Daily News on Issues Affecting Africa for January 8th

Continue reading for a summary of recent news stories relating to some of the most pressing issues on the continent. We draw on a wide range of respected news sources, both from Africa itself and around the world. The themes of today's In the News post are updates on deadly clashes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a possible ceasefire to come soon in South Sudan, a new free trade agreement for Africa, an economic summit for Central African states, what an African-centric world will look like 50 years from now, fighting for security in Puntland, and investing in Africa.

DR Congo's Lubumbashi hit by fighting
At least 26 people have been killed in an eight-hour battle between government and rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo's second city Lubumbashi, police say. The rebels were beaten back on Tuesday morning after heavy fighting overnight, police said. The assault was launched by the Mai Mai Kata Katanga, a secessionist group in the region, police said. It is fighting for the independence of Katanga, the richest province in DR Congo. To read more, please visit the BBC Africa site HERE.

South Sudan Government Ready to Sign Cease-Fire 'Soon'
Delegates for South Sudan's government said they are prepared to sign a cease-fire "soon," as negotiations continue with anti-government fighters on a proposal to end weeks of deadly violence. Both sides made statements Wednesday in Ethiopia's capital, a day after regional mediators presented a draft peace agreement. To read more, please visit the Voice of America Africa site HERE.

Southern Africa: Tripartite Free Trade Area to Become a Reality
Three regional economic communities in Africa are expected to sign an agreement in 2014 to establish an enlarged market covering 26 countries in eastern and southern Africa. The "Grand" or Tripartite Free Trade Area (FTA) with a combined population of some 600 million people and a Gross Domestic Product of about US$1 trillion covers half of the member states of the African Union and is intended to boost intra-regional trade, increase investment and promote the development of cross-regional infrastructure. To read more, please visit the AllAfrica.com site HERE.

CEEAC: sommet extraordinaire sur la Centrafrique les 9 et 10 janvier
La situation en Centrafrique sera au menu d'un nouveau sommet extraordinaire organisé jeudi et vendredi à N'Djamena par la Communauté économique des États d'Afrique centrale (CEEAC). Un peu plus d'un mois après le début de l'intervention militaire française, la Communauté économique des États d'Afrique centrale (CEEAC) tiendra jeudi 9 et vendredi 10 janvier un sommet extraordinaire à N'Djamena sur la crise en Centrafrique. To read more, please visit the Jeune Afrique site HERE.

 Africa in 2064 – an Afrocentric future
With an African tech boom amidst continental unity and a meltdown in Europe, Stephen Chan imagines what Africa could be like in 50 years' time. To read more, please visit the Africa Report site HERE.

Somalia's Puntland new president vows to fight insecurity
Parliament narrowly elected former prime minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali as president of Puntland on Wednesday, backing his campaign against corruption and insecurity in the relatively peaceful Somali region. At the tip of the Horn of Africa and with a third of Somalia's population of about 10 million, the semi-autonomous Puntland spans the north of Somalia and has largely escaped the worst of the country's upheaval of the last 20 years. To read more, please visit the Reuters Africa site HERE.

Indian mid-size companies bet on Africa as the next growth driver
Many Indian mid-size companies are warming up to purchase of iron and coal mines, power, consumer goods and engineering equipment makers in Africa as the growing middle-class market is attractive. A fortnight ago, Hasnen Varawalla, managing director and head of investment banking for Barclays in Africa, spent a week meeting Indian companies looking for opportunities in Africa. To read more, please visit the Economic Times site HERE.