Afrique

Sur Instruction de Sa Majesté le Roi Mohammed VI, que Dieu L'assiste, Président du Comité Al-Qods, le ministre des Affaires étrangères, de la Coopération africaine et des Marocains résidant à l'étranger, M. Nasser Bourita, a procédé, ce jeudi, à Davos en Suisse, à la signature de la Charte constitutive du Conseil de Paix, et ce lors d'une cérémonie présidée par le Président des États-Unis d'Amérique, Son Excellence M. Donald J. Trump.

La signature de cette Charte constitutive du Conseil de Paix fait suite à l'acceptation par Sa Majesté le Roi Mohammed VI de se joindre, en tant que Membre Fondateur, à cette initiative proposée par le Président des États-Unis d'Amérique et visant à "contribuer aux efforts de paix au Moyen-Orient et adopter une nouvelle approche pour résoudre les conflits dans le monde".

Le Maroc et le Bahreïn ont été les deux premiers pays à signer la Charte, suite à quoi le Président Trump a annoncé que la Charte est officiellement entrée en vigueur, marquant la création officielle du Conseil de paix.

La cérémonie de signature de la Charte du Conseil de Paix, organisée en marge du Forum économique mondial de Davos, a connu la participation d'une vingtaine de Chefs d'État et de gouvernement, ainsi que des ministres des Affaires étrangères des pays signataires, notamment la Turquie, l'Arabie Saoudite, le Bahreïn, l'Égypte, l'Indonésie, l'Azerbaïdjan et l'Argentine…

La participation à ce Conseil de paix est réservée à un groupe restreint de leaders de stature internationale, engagés en faveur d'un avenir sûr et prospère pour les générations futures.
L'invitation du Souverain marocain à ce Conseil de paix constitue une reconnaissance du Leadership éclairé de Sa Majesté le Roi et de Sa stature en tant qu'acteur de paix incontournable.

Les Guépards de la raquette vont affronter le Salvador en février prochain dans le cadre de la Coupe Davis. La série de matchs se jouera les 7 et 8 février 2026 sur le court du Sofitel Hôtel de Cotonou.

La Coupe Davis revient à Cotonou. Un an après avoir accueilli la Lettonie lors du premier tour des play-offs du Groupe II de la compétition, les Guépards de la raquette vont évoluer à domicile au même stade de la compétition. La sélection nationale sera opposée au Salvador. La série de matchs se jourera les 7 et 8 février 2026 sur le court du Sofitel Hôtel de Cotonou. Seul objectif pour les Guépards de la raquette, confirmer leur place dans le Groupe Mondial II.

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La Fédération algérienne de football vient de réaliser un joli coup sur le marché des binationaux. Selon la chaîne « Echourouk News », Elyaz Zidane et Ethan […]

L’article Elyaz Zidane et Ethan Mbappé vont rejoindre l’équipe d’Algérie est apparu en premier sur .

Les panneaux solaires chinois inondent l'Afrique. Pour des millions de ménages, c'est l'électricité enfin. Pour certains États, une dépendance technologique supplémentaire. Pour d'autres, une opportunité industrielle — à condition que l'assemblage local devienne une stratégie durable, et non un slogan politique.

Quand le protectionnisme occidental redessine les routes de l'énergie

En ce début d'année 2026, le commerce mondial entre dans une nouvelle phase de fragmentation. Aux États-Unis, le président Donald Trump a de nouveau agité la menace d'une hausse généralisée des droits de douane, ciblant aussi bien la Chine que certains partenaires occidentaux. Dans ce climat, Pékin accélère la redirection de ses capacités industrielles vers les marchés du Sud, au premier rang desquels l'Afrique. Cette dynamique est particulièrement visible dans un secteur stratégique : la transition énergétique. Si l'on veut comprendre où la Chine exporte aujourd'hui le plus vite, il faut regarder les flux d'équipements solaires, d'onduleurs et de batteries. En 2025, l'Afrique a importé un volume record de panneaux solaires chinois. Selon les données compilées par les douanes chinoises et relayées par plusieurs cabinets spécialisés, le continent a absorbé environ 1,57 gigawatt de panneaux solaires chinois sur le seul mois de mai 2025, un sommet historique. Sur les cinq premiers mois de l'année, au moins 22 pays africains auraient plus que doublé leurs importations.

