Author: Amadjiguéne Ndoye

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has established direct access for international investors to the Kenyan public securities market through a partnership with Clearstream, a post-trade infrastructure of the Deutsche Börse Group. This system connects foreign investors to the Kenyan government securities central depository (DhowCSD) through an omnibus account structure, allowing them to invest more...

African Bank recorded a net loss of 624 million rand (37.8 million USD) for its latest fiscal year, penalized by an increase in provisions for doubtful debts and a decline in non-interest income. Net income before impairments and charges stood at 3.3 billion rand (200 million USD), while interest income remained largely stable at 3.7...

The Central Bank of Sudan has ordered the liquidation of the local branch of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), ending fourteen years of presence in the country, in a context of ongoing war that continues to weaken the Sudanese financial system. The Governor of the Central Bank, Amna Mirghani Hassan El Tom, signed administrative decision...

Moody’s rating agency lowered Gabon’s sovereign rating outlook from “stable” to “negative” on Thursday, June 26, while maintaining its rating at Caa2, highlighting the worsening risks related to state financing and the increasing likelihood of a new debt restructuring. The agency believes that the country’s financing needs, estimated at between 15% and 20% of gross domestic product (GDP) annually, far exceed current resource mobilization capacities. This situation arises as Libreville seeks to finance an ambitious infrastructure program while conducting a comprehensive audit of its public debt. According to Moody’s, the combination of limited access to international markets, high borrowing costs,…

Credit extended to the Nigerian government increased by 17,390 billion nairas (11.6 billion USD) in the year ending in May 2026, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), confirming the rise in banks’ exposure to sovereign debt. Total credit to the government stood at 40,380 billion nairas (26.7 billion USD) in May...

The British digital bank Monzo started offering money transfers to Nigeria on June 23, 2026, expanding its services on one of the most active remittance corridors between the UK and Africa. This new feature, integrated into the app, allows users to send nairas without using a dedicated third-party platform. The service is based on the...

African Frontier Capital has raised $50 million through a green bond secured for the financing of domestic solar systems in Africa, in a transaction structured and arranged by Standard Chartered, confirming its central role in climate finance in emerging markets. The issuance, with a maturity of four years and rated BBB by Fitch Ratings, will...

The Egyptian financial regulator approved, on June 23, 2026, 13 new operations in non-banking financial services. These authorizations include consumer finance, SME financing, leasing, factoring, and investment fund management. Among the main decisions are the entry of new players in the activities of promoting and subscribing securities, as well as the creation of a real...

Lloyds Banking Group is evaluating a potential acquisition of Aldermore, the British bank owned by the South African group FirstRand, according to a report published on Monday, June 22 by the British media Sky News. According to the report, Lloyds is particularly interested in Aldermore’s small business financing and project financing activities. However, no decision regarding a formal offer has been made at this stage. FirstRand announced in April its intention to sell Aldermore, citing uncertainty related to the compensation scheme for the British motor finance sector. The group has increased its provisions for disputes related to potentially mis-sold car…

South African assets are experiencing a renewed interest from institutional investors, with a level of optimism at its highest in over a decade, according to a Bank of America Global Research survey published on Monday, June 22. The survey, conducted with 14 fund managers between June 5 and 11, indicates that 93% of respondents believe that buying opportunities exceed selling opportunities, a level unseen since 2009. Allocations towards mining stocks are also at their highest level in five years. The decline in energy prices is cited as the main factor improving sentiment. Oil has dropped by 29% in June compared…

Spiro has received an additional investment of $55 million from the Chinese fund NewTrails Capital, bringing the total amount of its latest funding round to $270 million, announced the company specializing in electric mobility in Africa on Monday, June 22. This new investment strengthens NewTrails Capital’s presence in the company’s shareholder base, alongside FEDA, Impact...

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has requested banks in the country to no longer grant loans intended to finance the creation of businesses, capital increases, or dividend distributions, thus strengthening the framework for granting bank financing. In a circular addressed to credit institutions (dated June 21, 2026), the CBE specified that bank facilities cannot...

The main listed Nigerian banks generated more than half of their pre-tax profits from their foreign activities in 2025, confirming the growing importance of their African and international networks in the sector’s results. The five banking groups First HoldCo, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO/GTBank), Access Holdings and Zenith Bank recorded...

Kenya has mandated the Trade and Development Bank (TDB) and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) to mobilize around USD 1.19 billion to finance the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, according to media sources on Friday, June 19. This strategic project is intended to strengthen the country’s position in the regional competition between airport hubs....

The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) approved $9.35 billion in trade financings in 2025, with the majority of funds continuing to be directed towards the energy sector, according to its annual report released on Friday, June 19. Nearly 70% of the financings, or $6.47 billion, were allocated to energy, confirming the persistent dependence of...

