The current constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) came into effect in 2006 and set out a plan for decentralisation, which included the fragmentation of the existing 11 provinces at the time into 26 new provinces by the end of 2009. In addition to the restructuring of local government, the constitution made provisions for each province to retain 40% of its internally produced revenues. However, more than seven years after...

Zambia is by far Africa’s largest copper producer and has benefited greatly from rising output and historically high global copper prices over the past five years. According to the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), copper production increased from 570,000 tonnes in 2008 to over 800,000 tonnes in 2012. Most recently, copper production rose by a further 20% in 2013 as new mining projects financed by international mining companies came on line. The...

Gabon is the fifth largest liquid fuels producer in Sub-Saharan Africa, although its production is a fraction of that in the region’s two largest producers (Nigeria and Angola). However, recent developments in Gabon are promising and could pave the way for increased foreign investment and rising production levels over the next five years. The Gabonese government finally settled a long-running oil license dispute with Addax (a subsidiary of the...

Botswana’s economy is in reasonably good shape as economic growth continues to expand at a healthy pace. According to the latest available data, real GDP rose by 7.1% year on year in the third quarter of 2013, and is estimated to grow by around 6% for the year as a whole. Also, the government is on target to eliminate the budget deficit in fiscal year 2013/14 (April-March) and the current account is likely to post a surplus in 2013. The...

The 15 member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) appear close to agreeing a new Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU. A deal was under discussion at negotiations held in late January between the two trade blocks and an agreement appears to have been reached in principle which could be formally ratified during the first quarter of 2014. Dialogue with the EU broke down in 2012, but was given fresh impetus...

A new gas pipeline in Tanzania, which will run from Mtwara in the south east to Dar es Salaam, is scheduled for completion in 2014. The pipeline will include around a 500km stretch on land and a 30km long stretch through the Indian Ocean. The pipeline is part of a larger project, part funded by Exim Bank of China, which will include construction of gas processing plants at Madimba in Mtwara and Songo Songo Island in Lindi, as well as two new...