Author: Albert Savana

The year 2020 has seen impressive growth for the entire crypto market, with many investors turning to digital coins as a store of value amid the COVID-19 crisis. However, more money flowing through digital exchanges has created an opportunity for hackers and crooks. According to data presented by Finaria.it, crypto-criminals stole $ 1.9 billion in 2020. A significant amount but down sharply compared to the $ 4.5 billion stolen in 2019. Statistics show that the fraud was the main crypto crime of last year, followed by theft and ransomware. Although the total value of crypto-crime fell in 2020, crypto theft…

Under the aegis of the International Society of Horticultural Sciences (ISHS), in partnership with the Government of Senegal, through the Ministry of Employment, Vocational Training and Handicrafts, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Equipment, the Horticulture Cluster of Senegal is organizing the 4th All Africa Horticultural Congress (AAHC). This major international event, the first in the French-speaking world, will be held in Dakar from 29 to 31 March 2021. More than 500 participants from academia, research, the private sector, African national public institutions, and many others, from over 30 countries, are expected to connect remotely or be present in…

African Guarantee Fund has issued a loan portfolio guarantee amounting to USD 10 million to Afriland First Bank to support SMEs, women entrepreneurs and green economy in Cameroon. The signing ceremony took place at African Guarantee Fund’s head office in Nairobi. Signed by Alphonse Nafack, Managing Director of Afriland First Bank and Jules Ngankam, Group Chief Executive Officer of African Guarantee Fund, this agreement will enable Afriland First Bank, on the one hand, to strengthen its commitment to the SME/SMI sector and, on the other hand, to promote the development of green entrepreneurship and women’s leadership in the business community.…

Bolloré Transport & Logistics has been recertified as a Regional Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) in East Africa. The certification, which covers Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania, recognizes Bolloré Transport & Logistics as a secure and reliable trade partner and offers the benefit of expedited clearance procedures through pre-arrival clearance, reduced physical inspection and priority service channels among other benefits. “As a global logistics player operating in East Africa, the AEO certification allows us to extend the privilege of fast-tracked cargo handling to the numerous importers and exporters in our client base. It is a boost to efficiency in the…

The G5-Sahel summit brings together the countries of the Sahel (Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad) on February 15 and 16, 2021 in N’Djamena, Chad. This meeting aims to take stock of the security situation in the sub-region, with a possible resizing of Barkhane on the horizon. According to Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, this next summit must be one of the diplomatic leap, the political leap and the development boom in order to consolidate the results of recent months. In addition, the head of French diplomacy underlined the need to “strengthen coordination between the…

Senegal’s total cereal production fell by 120,224 tonnes at the end of the 2019-2020 crop year compared to the 2018-2019 crop year, according to data established by the Department of Analysis, Forecasting and Statistics. (DAPSA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Equipment. The final results for the crop year under review show cereal production of 2.768 million tonnes against 2.899 million tonnes in 2018-2019, a decline of 4.14%. The total area of ​​sown areas fell by 28,542 hectares, going from 1,757,666 hectares in 2018-2019 to 1,729,124 hectares a year later. In Senegal’s total cereal production, that of rice (irrigated,…

After Zambia (Ca, stable), Ethiopia (B2, negative) and Chad entered into negotiations with official and bilateral creditors, Moody’s released a report this week assessing the potential implications of the G-20 Common Framework’s credit. * in a context of persistent uncertainty on how it will be implemented. “Given the continuing uncertainty over how the common framework will be implemented, and in particular how private sector involvement will or will not be defined,” Moody’s does not formally determine that the engagement of a countries in the G20 initiative will de facto increase the risks of its private creditors. However, continue Moody’s analysts,…

Bitcoin (BTC) crossed the psychological bar of 45,000 dollars (24,323,949.55 CFA Franc) on February 10, 2021, to the chagrin of central banks and to the regret of those who, like most of us, do not invest in the future, in an emerging trend, rather waiting for the wave to be sufficiently mature. At this point, at the top of the ridge, the curve can no longer rise but falls, dragging down those who joined the dynamic at the last moment. The new millionaires who emerge from the world of the internet following the dazzling gain of 100% made by the…

Bitcoin (BTC) continues its momentum, quoting at $ 42,848, or 23.5 million CFA Francs or 383,018 dirhams while the boss of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, persists and signs: “ ”It is not a currency. Cryptoassets are not money. It is a highly speculative asset “, slice the guardian of the temple of monetarist orthodoxy, guest Sunday on BFMTV and BFM Business. Over the last 24 hours, the queen of cryprocurrencies has improved by 12.21%, driven by institutions and investors like Elon Musk, who bet $ 1.5 billion of his cash in January, a record for a company…

