The Economic Commission for Africa, jointly with International Economics Consulting Ltd, released the report of the second comprehensive survey on the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact across Africa.
The results of the survey shows that the top three challenges faced by companies are: a) reduced opportunities to meet new customers; b) drop in demand, and; c) lack of cash flow. Companies have faced serious disruptions in both supply and market due to COVID-19, with unfair pricing seen as a major concern. Feedback from companies about government assistance is mixed with nearly two-thirds of the respondents indicating from moderate to no satisfaction. As a consequence, 50% of the respondents approached financial institutions from which 25% got positive responses; among the latter, 42% were not satisfied with the service due to high interest rates, delays and/or collateral requirements.
African businesses shifting towards new technologies in response to COVID-19 pandemic
US says airstrike kills 6 al-Shabab in Somalia after ambush
The United States military says it killed six al-Shabab extremists with an airstrike in Somalia after the al-Qaida-linked group attacked Somali forces while U.S. forces were nearby. The U.S. Africa Command statement said the airstrike was carried out near Darasalam village in southern Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region after al-Shabab fighters attacked from a building in the area. The statement said three al-Shabab fighters were wounded. No U.S. forces were killed or wounded, the statement said, dismissing an al-Shabab claim of U.S. casualties. Somalia’s government in a separate statement said the U.S. forces were there to advise and assist local ones.
Mikiyas Solomon
Name: Mikiyas Solomon
Education: Marketing Management
Company name: SEMA LTD
Title: Partner
Founded in: 2018
What it does: Produce different kind of clothes
HQ: Around Shiromeda
Number of employees: 18
Startup Capital: 2,500 Birr
Current capital: 100,000 birr
Reasons for starting the business: Passion to designing
Biggest perk of ownership: Everything is possible
Biggest strength: Believing in change
Biggest challenging: Working space
Plan: To take Ethiopian fashion to the next level
First career: Worked at afroethiopian touch casual cloth
Most interested in meeting: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
Most admired person: Jeff Bezos
Stress reducer: Spending time with family and friends
Favorite past time: Playing basketball
Favorite book: “Yemayseberew”
Favorite destination: Anywhere in Ethiopia
Favorite automobile: Range Rover
Ethiopian Melkamu Frauendorf joins Klopp at Liverpool
The Ethiopian born Melkamu Frauendorf , an attack-minded midfielder, goes straight into Liverpool’s academy and be linked up with the Under-18’s side.
The teenager joins the Reds’ youth set-up after Liverpool snapped up the signings of forward Mateusz Musiałowski and Polish goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek in recent months. Melkamu appeared to confirm the switch on his Instagram after changing his bio to read Liverpool FC.
Liverpool are continuing to bolster their youth ranks having seen the success Trent Alexander-Arnold has had in the first-team since stepping up from the academy.
One of the things that made Melkamu such an in-demand prospect is his versatile nature as he can operate anywhere across the final third. The 16-year-old has also impressed the onlookers with his fluidity moving forward while his pace makes him a scourge for the defenders on the counter. Moreover, the youngster has tremendous work-ethic for a player of his age. So it seems like he could be an ideal fit for Jurgen Klopp’s tactical philosophy.
He’s also featured four times for Germany U16s and clearly has some pedigree about him, which runs through the family as his older brother Melesse is also at the same club.
Also born in Ethiopia, Melesse plays as a right-back or right midfielder and made the step up from the U17 side to the U19, featuring in 12 games. That brought his end-of-season tally to 36 appearances in all competitions, across all age groups, with five goals and no assists.
The third highly-rated teenager to arrive at the academy in recent weeks, Melkamu will join up with Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and his under-18 side ahead of the new campaign after being capped by Germany at under-15 and u-16 level.
