Author: Contribution

By Dr. Mohamed H’Midouche, Executive Vice President of the African Diplomatic Academy & Honorary Consul of Cape Verde in Morocco. On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, in Rabat, Morocco proudly celebrated its U-20 world champions, who achieved a historic feat at the 2025 World Cup in Chile. Upon their return to the country, the young Lions of the Atlas were welcomed with exceptional popular jubilation: thousands of Moroccans from all regions gathered along Mohammed V Avenue in the capital to greet their heroes. The highlight was the royal reception at the Rabat Palace, hosted by His Majesty King Mohammed VI and…

By Prof. Amath Ndiaye – Economist, FASEG-UCAD I am saddened by the incompetence of the Malian junta in the face of the advance of jihadist groups. The country is literally cut in two, and Bamako is suffocating as supply routes are closing. Today we can see the price of a serious strategic mistake: that of self-proclaimed revolutionary leaders, more concerned about their political survival than the future of Mali. By rejecting the forces of Barkhane and those of the UN, they claimed to be restoring national sovereignty; in reality, they were seeking to consolidate fragile power. Operation Barkhane, launched in…

By Pape Demba Thiam, former World Bank executive. Contrary to popular belief, more ideological than operational schools, the market economy is absolutely not incompatible with strategic planning, which is at the core of state interventions. Etymologically, a true economist cannot simply measure, report, or passively describe what is happening in their environment, to then just pull out universal recipes from a formatted toolbox and use them like a robotic bureaucrat. A true economist must be ambitious, ingenious, and enterprising, as they seek to identify risks and constraints, to intervene and transform their environment, including by creating appropriate and effective concepts,…

By Christian Kazumba, expert in sub-Saharan private sector development. On average, public debt in Africa represents between 60 and 65% of GDP. While this percentage has doubled over the past fifteen years, it is significantly lower than the European Union average, as well as what is observed in France, Italy, Spain, Japan, or the United States. Furthermore, this ratio remains lower than the 70% limit imposed by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) on all its member countries. A quick and certainly too hasty analysis of these few figures could lead us to conclude that the continent’s debt…

By: Mr. Raphael Nkolwoudou Afane, Doctor of Law, Legal Ops Officer. Cameroon, often referred to as “Africa in miniature”, presents a striking paradox: exceptional human, cultural, and natural wealth, but a governance system that seems stuck in the quicksand of inefficiency and corruption. The potholed roads of Douala, power outages and uncollected garbage in Yaoundé, Kafkaesque administrative delays, opaque public tenders, and clientelist appointments are not just anecdotes: they are symptoms of a state struggling to reinvent itself. Following the recent presidential elections, the country once again finds itself facing its old demons: electoral disputes, weakened institutions, a struggling economy,…

By Pr Amath Ndiaye, FASEG-UCAD. The announcement of a 5% GDP growth rate for 2026 may seem encouraging, especially in an uncertain global context and budgetary austerity. However, in reality, this figure, although commendable on a macroeconomic level, is largely insufficient to address Senegal’s most pressing challenge: youth employment. growth too weak to absorb the youth According to recent data from ANSD, Senegal’s active population stands at nearly 11.7 million people, with 4.9 million employed. The employment-growth elasticity, which measures the ability of growth to generate jobs, is estimated at 0.6. In other words, each percentage point of GDP growth…

By Dr El Hadji Amadou Niang,Doctor in international law, former senior official of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations Secretariat,former Ambassador of Senegal, International Executive Consultant. Africa, the cradle of humanity, finds itself today at the dawn of a truly historic turning point. In a world shaken by economic storms, social fractures, climate emergencies, technological leaps, and profound geopolitical upheavals, our continent is moving forward — propelled by the ancestral wisdom of its peoples, the power of their memories, and the promise of a destiny to shape.As old models collapse and global balances are redrawn, Africa faces…