L'Afrique électrifiée « par le bas »
Ce boom ne se limite pas aux grands projets étatiques. Le magazine WIRED décrit un phénomène plus discret mais politiquement décisif : l'électricité arrive aussi foyer par foyer, par kits solaires individuels, mini-réseaux et installations hors réseau, là où les infrastructures publiques tardent à suivre. Ce basculement est silencieux mais profond. L'accès à l'énergie cesse d'être exclusivement un programme d'État pour devenir un marché diffus, porté par des ménages, des micro-entrepreneurs et des collectivités locales. Dans de nombreuses zones rurales ou périurbaines, l'équipement solaire chinois constitue désormais la première source d'électricité stable.

L'exemple algérien, symptôme d'une accélération

Parmi les pays les plus emblématiques figure Algérie. En 2025, le pays a enregistré l'une des plus fortes hausses d'importations de panneaux solaires chinois sur le continent, dans un contexte de diversification énergétique et de pression sur les subventions publiques. Cette accélération illustre un paradoxe fréquent : des États producteurs d'hydrocarbures se tournent vers des équipements solaires importés pour sécuriser leur mix énergétique à court terme.

La face cachée de la transition : où est la valeur ajoutée ?

Toutefois, derrière cette success-story « verte » se cache une question centrale : où se crée la valeur ? Selon WIRED, la fabrication locale de panneaux solaires en Afrique reste extrêmement limitée. Lorsqu'elle existe, elle se cantonne le plus souvent à l'assemblage final — la partie la moins rémunératrice et la plus exposée aux chocs de prix de la chaîne de valeur.La quasi-totalité des cellules photovoltaïques, des composants critiques et des technologies de stockage est produite en Chine. Résultat : l'Afrique importe massivement des équipements stratégiques sans capter, pour l'instant, les segments à forte valeur ajoutée que sont la conception, les matériaux avancés ou la fabrication de composants clés.

Trois trajectoires possibles pour les États africains

Face à cette réalité, les États africains se retrouvent devant trois options clairement identifiées par les économistes de l'énergie.La première consiste à importer massivement pour électrifier vite. C'est l'option la plus efficace à court terme, celle qui répond immédiatement aux besoins sociaux et économiques, mais accroît la dépendance technologique et commerciale.La deuxième voie est celle du ralentissement stratégique pour industrialiser localement. Elle vise la souveraineté énergétique, mais comporte un coût social élevé si l'accès à l'électricité tarde, notamment pour les populations les plus vulnérables. La troisième, plus complexe, est une stratégie hybride : importer les équipements chinois tout en développant des capacités locales d'assemblage, de maintenance, de fabrication de composants annexes — câbles, structures, onduleurs — et de normalisation technique. C'est cette option qui permettrait de transformer une transition énergétique subie en filière industrielle structurée.

La Chine, au-delà du commerce : infrastructures et investissements

Dans cette lecture, la relation sino-africaine ne se résume plus à un simple échange marchand. Elle combine infrastructures, technologies et capacité d'État. Cette dynamique se retrouve dans la montée des investissements chinois dans les secteurs de l'énergie et des infrastructures, notamment en Afrique du Sud, où des partenariats industriels tentent d'articuler importations, production locale et exportation régionale.Pour Pékin, ces investissements servent aussi un objectif stratégique : sécuriser des débouchés à long terme pour ses industries vertes, dans un contexte où les marchés occidentaux deviennent plus incertains sous l'effet des politiques protectionnistes américaines.

2026, l'année du choix industriel

La grande question de 2026 n'est donc pas de savoir si la Chine vend à l'Afrique — elle vend déjà, et massivement. La véritable interrogation est ailleurs : l'Afrique transformera-t-elle cette vague d'importations en filière structurée, créatrice d'emplois, de compétences, de normes et d'innovation, ou se contentera-t-elle d'une transition énergétique financée par une facture d'importation croissante ?Dans un monde où les droits de douane redeviennent une arme politique, la transition énergétique africaine est aussi un test de souveraineté économique. Elle dira si le continent peut convertir l'urgence climatique et sociale en levier industriel, ou s'il restera un marché final dans la nouvelle géographie mondiale de l'énergie.