After the 79.800 billion FCFA (119.700 million euros) raised in the financial market of the West African Monetary Union (WAMU) on January 15, 2021, the State of Senegal, through the General Directorate of Accounting public and treasury, again obtained on February 5, 2021 an amount of 82.500 billion FCFA (123.750 million euros) at the end of its simultaneous issue by auction of similar bonds of the treasury (OAT) of maturity 36, 60 and 84 months, organized in partnership with the UMOA-Titres Agency based in Dakar. The intentions of issuing government securities (mainly OATs) expressed by the Senegalese government authorities on…

News that should raise phews of relief in Nigeria, Angola and, among others, in the countries of the Community of Central African States (CEMAC) suspended to the jolts of black gold. The barrel of Brent gained 1.26% on Monday to 60.19 dollars, its highest since January 2020, in the wake of the markets which welcome with hope the vaccination campaigns against the Covid-19 and the promises of a new plan of American economic support. Carrying along optimisms scattered around the world and attenuated by the British, South African and Brazilian variants, the barrel of oil reflects the relationship between supply…

In the judgment given on February 3, the French Court of Cassation confirms the inviolability of thirteen bank accounts of the Congo embassy in France which were seized in 2016 by the company Commisimpex. by Moshen Hojeij in the context of the Lebanese businessman’s heavy litigation with the Republic of Congo. In execution of two...

In Mali, the transitional government is preparing to relaunch gold production at the Morila gold mine. The information was given during a field visit by the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water, Lamine Seydou Traoré, on February 1, 2021. “We are on the way to saving more than 500 direct jobs and nearly 2,000 indirect jobs. So in this context, it was important for us to come and see how all this arsenal is being put in place for the benefit of the neighboring populations, and in general for the benefit of the Malian population ”, he declared to during…

Former US President Donald Trump is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize alongside, among others, the Black Live Matters movement, which he fought during his tenure (2016-2020). A divisive man, a supporter of the old slogan, “law and order,” the billionaire who struggled to accept his defeat is nonetheless one of the few US presidents not to start a new war. In the Middle East, he succeeded in making a historic rapprochement between Israel and the Sunni bloc led by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Morocco. If he wins the Nobel Peace Prize, Donald Trump, nominated in…

The British hydrocarbon giant shows a loss of 20.3 billion dollars according to the results unveiled Tuesday, February 2, against the trend of its evolution in previous years. In 2019, BP made a net profit of $ 4 billion. “We expect much better days for all of us in 2021,” suggested Bernard Looney, CEO of BP, who has just completed his first fiscal year. The group expects demand to pick up this year but expects to suffer in the first quarter due to new restrictions on variants of the virus. In total, BP on average sold its oil at a…

Libreville called on Henri Proglio to revive its water and electricity sectors. The former boss of Veolia Environnement before being fired for his post in 2012 signed, on November 25, after an interview with Ali Bongo at the Gabonese presidency, a consultancy contract relating to the conditions for relaunching the Company of energy and water...

Mali’s real GDP growth rate is expected to stand at 4% in 2021, according to the 2021 budget law drawn up by the government. These forecasts follow a year 2020 when the contraction, more severe than initially projected, was of the order of -2%, after a high average economic growth rate of + 5.7% between 2014 and 2019. This forecast, it is said, is based essentially on the assumptions of better performance of subsistence agriculture thanks to the pursuit of agricultural policies and reforms, good rainfall, the implementation of public investment programs, and the dynamism of the branches of “transport…

In the aftermath of disputed presidential elections, the business climate in Ghana has continued to deteriorate. A trend on the rise in recent years, driven by the lack of progress and insufficient results in the fight against corruption, Nana Akufo-Addo’s flagship project. The mining sector is the most affected by repeated scandals, increasingly deterring investors and their capitals. Once a model of stability and governance, Ghana is struggling to attract foreign investors. This is illustrated by its sharp fall in international rankings. In 2015, Ghana was ranked 70th in the World Bank Doing Business Index, in 2020, the country plummeted…

The African Import-Export Bank (Afreximbank) disbursed $ 250 million of the $ 1.1 billion that supported the acquisition by Trans Niger Oil and Gas Limited (TNOG) of a 45% stake in the OML 17 onshore oil field. With this loan facility, Afreximbank is the project’s largest donor, subscribing about a quarter of the financing that enabled TNOG to purchase shares in OML 17 from Shell Petroleum Development Company, Total E&P Nigeria Limited and ENI. Other participating donors include Africa Finance Corporation, Union Bank, Shell, Hybrid Capital and Schlumberger, with TNOG advised by United Capital Plc. The five-year US $ 1.1…

The net banking income (GNP) of the National Agricultural Bank (BNA) of Tunisia recorded at the end of the 2020 financial year, an increase of 4.5% compared to its level of 2019, announced the leaders of this banking establishment. based in Tunis. This GNP stood at 683.716million dinars as of December 31, 2020 against 654.294million dinars a year earlier, an increase of 29.422 million dinars. Banking operating income reached 1.382 billion dinars during the period under review against 1.325 billion dinars as of December 31, 2019, registering an increase of 4.3%. On these products, interest is predominant, reaching 1.116 billion…