By Shalom Ndiku, Director of Public Affairs, Food4Education By 2030, Africa will be home to the world’s largest youth workforce, a generation whose potential could define the next century of global growth. Yet across the continent, millions of children still arrive at school hungry. Hunger remains one of the most persistent barriers to learning, costing African countries an estimated 16.5% of GDP each year in lost productivity, according to the African Union. The truth is simple: we cannot unlock Africa’s human capital if our children cannot concentrate in class. School meals are not an act of charity, but a true…

Peter Doyle, American Economist, ex IMF Senior Staff When in Fall 2024, Ndongo Samba Sylla and I flagged the absurdity—given the longstanding CFA Franc-Euro peg—of IMF projected 12-month inflation in Senegal of -13 percent for end-2025 and +42 percent for end-2026, we noted that the IMF was clearly not paying attention to the numbers, not even its own. What else, we asked, would emerge? Little did we know. After a change in government in April 2024, forensic investigations recently confirmed that government borrowing from 2019 during multiple IMF programs exceeded levels the IMF had reported, including to the Senegalese public,…

Sovereign rating of a country is an evaluation of its ability to repay its public debt, assigned by rating agencies such as Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch Ratings, which dominate the global market. This rating, usually represented by letters, is as follows: • AAA for very low risk; • BBB for average solvency; • D for default. The evaluation is based on economic, budgetary, and political indicators. A high rating signals low risk for investors, while a low rating indicates higher risk and may lead to higher interest rates for the country’s borrowing. Each agency has its own rating…

By: Dr. Mohamed H’Midouche, former senior official of the African Development Bank – Author and CEO, Inter Africa Capital Group. Context Africa is at a decisive turning point in its energy history. Endowed with over 13,000 billion cubic meters of proven natural gas reserves (about 7% of the global total) and exceptional renewable potential, the continent has the necessary assets to reconcile energy security, industrialization, and low-carbon transition. However, behind the ambitious announcements of large gas and green hydrogen projects, the reality remains mixed: many projects on the continent are still at the planning stage, lacking confirmed technical and financial…

By Denis CHEMILLIER-GENDREAU and Géraldine MERMOUX, FINACTU Group As Côte d’Ivoire approaches a new major political deadline, with the presidential election on October 25th, many commentators praise the achievements of President OUATTARA and his various governments in terms of infrastructure (nearly 2,000 km of roads rehabilitated since 2011, nearly 40,000 km of rural tracks back in service, 2,000 km of new roads, and 442 bridges and interchanges), economic dynamism (around 7% average annual growth over the period 2011-2025), and the control of key economic aggregates (inflation, budget deficit, and trade deficit under control). We could not expect less from a…

As African trade intensifies, Central Africa emerges as a key link in global exchanges. At the heart of this dynamic, Cameroon stands out for the modernization of its ports, the growth of air freight, and the strengthening of maritime security. These issues were highlighted during Africa Day 2025 at Sciences Po Paris, where experts and economic actors emphasized that the country’s competitiveness will depend on its ability to combine innovation, local anchoring, and reliability. Cameroonian ports and airports at the heart of exchanges On October 4, PortSec, a company specializing in securing critical infrastructure, participated in the second edition of…

By Mamadou Faye, General Director of BNDE / National Bank for Economic Development of Senegal. The recent decision by Moody’s to downgrade Senegal’s sovereign rating is, in many ways, unjustified and disconnected from the reality of our economic fundamentals. Our country remains strong, reform-oriented, and firmly committed to maintaining its macroeconomic balances. But beyond the technical debate, this episode should lead us to a collective reflection on our dependence on external assessments and the need for a national awakening for endogenous financing of our development. We must, more than ever, believe in our institutions, in our companies, and in our…