L’épisode météo qui a frappé plusieurs régions du pays cette fin de semaine n’a pas seulement blanchi les hauteurs et gonflé les oueds. Il a […]

L’article Routes dégradées par la pluie, axes sous neige : les zones à éviter pour limiter embouteillages et dangers est apparu en premier sur .

Les marchés modernes de PK3 et de Cococodji seront officiellement ouverts respectivement les vendredi 23 janvier et mardi 27 janvier 2026. L'annonce a été faite par l'Agence nationale de gestion des marchés (ANaGeM), à travers deux communiqués publiés ce mercredi 21 janvier 2026.

Après le tirage au sort et la remise de clés aux usagers, les marchés modernes de PK3 et de Cococodji s'ouvrent très bientôt au public. Selon un communiqué de l'ANaGeM, le marché moderne de PK3 sera ouvert aux usagers ce vendredi 23 janvier 2026.

Un autre communiqué de la structure en charge de la gestion des marchés modernes au Bénin, informe que le marché moderne de Cococodji sera inauguré le mardi 27 janvier.

Exhortant les marchands à se mobiliser massivement pour « célébrer cette nouvelle ère du commerce de proximité », l'ANaGeM dit compter leur ponctualité pour faire de ces cérémonies d'inauguration une réussite totale.

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Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2026 - EP

Angelo Borer ist Stepptanz-Europameister und Schauspieler; er schützt in Davos die Scheichs aus Katar. Im House of Qatar sieht er, wie sich die Reichen und Mächtigen bewegen – gepflegt, diskret und weltmännisch.

Un nouveau jalon vient d’être posé dans le renforcement des liens éducatifs entre l’Algérie et le Royaume-Uni. Mercredi, l’ambassadeur britannique James Downer a officiellement inauguré […]

L’article Une première en dehors d’Alger : Une école internationale ouvre ses portes dans cette wilaya est apparu en premier sur .

Two men at a pond wash and bathe in the shadow of wind energy in West Bengal Country, India. Credit: Climate Visuals

By Umar Manzoor Shah
NAIROBI & SRINAGAR, India, Jan 22 2026 (IPS)

The world is pouring trillions of dollars each year into activities that destroy nature while investing only a fraction of that amount in protecting and restoring the ecosystems on which economies depend, according to a new United Nations report released on today  (January 22).

The State of Finance for Nature 2026 report by the United Nations Environment Programme finds that finance flows directly harmful to nature reached USD 7.3 trillion in 2023. By contrast, investment in nature-based solutions amounted to just USD 220 billion in the same year. The imbalance means that for every dollar invested in protecting nature, more than USD 30 is spent degrading it.

“Globally, finance flows continue to be heavily skewed toward negative activities, which threaten ecosystems, economies and human well-being,” the report titled Nature in the red. Powering the trillion dollar nature transition economy says. Nearly half of global economic output depends moderately or highly on nature, yet current financial systems continue to erode what the authors describe as humanity’s collective nature bank account.

Nathalie Olsen of the Climate Finance Unit at UNEP  and the report’s lead author said that the barriers to reforming environmentally harmful subsidies are primarily political and structural, rather than economic.

“Our report identifies several key challenges in this regard. On the political front, entrenched interests pose a significant obstacle. Many harmful subsidies benefit powerful industries, such as fossil fuels and industrial agriculture, which actively resist change,” she said in an exclusive interview with IPS.

An ex-coal mine reworked as North Macedonia’s first large solar plant. Credit: WeBalkans EU/Climate Visuals

She added subsidy reform often leads to increased costs for consumers or producers in the short term, making such reforms politically unpopular, even when the long-term benefits are clear. Furthermore, many subsidies are deeply embedded within tax codes and budget structures, making them difficult to isolate and reform.

According to Olsen, structural challenges also play a crucial role. She says that the subsidies tend to create path dependency, establishing business models and infrastructure investments that lock in nature-negative practices.

“For instance, free or underpriced water can lead to the depletion of aquifers for irrigation, while fossil fuel subsidies artificially lower energy costs across the economy, including for products like fertilizers. Despite international commitments, such as the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Target 18—which aims to reduce harmful incentives by at least USD 500 billion per year—implementation remains weak due to a lack of political will.”

Economically, however, the case for reform is strong, according to Olsen.  She says that reforming harmful subsidies would free up government resources for nature-positive investments and reduce economic risks.

