Photo : Thomas Mukoya, Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Thomas Mukoya, Reuters
IN BRIEF
By Anu Maria Joseph
Africa: Tariff-free deal with China
On 8 December, six African countries including Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Mali, Madagascar and Mauritania signed a tariff-free deal with China. The new policy of China is expected to come into effect on 25 December. China's Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council stated that the effort is proof of "the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation," leading to "a high-quality China-Africa community with a shared future." According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), currently, 20 other African countries have a similar deal with China. (“Six African nations sign tariff-free deal with China,” BBC, 8 December 2023)
Southern Africa: Zimbabwe and Botswana to sign passport-free travel deal
On 8 December, Zimbabwe and Botswana announced a passport-free travel deal to be signed in 2024. The move adds to the wave of African countries easing travel restrictions. Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa stated: "The two of us have agreed because we are African. We should be able to walk into Botswana, walk into Zambia, walk into Kenya. Why should we restrict ourselves?" He added: "We impose constraints on ourselves which are more colonial than they are patriotic, so we agreed that he (President Masisi) himself on his side and myself on my side are going to instruct the relevant departments to ease these constraints of movement of people between our two countries." (“Zimbabwe, Botswana announce passport-free travel deal,” BBC, 8 December 2023)