🎬Three screens

February 27, 2025

Good morning. Unconventional advice, but if you’re tired this morning from pulling an all-nighter studying, maybe put that textbook down. Aaron Terrazas, an economist, described data showing that it takes longer to find a job when you have an advanced degree. In the US, it takes about 18 months after studies. In Africa? *chirping sounds…

Cue in a motivational speech about how entrepreneurship is better.

— Benyin Ogar, Chibuike Uzor.

CURRENCIES

Currency exchange rates against the US Dollar as of market close. Here’s what these numbers mean

GEOPOLITICS
Unrest in Bissau as President Bissau refuses to step down

LUSA/AFP

Much like a disgruntled spouse who’s just found out they’ve been betrayed, Guinea Bissau’s political opposition, the PAIGC, declared on Tuesday that they would bring the country to a complete halt today.

Their actual words were more evocative. According to Reuters, the party’s spokesperson during a press conference said “We are going to paralyze the country completely on February 27th... Bissau will be a dead city” in reference to a potential coup d’etat against sitting president, Umaro Embalo.

What do we know?

Embalo, 52 is currently serving his first (and according to him) and only tenure as president. According to the electoral calendar, the tenure ends today, February 27th. Last week, however, Embalo was able to secure a Supreme Court order stating that his tenure would actually come to an end on September 4th, and the presidential and legislative elections would be held in November instead.

The announcement on Sunday raised eyebrows more dramatically than Dwayne Johnson on a TV promo, and for good reason;

  • Embolo dissolved the parliament last year, and many suspect it was because it was mostly opposition-controlled.

  • The government has also indefinitely suspended parliamentary elections, citing financial and technical struggles.

According to political analyst, Luis Petit, Embalo’s claims to not run for a second time is likely a farce. "He has a tendency to say one thing and then do the opposite. It is likely that he is trying to buy time or strengthen his support base," Petit suggested.

More of the same? Analysts are weary a coup may be in the works. And it wouldn’t be out of place.

  • The country has a history of toppling sitting presidents with over 3 successful coups since its independence in 1974.

  • Embalo’s tenure has suffered two unsuccessful coup attempts, the latest in February 2023.

Meanwhile, ECOWAS is planning to send a delegation to Bissau to ease tensions. The PAIGC group however declined to meet with ECOWAS representatives, citing a potential bias in favor of Embalo. -BO.

TRENDING
From one, to two, now three screens

Huawei

$3,600: The price tag on Chinese tech company Huawei’s trifolding phone, Mate XT, when it becomes available to markets beyond China. A press release suggests using a single screen for quick tasks, like snapping a pic or making a call, and the double screen for reading articles. But if you want to multitask, then go ahead and unfold all three screens to enjoy 10.2 inches of display.

Though Huawei — which makes a broad variety of tech products — has struggled due to US sanctions that cut it off from advanced semiconductors and Google’s operating system, it holds 17% of the smartphone market share in China and saw revenue increase 22% in 2024.

 SHOWER THOUGHTS

“If you run at 11pm you are a night person. If you run at 5am you are a morning person. If you run at 3am you are a suspicious person.”

NEWS
Round the continent

Ben Perry/Armoury Films

  • Botswana has a secured an improved 10-year extension on the mining lease with De Beers which could see them make up to 20% more on diamond royalties.

  • The US has ended the Power Africa initiative as part of its clamp-down on USAID agencies that “aren’t aligned with national interest”.

  • The UK is returning boxes of Benin Bronzes, which were looted by the British in 1897 to Nigeria.

  • Read: Why does Mars appear red in colour.

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