“Currently, the USD 2.4 trillion in public environmentally harmful subsidies far exceeds the USD 220 billion invested in Nature-based Solutions.

Successful reform is feasible.

As highlighted in our Nature Transition X-Curve framework, it requires just transition strategies to support workers and businesses during the shift, clear communication about long-term economic benefits, concurrent investment in nature-positive alternatives, and gender-responsive approaches to ensure equitable outcomes,” She said.

Olsen  says that notable examples, such as Costa Rica’s fossil fuel levy financing reforestation and Denmark’s energy taxes supporting the transition to wind energy, demonstrate that reform is politically achievable when accompanied by visible investment in sustainable alternatives.

The report warns that business as usual will deepen ecosystem degradation and expose economies to rising risks. It argues that governments, businesses, consumers and investors still have the power to redirect capital flows and unlock resilience, equity and long-term growth if they act quickly.

In 2023, public and private finance that directly damaged nature totaled USD 7.3 trillion. About USD 2.4 trillion came from public sources, mostly in the form of subsidies that hurt the environment. These included USD 1.1 trillion for fossil fuels, about USD 400 billion each for agriculture and water use, and significant support for transport, construction and fisheries.

Private finance made up the larger share, at about USD 4.9 trillion. A small number of high-impact sectors received the majority of these flows. Utilities alone accounted for around USD 1.6 trillion, followed by industrials at USD 1.4 trillion, energy at about USD 700 billion and basic materials, including fertilizers and agricultural inputs, at a similar level.

The report notes that public subsidies and private investment often reinforce each other, locking capital into nature-negative sectors. Below-market prices for water, energy and other government-provided goods encourage overuse of natural resources and increase financial risks over time.

Against this backdrop, finance for nature-based solutions remains limited. Total global spending on nature-based solutions reached USD 220 billion in 2023, a modest five percent increase from the previous year. Public finance dominated, accounting for about USD 197 billion, or roughly 90 percent of the total.

Transition pathways to nature-positive outcomes. Credit: UNEP

“Our Nature Transition X-Curve framework shows these tools work best when deployed together—combining regulatory “push” (disclosure, subsidy phase-out) with financial “pull” (de-risking, incentives). Over 730 organizations representing $22.4 trillion in assets have adopted TNFD, showing willingness exists when clear frameworks are provided. The challenge isn’t lack of tools—it’s political will to deploy them at scale,” Olsen said.

Public domestic expenditure was the single largest source of funding, reaching USD 190 billion in 2023, as per the report. Spending on biodiversity and landscape protection grew by 11 percent, although support for agriculture, forestry and fisheries declined. Even so, public spending on nature-based solutions remains small compared to the more than USD 2 trillion governments spend each year on environmentally harmful subsidies.

Official Development Finance targeted at nature-based solutions reached USD 6.8 billion in 2023. This represented a 22 percent increase from 2022 and a 55 percent rise compared to 2015. The report describes development finance as a critical enabler for scaling nature-based solutions in developing countries, while warning that geopolitical pressures could constrain future budgets.

Private finance for nature-based solutions reached USD 23.4 billion in 2023. Although small in absolute terms, the report says these flows show positive momentum. Biodiversity offsets channelled more than USD 7 billion, certified commodity supply chains attracted over USD 4 billion, and biodiversity-related bonds and funds mobilized around USD 5 billion. Nature-based carbon markets accounted for about USD 1.3 billion.

“With the right enabling environment, standards and risk-sharing instruments, private capital could scale rapidly and become a game changer in closing the nature-based solutions finance gap,” the report says.

To meet global commitments under the three Rio Conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and land degradation, the report estimates that annual investment in nature-based solutions must rise to USD 571 billion by 2030. This would require a two-and-a-half-fold increase from current levels. The report projects that annual investment needs will reach approximately USD 771 billion by 2050.

The report frames investment in nature-based solutions as a form of essential maintenance for natural infrastructure. It highlights evidence that restoring degraded land can yield returns of between USD 7 and 30 for every dollar invested, if ecosystem services such as water regulation, soil fertility and disaster risk reduction are taken into account.

A review cited in the report found that in 65 percent of disaster risk reduction projects, nature-based solutions were more effective at reducing hazards than traditional engineering approaches. Floodable wetlands and permeable pavements in cities are two examples. They soak up stormwater and take some of the stress off drainage systems.

