slipped against some major currencies in thin trading Thursday, as investors consolidated positions and pondered how pivotal U.S. jobs data coming out on a stock trading holiday might impact Federal Reserve policy and unleash a potentially volatile market reaction. The U.S. stock market is closed on …

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Oil steady, notches 3rd weekly gain after shock OPEC+ cuts

By Arathy Somasekhar HOUSTON (Reuters) -Oil prices were little changed on Thursday but posted a third weekly gain as markets weighed further production cuts targeted by OPEC+ and falling U.S. oil inventories against fears about the global economic outlook. Brent crude settled up 13 cents, or 0.2%, at $85.12 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate U.S. …

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World bank approves $150 million grant to help Chad reduce flood risk

N’DJAMENA (Reuters) – The World Bank approved a grant of $150 million to help Chad reduce the risks of flooding and strengthen urban planning, it said on Thursday. In 2022, Chad’s heaviest seasonal rainfall in over 30 years has left parts of the capital N’Djamena navigable only by boat and forced thousands to flee their …

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South African rand weakens as investors await U.S. jobs data

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -The South African rand weakened against the dollar on Thursday as investors awaited U.S. jobs data and its implications for the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy. At 1551 GMT, the rand traded at 18.2325 to the dollar, about 1% weaker than its previous close. The dollar index, which measures the currency against six rivals, …

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Tunisia president rejects IMF ‘diktats’, casting doubt on bailout

By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) -Tunisia’s President Kais Saied gave his clearest rejection yet of the terms of a stalled $1.9 billion IMF bailout package when he said on Thursday he would not accept “diktats” and suggested that subsidy cuts could lead to unrest. Tunisia reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF for the loan …

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Egypt inflation seen hitting all-time high in March – Reuters poll

CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s headline inflation rate is set to hit an all-time high in March, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday, following a continued shortage of foreign currency after more than a year of devaluations of the Egyptian pound. The median forecast of 13 analysts polled showed annual urban consumer inflation rising to 33.6% …

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Food inflation to weigh on MENA growth this year – World Bank

By Lisa Barrington DUBAI (Reuters) – Double-digit food price inflation will weigh on the Middle East and North Africa region this year, causing growth to slow to 3% from 5.8% last year, the World Bank said in a regional report on Thursday. The new forecast is a downward revision to the 3.5% growth rate for …

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Factbox-The struggle for power in Sudan

KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Sudan’s military leaders and a coalition of civilian parties have postponed the signing of a deal to launch a new political transition to democracy. The following outlines the struggle for power in Sudan in recent years: WHO HAS BEEN IN CHARGE IN SUDAN? Sudan began its halting transition towards democracy after military …

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Sudan’s years of political strife

KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Below is a timeline of Sudan’s political upheavals in recent years: Dec. 19, 2018 – Hundreds protest in the northern city of Atbara against soaring bread prices. Demonstrations spurred by a broader economic crisis quickly spread to Khartoum and other cities. Security services respond with tear gas and gunfire. April 6, 2019 …

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