By Pr Amath Ndiaye, Economist, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar. The statement by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, expressing the Fund’s willingness to conclude a new program with Senegal, marks a new phase in the relationship between Dakar and the Bretton Woods institution. But this opening should not overshadow an imperative: stabilizing public finances without undermining the country’s social and political cohesion. An essential lever to be handled with caution The IMF is not a crisis exit strategy, but a stabilization lever. Its intervention aims to restore confidence, rebalance public accounts, and restore financial credibility to the country.Senegal, whose…

By Professor Amath Ndiaye, FASEG-UCAD. The BCEAO is preparing to take a historic step with the launch of the e-CFA, a fully digital version of the CFA franc. No more banknotes and coins: tomorrow, everyone will be able to use their currency directly via their phone, a card, or an application, securely. An official and secure currency Unlike cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, the e-CFA will not be a private currency. It is an official currency, guaranteed by the Central Bank of West African States. Its value is the same as that of the current CFA franc. Every citizen, even without a…

ST Digital group is set to inaugurate its very first data center in Ivory Coast on October 2nd. The infrastructure, located in the VITIB technology free zone in Grand-Bassam, aims to be a cornerstone of the country’s digital sovereignty strategy. A local response to a continental deficit With this Tier III data center, the pan-African group aims to help bridge the continent’s gap in data hosting. In 2024, Africa accounted for only 1% of the global data center capacity, generating approximately $3.5 billion in revenue, compared to a global market estimated at $386 billion. For comparison, North America holds over…

By Serge KOUAMELAN, Executive Director APBEF-CI. Sending money from a bank to a mobile wallet, or from one telecommunication operator to another, without complications? Thanks to interoperability, the BCEAO is transforming the daily lives of millions of UEMOA citizens. A financial world in UEMOA undergoing major changes We pay our bills, make purchases, and send money in just a few clicks. But until now, each system functioned as an isolated “island.” For example, it was impossible to directly send money from a bank to a mobile money account, or from one operator to another as easily. To remove these barriers,…

By George Pavel, Managing Director of Naga.com Middle East The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) entered 2025 with a clearer dynamic known as the “non-oil economy driving growth alongside hydrocarbon production dual engine”: non-oil growth ensuring the majority of progress, while hydrocarbons remained limited by previously decided OPEC+ quotas. This pattern is particularly visible in the United Arab Emirates where, in the first quarter, the overall GDP grew by 3.9% year-on-year, with a 5.3% increase in the non-oil sector, which now represents 77% of the economy. Saudi Arabia and Qatar also showed strong non-oil momentum. In the second half, the negative…

By Luc Gnacadja* As world leaders gather for the New York Climate Week starting on September 22, they will have to face an undeniable truth: even if all greenhouse gas emissions were to cease today, the planet would still be on a trajectory exceeding +2°C, due to the irreversible footprint of past emissions, as recently demonstrated by James Hansen and his colleagues[1]. Adapting to climate change is no longer an option: it has become a universal necessity, especially for developing countries. In this concerning context, financing for adaptation remains fragmented, insufficient, and misaligned with the needs of the most vulnerable.…

The Osaka 2025 World Expo represents a significant milestone in Côte d’Ivoire’s international strategy. At a time when world fairs serve as platforms for nations to express their identities, the West African country has framed its participation around the promotion of heritage and cultural diplomacy. This initiative forms part of a broader dynamic epitomised by 2024, a year marked by a series of events designed to strengthen Ivorian soft power and enhance the country’s visibility on the global stage. In Côte d’Ivoire, 2024 was most notably defined by the hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations, a major organisational and…

By Djeinaba Kane, specialist in public policy and international relations As many countries strengthen their engagement with their diasporas around the world, Mauritania finds itself at a decisive moment to deepen collaboration with its citizens living abroad. Following recent directives from President Ghazwani aimed at strengthening ties with Mauritanian communities overseas and enhancing their role as partners in national development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the organization of a forum for Mauritanians abroad, scheduled to take place in Nouakchott in November 2025. This forum represents a unique opportunity to amplify the voices of Mauritanians living abroad, showcase diaspora initiatives,…