Despite these benefits, the authors contend that increasing investments in nature won’t suffice unless they eliminate harmful finance. Nature-negative finance, they say, remains the single biggest obstacle to a transition toward nature-positive outcomes.

The report introduces a new analytical framework called the Nature Transition X curve. The framework illustrates the dual challenge facing policymakers and investors. On one side, harmful activities and finance flows must be reduced and phased out. On the other hand, investment in nature-based solutions and other nature-positive activities must be scaled up rapidly.

Olsen said that the X-Curve is a diagnostic tool helping policymakers identify context-specific leverage points, sequence reforms to build political support, and ensure coherence between phasing out harmful finance and scaling up nature-positive alternatives.

“This is not just an environmental agenda but an economic transformation,” the report says. Redirecting harmful subsidies, integrating nature into fiscal frameworks and mobilizing private finance are described as central to building resilient and inclusive economies.

Olsen told IPS news that there is a need for a “Big Nature Turnaround” that repurposes trillions of dollars currently flowing into destructive activities. Key priorities include reforming environmentally harmful subsidies, aligning national budgets with biodiversity and climate targets, and mandating disclosure of nature-related risks and impacts.

More than 730 organizations have now adopted the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures framework, representing assets under management worth USD 22.4 trillion. According to the report, this growing awareness of nature-related financial risks is starting to influence corporate and investment decisions, although progress remains uneven.

The report also points to rising legal and regulatory pressures. In some jurisdictions, courts are increasingly questioning whether financial leaders are meeting their fiduciary duties if they ignore environmental risks. At the same time, the authors warn that regulatory rollbacks in other regions could create uncertainty and delay action.

While the scale of the challenge is daunting, the report strikes a cautiously optimistic tone. Better data, a clearer framework, and growing awareness are creating conditions for faster action. The transition to a nature-positive economy, the authors argue, could unlock a trillion-dollar nature transition economy across sectors ranging from food and agriculture to construction, energy and urban infrastructure.

“Turning the wheel towards nature-positive finance is essential,” the report concludes. Without a decisive shift in how money flows through the global economy, the gap between what nature needs and what it receives will continue to widen, with profound consequences for ecosystems, livelihoods and long-term economic stability.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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Les revendications de Trump concernant le Groenland sont un réveil brutal dans un contexte plein de risques.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

La correspondante du Courrier des Balkans à Belgrade, Milica Čubrilo Filipović, qui travaillait aussi pour Le Figaro, a été abruptement licenciée de ce journal en janvier. En cause, des articles qui seraient « trop critiques » à l'égard du régime d'Aleksandar Vučić.

- Le fil de l'Info / Gratuit, Serbie, Vucic, Médias indépendants, Médias, Courrier des Balkans

Two fishermen in their boat in Rincao, Cabo Verde. Credit: UN Photo/Mark Garten

By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 22 2026 (IPS)

In 2025, global ocean temperatures rose to some of the highest levels ever recorded, signaling a continued accumulation of heat within the Earth’s climate system and raising deep concern among climate scientists. The economic toll of ocean-related impacts—including collapsing fisheries, widespread coral reef degradation, and mounting damage to coastal infrastructure—is now estimated to be nearly double the global cost of carbon emissions, placing immense strain on economies and endangering millions of lives.

On January 14, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that global temperatures have reached record highs over the past 11 years, with ocean heating continuing at an alarming pace. Despite the cooling influence of La Niña, 2025 became the third hottest year ever recorded. In just the past year, ocean temperatures increased by an estimated ∼23 ± 8 zettajoules—an amount of heat roughly equivalent to 200 times the world’s total electricity generation in 2024.

With an estimated 90 percent of excess heat from global warming absorbed by the world’s oceans, rising ocean temperatures have become one of the clearest indicators of the accelerating climate crisis—carrying profound risks for ecosystems and human life. The ocean is central to global prosperity, supporting livelihoods, market economies, and overall human well-being.

“Global warming is ocean warming,” said John Abraham, a professor of thermal science at the University of St. Thomas. “If you want to know how much the Earth has warmed or how fast we will warm into the future, the answer is in the oceans.”

Zeke Hausfather, a climatologist and research scientist at University of California, Berkeley, described the ocean as the “most reliable thermostat of the planet.”

