China, the DRC, and Artisanal Cobalt Mining

 The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America published on 20 June 2023 a study titled "China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Artisanal Cobalt Mining from 2000 through 2020" by Andrew L. Gulley, U.S. Geological Survey.  

The study systematically evaluates the role of artisanal mining in world cobalt mine production.  It finds that artisanal cobalt mining's share of world cobalt mining has generally decreased since 2008 and that most artisanal production was either processed in the DRC by Chinese firms or exported to China.  

US Government Urges US Companies to Avoid Doing Business with Sudanese State-Owned Enterprises

 The U.S. Department of State, Department of the Treasury, Department of Commerce, and Department of Labor issued on 23 May 2022 an advisory titled "Risks and Considerations for U.S. Businesses Operating in Sudan."

Following the seizure of power by Sudan's military on 25 October 2021, the military is in effective control of all state-owned enterprises (SOEs), of which there are at least 650.  The advisory warns that investing with, forming partnerships, or facilitating the expansion of SOEs and military-controlled companies in Sudan may entail reputational risks for U.S. businesses and individuals.  

This advisory relates specifically to SOEs and military-controlled companies.  The U.S. government does not seek to curtail or discourage responsible investment or business activities in Sudan with civilian-owned Sudanese counterparts.  

The Gold Sector in Sudan

The Sudan Democracy First Group recently published a study titled "The Politics of Mining and Trading of Gold in Sudan: Challenges of Corruption and Lack of Transparency" by Elfadil Elsharief Elhashmi.

The author concludes that the gold sector in Sudan operates in the context of widespread corruption and a state that has organized itself around the theft of national resources.

Mental Health Research in Ethiopia

Professor Atalay Alem, Department of Psychiatry at Addis Ababa University, has posted an in depth study on mental health research in Ethiopia. This is a topic that has received little attention over the years but is deserving of more. I found the paper on the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration website.

Click here and then go to recent news to find the study.