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania has signed the Agreement for the Establishment of the Fund for Export-Development in Africa (FEDA), a development impact-oriented subsidiary of Afreximbank. The agreement was signed on 6th January 2021 by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Mauritania becomes the second signatory of the Establishment Agreement after Rwanda signed in November 2020. To complete the FEDA Legal Establishment, two Afreximbank member states are required to sign and ratify the Establishment Agreement. Mauritania’s signature helps move FEDA’s Legal Establishment process forward. The Establishment Agreement…

Guinean-American Mahmoud Bah has been named head of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). This choice of the new American president should revitalize this institution created in 2004 under George W. Bush, with the mission of reducing poverty in the world. Among other things, MCC provides grants and fixed-term assistance to developing countries. For Mahmoud Bah, this appointment rewards consistency. Former regional team leader for the MCC regional portfolio, he was, for three years, country director of the Millennium Challenge Corporation in Côte d’Ivoire, then acting vice-president of the agency for administration and finance and chief financial officer. Fluent in English,…

US President Joe Biden will impose an entry ban into the country from Saturday on most non-US citizens who recently traveled to South Africa in an attempt to contain the spread of a new variant of the coronavirus, US health officials told Reuters. The new White House tenant will also re-impose on Monday an entry ban on almost all non-American travelers who have visited Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and 26 countries in Europe with borders. remain open, the sources said on condition of anonymity. On January 18, former President Donald Trump ordered the lifting of restrictions on Brazil and…

The Minister of Economy and Finance Alousséni Sanou received in audience on January 22, 2020 the President of the West African Development Bank (BOAD) Serge Ekue visiting Mali. The two personalities discussed the state of cooperation between Mali and the financial institution and the prospects After congratulating his host on his appointment at the head of this regional institution, he invited him to work more for a strong strong involvement of BOAD in socio-economic development in Mali, in particular in favor of the financing of infrastructure and private sector heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Accompanied by former Malian Minister…

CDC Group, the UK’s impact investor and development finance institution (DFI) has announced a commitment to invest over US$1 billion again in African businesses in 2021. The commitment will enable CDC to invest in many more promising African entrepreneurs and SMEs, and continue to drive inclusive growth and job creation across the continent, where over half of the institution’s portfolio is now invested. The funds will be invested in financial institutions, infrastructure and climate, services, manufacturing, agriculture, real estate and technology. n 2020, CDC committed over $1 billion into Africa with a focus was the economic recovery from COVID-19. CDC…

The State of Côte d’Ivoire, through its General Directorate of the Treasury and Public Accounts, raised on January 19, 2021 an amount of 33 billion FCFA (49.500 million euros) on the financial market of the Union West African monetary (UMOA) at the end of its issue by auction of assimilable treasury bills (BAT) with a maturity of 182 days. Out of a total auctioned amount of CFAF 30 billion, the Ivorian public treasury ended up with CFAF 69.009 billion in global bids made by investors. This corresponds to a coverage rate of the amount put out to tender of 230.03%.…

Jack Ma appeared in public at a rally held Wednesday, January 20 with teachers in his hometown of Hangzhou. With less teeth than usual, the prodigy said he would devote more time to philanthropy without addressing his supposed dispute with the Chinese state. The Chinese financial market, which has been on the lookout for news of one of its icons for three months, hailed the appearance with a rush on Ali Baba stock, which jumped 11% in Hong Kong. The Chinese billionaire, founder of Ali Baba, had not appeared in public since his criticism of the Chinese banking sector last…

Africa’s largest economy sees inflation hitting 15.75 percent in December, its highest in 33 months, according to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Nigeria, which had closed its borders from August 2019 to December 2020 (the import of rice and certain foodstuffs remaining prohibited) to stimulate its process of food self-sufficiency, is moving further away from the convergence criteria for the adoption of Eco, the single currency of ECOWAS. This Olympic inflation, which results in part from the instability of the national currency, the Naira, supported by massive dips in foreign exchange reserves, is felt heavily in the…

CDC Group, the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, has announced a USD 100 million debt commitment to the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB). The investment strengthens TDB’s capacity to provide additional amounts of credit to businesses in need of short-term financing. CDC’s commitment supports the import, export and production of strategic inputs and agricultural commodity goods in the 22 member states where TDB operates, with a strong focus on those economies with the most challenging investment climates. The facility provides further capital for TDB’s new and existing clients emerging from the economic challenges brought…

After setting carbon reduction objectives on its direct emissions in 2018, Bolloré Logistics is now committing to cutting by 30% by 2030 (relative to 2019) its Scope 3 CO2 emissions generated by the execution of transport services. The ambitious goal, considerably lower than the 2°C trajectory, involves making a sustainable offering central to its operations. “Bolloré Logistics has for several years supported its customers in their growth by providing eco- responsible solutions. Focused initially on key account customers, Bolloré Logistics’ sustainable supply- chain offering is being strengthened across all segments and, at the same time, rolled out widely and industrialised,”…