According to figures from WMO, roughly 33 percent of the Earth’s total ocean area ranked among the top three warmest conditions for ocean ecosystems in history, with roughly 57 percent falling within the top five, such as the tropical and South Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, North Indian Ocean, and Southern Oceans.

The primary impact of human-generated carbon dioxide emissions on the ocean is the rapid warming of ocean waters, which significantly reduces the ocean’s capacity to hold oxygen—a critical lifeline for species survival. Rising temperatures also drive ocean acidification—weakening marine organisms, disrupting ecosystems, altering the physiology of numerous species, and triggering mass die-offs.

These effects have catastrophic consequences for biodiversity, fueling widespread coral reef bleaching, the collapse of seagrass beds, and the decline of kelp forests—all of which directly harm the benefits that humans yield from healthy marine environments. Rising ocean temperatures also intensify extreme weather events and accelerate sea-level rise, which in turn increase coastal flooding, erosion, and displacement, placing millions of people, particularly those in low-lying coastal communities, at heightened risk.

While some ocean-based benefits—such as seafood and maritime transport—are reflected in market prices, many others, including coastal protection, recreation, and marine biodiversity, remain overlooked, becoming part of the invisible social “blue cost” of carbon emissions, despite being essential to the deeply interconnected relationship between oceans, people, and economic systems.

“If we don’t put a price tag on the harm that climate change causes to the ocean, it will be invisible to key decision makers,” said environmental economist Bernardo Bastien-Olvera, who led a Scripps Institution of Oceanography study at the University of California San Diego, examining the social cost of carbon emissions and the economic toll of ocean degradation.

“Until now, many of these variables in the ocean haven’t had a market value, so they have been absent from calculations. This study is the first to assign monetary-equivalent values to these overlooked ocean impacts,” added Bastien-Olvera.

According to findings from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography study, accounting for the social impacts of ocean-related carbon emissions nearly doubles the estimated global cost—showing that ocean degradation is a major driver of climate-related economic losses. Researchers found that without ocean impacts included in their model, the average cost per ton of carbon dioxide was roughly USD 51. When accounting for ocean losses, the total costs increased by USD 41.6 per ton, reaching a total of USD 97.2, marking a 91 percent rise.

With the WMO Global Carbon Budget estimating global carbon dioxide emissions at roughly 41.6 billion tons in 2024, this translates to nearly $2 trillion in ocean-related losses in a single year—which is currently absent from standard climate cost assessments. Furthermore, the study found that market damages as a result of ocean degradation account for the largest costs to society and could reach global annual losses of $1.66 trillion in the year 2100.

Furthermore, damages in non-use values—such as recreational benefits provided by ocean ecosystems—now amount to an estimated USD 224 billion annually, while non-market values, including nutritional losses from collapsing fisheries, contribute an additional USD 182 billion in yearly damages. Bastien-Olvera stressed that many of these losses are not traditional market losses but cultural and societal losses, which carry different and often deeper forms of significance for affected communities.

“When an industry emits a ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, as a society we are paying a cost. A company can use this number to inform cost-benefit analysis — what is the damage they will be causing society through increasing their emissions?”, asked Bastien-Olvera.

In response to the rapid warming of the Earth’s oceans, governments, scientific institutions, and international organizations are mobilizing new strategies to reduce carbon emissions and protect marine ecosystems, including expanding green energy infrastructure and advancing large-scale ecosystem restoration efforts.

The United Nations (UN) has renewed pressure on member states to meet their Paris Agreement commitments, while initiatives like the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and the High Seas Treaty work to strengthen ocean monitoring and protect marine biodiversity.

Scientists are also testing emerging methods to counteract climate-driven changes in the ocean. In late 2025, marine scientist Adam Subhas and his team released 16,200 gallons of sodium hydroxide into the ocean in an effort to neutralize rising acidity levels. Though controversial and still in early development, the experiment reflects a growing interest in exploring non-traditional tools that could stabilize marine ecosystems.

“As long as the Earth’s heat continues to increase, ocean heat content will continue to rise and records will continue to fall. The biggest climate uncertainty is what humans decide to do. Together, we can reduce emissions and help safeguard a future climate where humans can thrive,” said Abraham.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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Les bureaux de l'Agence nationale de gestion des marchés (ANaGeM), sont désormais logés sur le site du Pôle Commercial Général Mathieu Kérékou, sis au quartier Kouhounou à Cotonou. L'annonce a été faite par la direction générale à travers un communiqué en date du lundi 19 janvier 2026.

