Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast expects cocoa output to grow by 10% in current season
The director of domestic marketing at the Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC), Arsene Dadie, said although the first projections for the 2024/25 harvest showed positive signs in September
 "Ivory Coast expects cocoa output to grow by 10% in current season")
China's rice exports to Ivory Coast top 2022 after India imposed curbs
The Asian nation shipped 45,000 tonnes to the African country in October, matching the volume exported in August, customs data compiled by Bloomberg show
 "China's rice exports to Ivory Coast top 2022 after India imposed curbs")
Niger's neighbours out of options as defence chiefs plan military force
Regional countries are facing a crisis of legitimacy as they run out of options and time to restore democratic rule in Niger after soldiers ousted the president last month, say analysts. Defence chiefs from the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, are meeting in Ghana Thursday to discuss Niger's crisis after a deadline passed for mutinous soldiers to release and reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum or face military intervention. Bazoum was overthrown in July and remains under house arrest with his wife and son in the capital, Niamey. This is the first meeting since ECOWAS ordered the deployment of a standby force last week to restore constitutional rule in the country. It's unclear if or when troops would intervene. A force would likely consist of several thousands soldiers from Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Benin and could take weeks or months to prepare, say conflict experts. ECOWAS has a poor track record in stemming the region's rampant coups: neighboring Burkina Faso and Mal
 "Niger's neighbours out of options as defence chiefs plan military force")
Top cocoa grower has to end subsidies for $3.5 bn IMF loan
Ivory Coast's public debt is expected to increase to 63.3% of gross domestic product this year from 56.8% in 2022, according to IMF data
 "Top cocoa grower has to end subsidies for $3.5 bn IMF loan")
Nestle to invest $1 billion towards sustainable coffee farming plan
The new plan builds on a previous coffee-sustainability effort that started 12 years ago involving around 100,000 farmers; the goal is to double that in the coming years
 "Nestle to invest $1 billion towards sustainable coffee farming plan")
Hershey's chocolates are not all that sweet for west African cocoa growers
The governments of Ivory Coast and Ghana have accused Hershey of maneuvering to circumvent premiums tacked on to the price of cocoa futures in order to raise incomes for hard-pressed cocoa farmers
 "Hershey's chocolates are not all that sweet for west African cocoa growers")
Gunmen kill 16 people at Ivory Coast resort, Al-Qaeda claims responsibility
Witnesses said they heard an assailant shout 'Allahu Akbar'; one French and one German national are among the dead
 "Gunmen kill 16 people at Ivory Coast resort, Al-Qaeda claims responsibility")
