Are Trade Liberalization and Democracy Driving Development in Central Africa Region? Empirical Lessons

This paper documents that trade liberalization and democracy contribute positively to economic development. A panel of 11 Central Africa countries with 176 observations from 1995 to 2010 was used to econometrically verify this assertion. Estimation using the general least square (GLS) with the overall R-square (R2 = 0.0325) shows that there is a relationship between the economic development captured here with Human development indicators (HDI), democracy, importations, exportations, inflation and regional integration. Inflation and exports negatively affect the well-being of the population. An increase in inflation rate causes a reduction in purchasing power. An increased in exports commodities tends to decrease the quantity of goods available for the country of origin. Imports have a positive effect on HDI probably because this variable tends to increase the quantity of goods available. Imports and democracy have a positive effect on the level of development among Central African countries. The paper’s findings are important to Central Africa policy makers towards creation and increasing trade within, between and with other democratic countries

Altruistic Preferences as Motivation for Migrants in the Diaspora to Remit to Home Communities

The authors indicate that the motivation of the migrants in the diaspora to remit to home communities is based on altruistic preferences

L'argent de la Diaspora et Financement des Infrastructures Sociales Urbaines et Périurbaines de Base en Afrique

The author analyses how diaspora money help to finance urban and peri urban basic social infrastructures, such as water pumps, school materials, health care centres, and housing, in Cameroon

Zoom in at African country level: potential climate induced changes in areas of suitability for survival of malaria vectors

Background: Predicting anopheles vectors’ population densities and boundary shifts is crucial in preparing formalaria risks and unanticipated outbreaks. Although shifts in the distribution and boundaries of the major malariavectors (Anopheles gambiae s.s. and An. arabiensis) across Africa have been predicted, quantified areas of absolutechange in zone of suitability for their survival have not been defined. In this study, we have quantified areas ofabsolute change conducive for the establishment and survival of these vectors, per African country, under twoclimate change scenarios and based on our findings, highlight practical measures for effective malaria control inthe face of changing climatic patterns. Methods: We developed a model using CLIMEX simulation platform to estimate the potential geographicaldistribution and seasonal abundance of these malaria vectors in relation to climatic factors (temperature, rainfalland relative humidity). The model yielded an eco-climatic index (EI) describing the total favourable geographicallocations for the species. The EI values were classified and exported to a GIS package. Using ArcGIS, the EI shapepoints were clipped to the extent of Africa and then converted to a raster layer using Inverse Distance Weighted(IDW) interpolation method. Generated maps were then transformed into polygon-based geo-referenced data setand their areas computed and expressed in square kilometers (km2). Results: Five classes of EI were derived indicating the level of survivorship of these malaria vectors. The proportionof areas increasing or decreasing in level of survival of these malaria vectors will be more pronounced in easternand southern African countries than those in western Africa. Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, SouthAfrica and Zambia appear most likely to be affected in terms of absolute change of malaria vectors suitability zonesunder the selected climate change scenarios Conclusion: The potential shifts of these malaria vectors have implications for human exposure to malaria, asrecrudescence of the disease is likely to be recorded in several new areas and regions. Therefore, the need todevelop, compile and share malaria preventive measures, which can be adapted to different climatic scenarios,remains crucial

The Past and the Future Effects of Russian-Ukrainian Conflict on the Democratic Republic of Congo Economic Policy

The aim of this research was to investigate the past and the future effects of the Russo-Ukrainian war on the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) economy policy. The forecast method based on the UCL: Upper control limit, LCL: Lower Control Limit was used. The data have been collected from various reports of the central bank and Economics Ministry and it concerned the series times collected from 2018-2022. The forecast made in this study concerned the 5-year period from 2023-2027. The results showed that the impact of this war on the various sectors of the Congolese economy was especially positive and negative to macroeconomics various indicators in DRC. After using the SPSS forecasting on 9 variables, 4 variables increased due to the war. Positive effects on the credit economic, will rise from 4.53 initially to 9.42 in 2027, the Bank deposit will also rise from 8.13% in 2022 to 9.97%. Exports from the DRC will increase by 38.06% versus 31.36% initially. On the other hand, 5 variables showed negative effects induced by the Russo-Ukrainian war in DRC. The inflation rate will rise to 80.8% in 2027 from 12.62% initially. Also, the exchange rate, a headache for the current Sama Lukonde government, will reach the overheated level of 3472CDF to the US dollar, compared with the original rate of 2000. The DRC's imports will grow by 44.05% in 2027, reinforcing its dependence on specific foreign products, including machinery and other equipment, and foreign currency oil product prices, which will rise by an average of 12.12% across the country. The innovative aspect of this research was the integration of the behaviors or predilections made on the various macroeconomic variables of the DRC in a 5-year time frame due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Changes in eating habits by adopting consumers' tastes or households to local products that are perfect substitutes for Russian or Ukrainian imports, and monetary policy were envisaged in the paper. In the longer term, the energy transition is no longer an option but a necessity, as the country has the necessary potential in this field. Nevertheless, it remains a perilous path in the sense that it requires fairly substantial capital