L'ANaGeM acte sa politique de proximité avec les acteurs économiques et les marchands. Elle occupe désormais ses nouveaux locaux sur le Pôle Commercial Général Mathieu Kérékou. L'annonce a été faite lundi 19 janvier 2026, à travers un communiqué. « En s'installant au cœur de ce centre d'échanges, ANaGeM souhaite être au plus près des acteurs économiques pour mieux répondre à vos besoins et offrir un service public plus accessible et réactif », lit-on dans le communiqué qui souligne par ailleurs que l'accueil des usagers et le traitement des dossiers administratifs s'effectuent désormais exclusivement sur ce nouveau site, aux horaires habituels.
– Matin : 08 heures 00 à 12 heures 30,
– Après-midi : 14 heures 00 à 16 heures 00.

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Cette année 2026, le Ramadan pourrait démarrer le mardi 17 février, avec un premier jour de jeûne, le lendemain 18 février. Ces prévisions qui restent toutefois conditionnées à l'observation du croissant lunaire, seront confirmées lors de la « Nuit du doute ».

Le jeûne de Ramadan en 2026 couvre la période du 18 février au 19 mars, avec la célébration de l'Aïd al-Fitr, annoncée pour le vendredi 20 mars ou jeudi 19 mars. Cette variabilité s'explique par le calendrier hégirien, basé sur les cycles lunaires, plus court que le calendrier solaire.
La confirmation officielle interviendra lors de la « Nuit du doute », organisée par une commission religieuse.
Le Ramadan, l'un des cinq piliers de l'islam, est un moment de privation, de spiritualité, de discipline et de réflexion au cours duquel les fidèles intensifient la prière, la lecture du Coran et les actes de solidarité et d'attention envers les personnes démunies.
Le jeûne quotidien est rompu chaque soir lors de l'iftar, un moment central de partage familial et communautaire.

F. A. A.

US-Präsident Donald Trump ist ausgesprochen erfolgreich darin, neue Maßstäbe zu setzen. Einen kleinen Vorgeschmack gab der 20. Januar 2025. Die 26 präsidentiellen Dekrete am ersten Tag seiner zweiten Amtszeit sind für sich genommen schon ein Rekord und zeigen: Eines der Hauptprobleme für Beobachter besteht darin, überhaupt einen Überblick zu behalten – darüber, was derzeit geschieht, was relevant sein könnte und was lediglich Nebelkerzen sind.

US-Präsident Donald Trump ist ausgesprochen erfolgreich darin, neue Maßstäbe zu setzen. Einen kleinen Vorgeschmack gab der 20. Januar 2025. Die 26 präsidentiellen Dekrete am ersten Tag seiner zweiten Amtszeit sind für sich genommen schon ein Rekord und zeigen: Eines der Hauptprobleme für Beobachter besteht darin, überhaupt einen Überblick zu behalten – darüber, was derzeit geschieht, was relevant sein könnte und was lediglich Nebelkerzen sind.

US-Präsident Donald Trump ist ausgesprochen erfolgreich darin, neue Maßstäbe zu setzen. Einen kleinen Vorgeschmack gab der 20. Januar 2025. Die 26 präsidentiellen Dekrete am ersten Tag seiner zweiten Amtszeit sind für sich genommen schon ein Rekord und zeigen: Eines der Hauptprobleme für Beobachter besteht darin, überhaupt einen Überblick zu behalten – darüber, was derzeit geschieht, was relevant sein könnte und was lediglich Nebelkerzen sind.

The country faces a challenging transition, but it can progress if the people work together.

By Krishna Srinivasan and Sarwat Jahan
WASHINGTON DC, Jan 22 2026 (IPS)

Nepal has a unique opportunity for transformation. The recent youth-led protests underscored aspirations for greater transparency, governance and a more equal distribution of economic opportunities and resources. This yearning resonated in Nepal and beyond.

Now, Nepal must find a balance in setting prudent political, economic and financial policies to steer a difficult transition in an orderly manner. Adding to the complex domestic situation is the lingering uncertainty in the global economy. The transition process in this challenging environment should ensure an inclusive future for Nepal’s people.