Beyond selfies and viral videos, Facebook, WhatsApp, or TikTok are becoming real tools for economic development for farmers in West Africa. In Benin and Ivory Coast, a new generation of “agripreneurs” is using social networks to increase their income, share knowledge, and conquer new markets. According to a study by Caribou Consulting, conducted with the Mastercard Foundation, this “social agriculture” already reaches millions of people. WhatsApp serves as market intelligence, allowing producers to compare prices and avoid scams. Facebook is used as a commercial showcase, TikTok as a training platform, and Instagram as a tool for promoting agricultural products. These…

In 2020, I invested five million CFA francs in two flagship stocks of the BRVM: Sonatel, the undisputed star of the regional market, and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), once the flagship of a certain idea of ​​banking pan-Africanism. Should I keep quiet about the name of the SGI that accompanied me? Probably. Five years later,...

Par Dr Mohamed H’MIDOUCHE* Recapitalizing African financial institutions remains a major challenge. With its new mechanism, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) offers an innovative solution that paves the way for the continent’s progressive financial autonomy. Recapitalizing African regional banks has always been a puzzle: constrained public budgets, unpaid capital subscriptions, financial institutions lacking equity. By proposing to provide concessional loans to shareholder states so they can fulfill their commitments in regional or pan-African financial institutions, BADEA has introduced a major methodological innovation. This approach allows institutions to strengthen their capital without incurring debt, while enhancing…

By Professor Amath Ndiaye, FASEG – UCAD. Africans are often told that all they need is a national currency and to “open it like a tap” to finance schools, build roads, or pay civil servants. But this is an illusion. A currency is not a magical source: if too much is created without a link to real wealth, it causes inflation and, ultimately, an economic crisis. Many believe that wealthy countries, such as the United States, Japan, or France, freely resort to printing money. In reality: Conclusion: even wealthy countries have not found a miracle in unlimited money creation. Why…

Financial column by Michael Brown, Senior Research Strategist at Pepperstone The trading week started with a mix of strength and uncertainty. Stock markets continue to rise, sovereign bonds rally, the dollar weakens, and gold, the ultimate safe haven, has just hit a new historical high above $3,600 per ounce. Everything seems aligned for a “risk-on”...

By Alpha Seydi BA, Senior Expert in Strategic Communication and Public Relations. The debate on local content in Mauritania is now part of a strategic transformation context where political will is demonstrated through the adoption of new legal and institutional instruments. The recent promulgation of Law No. 2024-045 and its implementing decree marks an undeniable turning point in the management of the country’s extractive and energy industries. The fundamental objective of this reform is to align the exploitation of natural resources with a logic of creating shared value, where the population, businesses, and local industrial fabric become the primary beneficiaries,…

By Professor Amath Ndiaye, FASEG UCAD The aim is to analyze the trade balance of ECOWAS countries and to show that external imbalances are more the result of the outward-oriented structure of economies than of fixed or flexible exchange rates. Contrasting trade balancesExamination of average data for the period 2013-2023 highlights significant differences between UEMOA and ZMOA countries (source: WDI). Exchange rate regime and trade performanceThe figures clearly show that countries with a fixed exchange rate (UEMOA) on average have less pronounced deficits than those with a floating exchange rate (ZMOA). The exchange rate pegged to the euro has helped…

By Antonio Di Giacomo,Financial markets analyst for Latin America at XS – August 28, 2025. “The S&P 500 continues to defy uncertainty and set new records, reaching the 6,500 point threshold. The rally comes in a context of high volatility, fueled by Nvidia’s recent results and the release of key economic indicators in the United States. These factors have tested the market’s resilience, which, despite some occasional declines, remains positively oriented. Since the beginning of the month, the index has risen by more than 2.5%, reflecting investors’ confidence despite mixed outlooks. The market’s strength indicates that participants continue to favor…