Mark Bohlund

"The illegal arrest and detention of François Beya Kasonga — once Tshisekedi’s powerful security advisor — was more than a mere purge; it signalled a shift in how political loyalty is enforced in the capital. It established a chilling precedent: proximity to power offers no protection."

The Ides of Congo: Willy Ngoma’s Death and a Republic at Risk | African Arguments Willy Ngoma’s death in DRC

Interesting article. "The man who could speak to the Mukongo farmer and the Kinyarwanda-speaking fighter in the same breath, who could argue with conviction that this war was #Congo’s war and not #Rwanda’s is gone. " africanarguments.org/2026/03/the-...

#Morocco one step closer to second investment grade credit rating. Moody's changed the outlook on its Ba1 rating to positive to reflect steady improvements in economic and fiscal strength supported by cyclical factors well as structural reforms and increased investment www.moodys.com/research/Moo...

Dubai looked good back in the day... "But many worry that, after the Gulf states have been dragged into a war they did not want, the US may fail to “finish the job” or start negotiations with Iran that leave them exposed, officials and advisers say."

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Oh man we are HAVING A NEWS DAY I see

*BLACKROCK’S $26 BILLION PRIVATE CREDIT FUND LIMITS WITHDRAWALS

Power without a throne: how Khalifa Haftar controls Libya The long read: When Nato helped overthrow Gaddafi in 2011, there were hopes of a new beginning. More than a decade later, this former CIA asset runs the country – and Libya has become yet another less...

Looks interesting and timely. www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...

US Treasury / new sanctions against Rwanda Defence Force and named senior officials in it for involvement in the Eastern DRC conflict. home.treasury.gov/news/press-r...

You cannot talk like this about any other minority in America.

And if it was any other president’s adviser who said something like this about any other minority, it’d be the instant end of their presidency.

Federation of #Bosnia neg outlook change by S&P. Don't think it will change prospects for upcoming Eurobond sale markedly as 2030 Eurobond sold in June last year has rallied hard in past month.

www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/r...

The Absentee Union Two days of speeches in Addis Ababa skirted around harsh realities – the AU’s lack of independent finance and its failure to prevent conflict

1/ Africa Confidential reports: A power vacuum at the Africa Union has allowed the UAE and Saudi Arabia to conduct proxy wars that undermine regional stability, most notably in Sudan.

Cross-Border Central Bank Operations (Part I - 1800-1840) - The Tontine Coffee-House While there was less central bank cooperation in the 19th century, they were not wholly constrained to acting within their home economies either.

"This boom gave way to a financial crisis in late-1825. Bankers’ capital was tied up in longer-dated and illiquid assets and money became tight in autumn of that year. Share prices in new companies and the market values of foreign bonds were falling." tontinecoffeehouse.com/2026/02/23/c...

As with #Togo in mid-2025, the IMF/WB have revised up their debt carrying capacity assessment of #Benin from medium to strong. Central government debt was revised up to 60.5% of GDP at end-2024 as several external loans, which had been transferred to SOEs in 2021, were reclassified as CG debt.

Uganda hosts Hemedti, Muhoozi calls him a “Criminal” Last week, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni hosted Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, at the

Muhoozi says something sensible for once, but tweers have since been deleted so I guess dad has had words with him. #Uganda "Uganda hosts Hemedti, Muhoozi calls him a “Criminal”". www.geeska.com/en/uganda-ho...

"Illegal weapons continued to pour in from Mexico’s northern border, with about 80 per cent of the 23,000 weapons seized under Sheinbaum originating in the US, Trevilla said on Monday, including many of those used by Oseguera’s security detail on Sunday." www.ft.com/content/0d96...

West African Development Bank BOAD explains bond investment strategy amid rising regional debt issuance DAKAR, Feb 23 – The West African Development Bank BOAD sent a note to investors on Monday, explaining its cash management strategy, which involves investing in public bonds issued by member countries,...

"BOAD [West Africa Development Bank] provides budget support to member countries in the form of loans and grants. It said its purchase of sovereign bonds, however, was “exclusively part of its asset management strategy”. www.cnbcafrica.com/2026/west-af...

The giant void of nothingness where US financial regulation used to sit [FREE TO READ] ‘There has never been a better time to be a crook’

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"Additional risks to the deterioration of the debt path include contracting nonconcessional debt at unfavorable terms, further delays in LNG projects and terms of trade and disaster shocks" "The authorities agreed with the DSA. Restoring debt sustainability is a priority" www.imf.org/-/media/file...

"#Mozambique’s external debt is assessed at high risk of debt distress, while overall debt is assessed as in distress. Debt is currently assessed as unsustainable primarily due to the political infeasibility of a comprehensive policy adjustment that could potentially safeguard debt sustainability"

Agreed, not sure how to watch the ice hockey instead but will look into it.

"The government is facing increasingly difficult financing conditions. With debt service delays, holdings of government debt by domestic banks—the main source of financing of large and persistent fiscal deficits—have plateaued. Net external financing has been negative."

IMF Executive Board Concludes 2025 Article IV Consultation with the Republic of Mozambique The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with the Republic of Mozambique.

IMF said it on #Mozambique. Question is how debt will be restructured. "Directors emphasized the critical need for ambitious and credible fiscal consolidation to help reduce financing needs and restore debt sustainability". www.imf.org/en/news/arti...

No sex please, we’re Brontë scholars [FREE TO READ] Emerald Fennell’s bombastic new ‘Wuthering Heights’ has sent us back to the OG version

This is a very fun, smart take on the Wuthering Heights film by Jo Ellison as.ft.com/r/66502c7c-a...

They should pick Pinheiro Braathen for the Selecao..

Article sound on the quote being wrong, but loses points for not saying the original translation was infinitely better

Conflict-torn Congo closes in on debut international bond LONDON (Reuters) – The Democratic Republic of Congo wants to make its international bond foray the first of many, its finance minister told Reuters, as the country rides the current metals market boom...

DR Congo: "Likunde [FinMin] said proceeds of the bond would be used to finance a number of large-scale projects, including modernising the international N’djili airport & roads in [] Kinshasa, as well as hydropower plants and rural infrastructure."
www.cnbcafrica.com/2026/conflic...

Six reasons why Britain’s Starmer should stay - OMFIF The UK political and economic establishment has been gripped by a bout of instability over the potential deposition of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Good piece. Six reasons why Britain’s Starmer should stay. www.omfif.org/2026/02/six-...

Great film.

‘I enjoy the Championship’: Burnley fans stay positive as relegation looms Clarets host must-win game with West Ham on Saturday with the club facing a third demotion in three Premier League seasons

Hard not to agree. Definitely the better league. “I do actually enjoy going back down to the Championship,” says Bentley. “You feel like you get up for the games, the atmosphere’s better. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Tigray’s cold war with Addis heats up Clashes in the disputed western areas risk igniting a wider conflict across the Horn, drawing in outside sponsors

A senior #TPLF official says federal forces have launched drone strikes ‘deep inside Tigray’ – reviving a sense of ‘déjà vu of 2020’ with new blockades and mobilisation in western #Tigray and Afar, echoing the run‑up to the last war. #Ethiopia

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Extreme views on the next US jobs report [FREE TO READ] A tale of two tails

Back once again with the birth-death ratio.

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