Economic challenges

History shows that more equal societies tend to be associated with greater economic stability and more sustained growth. This will be a helpful guiding strategy as Nepal charts its own path to change. Indeed, a solid strategy needs to be founded on two key pillars: economic stability and inclusive growth.

In 2022, stability was among the top priorities when the country’s leaders approached the IMF for support. The collapse of tourism in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic took a heavy toll on Nepal’s economy, including on its job market.

The IMF’s financing package assisted the authorities’ Covid-19 response in mitigating the pandemic’s impact on economic activity, protecting vulnerable groups and laying the groundwork for sustained growth. The program also supported reforms to foster durable growth and reduce poverty over the medium term, including by implementing cross-cutting institutional reforms to improve governance and reduce corruption vulnerability.

In October, Nepal completed the sixth of seven program reviews, showing tangible improvement in the economy. Indeed, Nepal has been seeing the green shoots of recovery with real GDP growth rising from a mere 2 percent in FY 2023, to 3.7 percent in FY 2024, to an estimated 4.3 percent in FY 2025—more than double the pace in just a few years.

In FY 2026, we still expect the country’s economic recovery to continue, though at a more moderate pace amid a complex domestic environment and global uncertainty.

Nepal has also been very successful in rebuilding policy buffers. Foreign exchange reserves have risen to nearly $20 billion, enough to cover almost a full year of imports. Fiscal discipline has helped stabilise public debt. Inflation remains well below the Nepal Rastra Bank’s target.

This hard-won economic stability should be safeguarded. At the same time, the economy hasn’t fully recovered. Domestic demand remains subdued, investor confidence is waning, and more efforts are needed to protect vulnerable people.

Nepal has achieved significant milestones on structural reforms, in part with support from the IMF capacity development. On the fiscal front, frameworks for increasing government revenue and fiscal transparency have improved with the publication of the domestic revenue mobilization strategy, fiscal risk statement and the tax expenditure report. The National Planning Commission has issued revised guidelines for the National Project Bank, which will strengthen capital project selection and execution.

Likewise, in the financial sector, bank supervision has improved through the Supervisory Information System. The Nepal Rastra Bank has also recently launched a loan portfolio review of 10 large commercial banks, which is expected to provide deep insights into the health of the banking sector.

Measures have been taken to improve governance and transparency, including by improving the anti-money laundering framework, though further efforts are needed to enhance implementation.

As part of the program, four priority nonfinancial public enterprises had their financial statements audited. Work is underway to amend the Nepal Rastra Bank Act to strengthen its autonomy and governance.

Yet, unresolved structural issues and emerging headwinds are testing these gains. Policymakers must ensure that the fruits of macroeconomic stability and growth are broadly shared. Continued reforms will help. In the near term, this implies accelerating budget execution and improving project readiness—particularly in areas such as hydropower and trade-related infrastructure—and reducing logistics frictions, which will crowd-in private investment.

This will also lay the foundation for a more diversified, higher value-added growth model that creates more domestic jobs.

Unlocking private sector growth to deliver more jobs and better livelihoods is critical. This can only be accomplished when the basic building blocks of private enterprise are in place: Strong institutions, free and fair markets and a stable macroeconomic environment.

Over the medium term, strengthening governance and anti-corruption institutions, improving the investment climate, enhancing financial oversight, trade integration and expanding targeted social protection will be key to unlocking inclusive and sustainable growth.

Reason for hope

Let us conclude by expressing our deep sympathy for the profound loss during the recent social unrest. We are deeply saddened by the loss, but also heartened by the resilience of the Nepali people striving for a better future.

While global economic prospects remain dim amid uncertainty, Nepal gives reason for hope—a nation reimagined with greater equality and good governance. The country faces a challenging transition, but it can make the most progress if the people work together. For policymakers, this implies steering the economy on the course of continued reforms that safeguard macroeconomic and financial stability while laying strong foundations for durable and inclusive growth, coupled with good governance.

This is a unique moment in the country’s long history, and a time to set a new standard for the future. The IMF is ready to support Nepal in its journey.

Krishna Srinivasan is the head of the Asia and Pacific Department at the IMF. Sarwat Jahan is the mission chief for Nepal and a deputy division chief in the Asia and Pacific Department.

IPS UN Bureau

 

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