Zoom in at African Country level: Potential Climate Induced Changes in Areas of Suitability for Survival of Malaria Vectors

Predicting anopheles vectors’ population densities and boundary shifts is crucial in preparing for malaria risks and unanticipated outbreaks. Although shifts in the distribution and boundaries of the major malaria vectors (Anopheles gambiae s.s. and An. arabiensis) across Africa have been predicted, quantified areas of absolute change in zone of suitability for their survival have not been defined. In this study, we have quantified areas of absolute change conducive for the establishment and survival of these vectors, per African country, under two climate change scenarios and based on our findings, highlight practical measures for effective malaria control in the face of changing climatic patterns. We develop a model using CLIMEX simulation to estimate the potential geographical distribution and seasonal abundance of these malaria vectors in relation to climatic factors 9temperature, rainfall and relative humidity). The model yielded an eco climatic index (EI) describing the total favorable geographical locations for the species. The EI value were classified and exposed to a GIS package. Using ArcGIS, the EI shape points clipped to the extent of Africa and then converted to a raster layer using inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation method. Generated maps wre then transformed into polygon-based geo-referenced data set and areas computed and expressed in square kilometers (km2). Five classes of EI were derived indicating the level of survivorship of these malaria vectors. The proportion of areas increasing or decreasing in level of survival of these malaria vectors will be more pronounced in eastern and southern African countries than those in western Africa. Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa and Zambia appear most likely to be affected in terms of absolute change of malaria vectors suitability zones under the selected climate change scenarios. The potential shifts of these malaria vectors have implications for human exposure to malaria, as recrudescence of the disease is likely to be recorded in several new areas and regions. Therefore, the need to develop, compile and share malaria preventive measures, which can be adapted to different climatic scenarios, remains crucial. \u

Assessment of risk of dengue and yellow fever virus transmission in three major Kenyan cities based on Stegomyia indices

Dengue (DEN) and yellow fever (YF) are re-emerging in East Africa, with contributing drivers to this trend being unplanned urbanization and increasingly adaptable anthropophilic Aedes (Stegomyia) vectors. Entomological risk assessment of these diseases remains scarce for much of East Africa and Kenya even in the dengue fever-prone urban coastal areas. Focusing on major cities of Kenya, we compared DEN and YF risk in Kilifi County (DEN-outbreak-prone), and Kisumu and Nairobi Counties (no documented DEN outbreaks). We surveyed water-holding containers for mosquito immature (larvae/pupae) indoors and outdoors from selected houses during the long rains, short rains and dry seasons (100 houses/season) in each County from October 2014-June 2016. House index (HI), Breteau index (BI) and Container index (CI) estimates based on Aedes (Stegomyia) immature infestations were compared by city and season. Aedes aegypti and Aedes bromeliae were the main Stegomyia species with significantly more positive houses outdoors (212) than indoors (88) (n = 900) (χ2 = 60.52, P < 0.0001). Overall, Ae. aegypti estimates of HI (17.3 vs 11.3) and BI (81.6 vs 87.7) were higher in Kilifi and Kisumu, respectively, than in Nairobi (HI, 0.3; BI,13). However, CI was highest in Kisumu (33.1), followed by Kilifi (15.1) then Nairobi (5.1). Aedes bromeliae indices were highest in Kilifi, followed by Kisumu, then Nairobi with HI (4.3, 0.3, 0); BI (21.3, 7, 0.7) and CI (3.3, 3.3, 0.3), at the respective sites. HI and BI for both species were highest in the long rains, compared to the short rains and dry seasons. We found strong positive correlations between the BI and CI, and BI and HI for Ae. aegypti, with the most productive container types being jerricans, drums, used/discarded containers and tyres. On the basis of established vector index thresholds, our findings suggest low-tomedium risk levels for urban YF and high DEN risk for Kilifi and Kisumu, whereas for Nairobi YF risk was low while DEN risk levels were low-to-medium. The study provides a baseline for future vector studies needed to further characterise the observed differential risk patterns by vector potential evaluation. Identified productive containers should be made the focus of community-based targeted vector control programs.A scholarship to SBA by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Grant No. 1R01AI099736-01A1 to RS, UK's Department for International Development (DFID), Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Kenyan Government.http://www.plosntds.orgam2017Zoology and Entomolog