The South African banking group Absa plans to invest up to 30.9 billion Kenyan shillings ($239 million) to increase its stake in Absa Bank Kenya from 68.5% to 85%, thus strengthening its exposure to one of the most dynamic banking markets in East Africa. The offer involves the acquisition of up to 895.9 million shares at a price of 34.50 shillings per share ($0.27), representing a premium of about 20% compared to the 30-day weighted average price. This operation, totaling 30.9 billion Kenyan shillings ($239 million), comes as major African banks accelerate their expansion in Kenya, seen as a gateway…

The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has maintained its issuer credit rating of “AAAspc” with a stable outlook, according to S&P Global (China) Ratings. The agency highlighted a strong liquidity position, robust capital management, and high policy importance, while noting shareholder concentration as a risk factor. Nigeria, the AFC’s main exposure country, has been implementing economic...

The Kenyan subsidiary of the Commercial International Bank (CIB Kenya) aims to triple its market share in two years to reach the second-tier bank segment, said Tirus Mwithiga, CEO of CIB Kenya, in front of the press. The bank currently holds about 0.3% of the market, according to its management, below the 1% threshold generally...

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has ordered banks, fintechs, and other payment service providers to locally store transaction data generated in the country starting from January 1, 2027, according to a circular published by the institution. The measure applies to commercial banks, mobile money operators, payment processing companies, and other industry players. The regulator...

The Central Bank of Sierra Leone closed Union Trust Bank (UTB), the country’s only indigenous private bank, on Wednesday, June 17, after determining that the institution was insolvent and no longer met the legal requirements applicable to commercial banks. The Governor of the Central Bank, Ibrahim Stevens, stated that this decision came after several supervisory...

Kenya plans to raise approximately USD 1.13 billion through an international bond issuance to finance its budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year starting in July, according to Treasury documents cited by Bloomberg. This operation is part of a broader debt management framework, which also includes expected funding from the World Bank and the African...

S&P Global Ratings has assigned the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) a long-term credit rating of BBB+ and a short-term rating of A-2, with a stable outlook, reinforcing the institution’s position among the leading multilateral lenders dedicated to trade and development in Africa. This decision keeps the African multilateral institution in the “investment grade” category, a rating level that facilitates access to international capital markets and reflects a moderate credit risk. The agency highlighted Afreximbank’s strong financial profile, its growing role in trade finance in Africa, and the support of its sovereign shareholders. It also emphasizes the bank’s countercyclical function, which…

Ghana International Bank (GHIB) has announced the appointment of Ian Greenstreet as Chief Executive Officer, subject to regulatory approval. He succeeds Dean Adansi, who is stepping down as part of a leadership transition at the institution. This British bank, majority-owned by the Bank of Ghana, entrusts its leadership to a seasoned executive with over four...

MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) Uganda has appointed Phrase Lubega as the new Managing Director, subject to approval from the Bank of Uganda. He succeeds the interim Managing Director, Sarah Bateta Okwi, who had been leading the fintech subsidiary for several months following an internal transition. The appointment, announced by the group’s board of directors, is...

Egypt is on the verge of finalizing a samurai bond issuance of around $500 million, its first fundraising in yen in three years, as the country seeks to diversify its sources of financing in the face of increasing economic pressures. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Thursday, June 4 in Tokyo that preparations for...

Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc has obtained approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for its conversion into a regional commercial bank, a development that will allow it to expand its activities beyond mortgage financing, according to a regulatory document published on Wednesday, June 3. The bank, currently operating as a primary mortgage institution, plans...

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $125 million equity investment in African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI). The transaction will increase AfDB’s stake in the pan-African insurer from around 3% to nearly 14%, according to information shared about the deal. This investment comes as development institutions seek to enhance risk-sharing mechanisms to mobilize more private capital towards Africa, where the cost of financing remains high in many countries. Based in Nairobi, ATIDI provides guarantees against political risks, payment defaults, and various forms of commercial risks that may hinder cross-border investments. Strengthening its capital base should enable it…

The offer from South African banking group Nedbank to acquire approximately 66% of the capital of NCBA Group has entered a decisive phase with the opening of the acceptance period. It offers shareholders of the Kenyan bank a premium of over 20% compared to the current share price. Announced in January, the operation involves the...

AFG Bank Gabon recorded a record net profit of 31.25 billion CFA francs (equivalent to $54.8 million) in 2025, up by 30.15% compared to the 24.01 billion CFA francs ($42.1 million) achieved a year earlier, according to the accounts approved at the bank’s general meeting held on May 26 in Libreville. Driven by a strong...

Sanlam Alternative Investments has acquired a 10% stake in GreenCo Group Limited for 10 million USD, becoming the first private institutional investor in the regional electricity trader. This investment values GreenCo at around 100 million USD and comes as the company seeks to expand its electricity trading operations in Southern Africa, a key segment of...