Author: Dominique Mabika

WAICA Re Kenya announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, reflecting a generally strong performance driven by reinsurance activity and financial income, according to a statement released on April 14, 2026. In 2025, reinsurance income amounted to KSh 5,306,760 thousand (approximately USD 40.9 million) compared to KSh 5,514,794 thousand (approximately USD 42.5 million) in 2024. At the same time, charges related to reinsurance services reached KSh 4,030,911 thousand (approximately USD 31.0 million) compared to KSh 4,465,872 thousand (approximately USD 34.4 million) a year earlier. As a result, the reinsurance service result improved to KSh 1,195,106 thousand…

The Insurance and Pensions Commission of Zimbabwe (IPEC) has implemented a new regulatory framework to regulate the fees charged by pension funds. This measure aims to protect affiliates against excessive costs and improve the return on their retirement benefits. According to the institution, this framework allows for the evaluation of the value added by various service providers involved in the management of retirement schemes, including asset managers, fund administrators, transfer secretaries, custodians, auditors, and actuaries. The goal is to ensure that their fees do not significantly impact the benefits received by members. The regulatory authority emphasizes that the services provided…

Africa Specialty Risks announced on April 14, 2026, the appointment of Youness Soualhine as senior underwriter in charge of construction activity for Morocco. In his new role, he will be responsible for underwriting complex risks related to construction and engineering, both in Africa and other emerging markets. Prior to joining ASR, he worked at SANLAM Morocco, where he recently held the positions of head of engineering, construction, and facultative reinsurance. With a degree in construction engineering from ENIM Rabat, Youness Soualhine also holds a master’s degree in finance from ISCAE Casablanca. According to the press release, the arrival of this…

Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings confirmed, in a report published on April 10, 2026, Egypt’s sovereign rating at B/B, with a stable outlook. It highlights that this assessment reflects a balance between the country’s growth prospects, ongoing economic reforms, and persistent external risks related to regional tensions. Key supporting factors highlighted include the level of foreign exchange reserves, which stood at $52.8 billion in March 2026, as well as the net foreign assets of the banking sector, which reached a record of around $30 billion. Despite a depreciation of about 13% of the Egyptian pound since the start of the…

The Tunisian Automobile Company (STA) completed the 2025 fiscal year with a clear improvement in its financial performance. Despite this marked improvement in its results, the company chose not to distribute dividends, favoring a cautious approach to preserve its cash flow in a more restrictive regulatory environment. As of December 31, 2025, the total balance sheet stood at 100.1 million dinars (approximately 32 million dollars), down 6.4% from the 107 million dinars recorded at the end of 2024 (approximately 34.3 million dollars). At the same time, operating revenues showed a strong increase, reaching 173.7 million dinars (approximately 55.6 million dollars),…

Mixx by Yas Togo, a mobile money company licensed as an electronic money institution in Togo, has announced the launch of interconnected instant transfers and payments at the national and UEMOA level. This development follows the authorization from the BCEAO allowing Mixx to integrate the regional interoperable platform PI-SPI. This infrastructure now connects Mixx’s electronic...

In the first quarter of 2026, Tunisia’s foreign trade increased, with exports reaching 16,266.8 million dinars (about 5.2 billion dollars) compared to 15,325.1 million dinars a year earlier. Imports amounted to 21,499.5 million dinars (about 6.9 billion dollars) compared to 20,374.6 million dinars in 2025. Boosted by a rise in exports (+6.1%) and imports (+5.5%), transactions resulted in a trade deficit of 5,232.7 million dinars (about 1.67 billion dollars), compared to 5,049.5 million dinars a year earlier. The coverage rate slightly improved to 75.7% from 75.2%. Exports increased in mechanical and electrical industries (+10.6%) and agri-food industries (+16.1%), supported by…

The World Bank has approved a $500 million financing for Morocco as part of the first of three operations aimed at supporting employment and green growth. This program aims to expand job opportunities through better labor market policies, strengthening SMEs, and investments in clean energy, energy efficiency, and the export-oriented pharmaceutical industry, according to a statement released on April 10, 2026. This support accompanies the national roadmap for employment, with the goal of improving the integration of young people and women. By 2029, over 330,000 job seekers are expected to benefit from active labor market programs, while the childcare offer…

Retirement assets in Nigeria reached 29,430 billion NGN (19.7 billion USD) in February 2026, recording an increase of 1,390 billion NGN (930 million USD) compared to the previous month. This growth represents the strongest expansion seen in over twenty years, since the implementation of the pension fund by capitalization, according to the National Pension Commission (PenCom). In January 2026, assets stood at 28,040 billion NGN (18.8 billion USD), fueled by capital inflows and valuation gains, with stocks playing a central role in this dynamic. Local equity holdings reached 5,410 billion NGN (3.63 billion USD), while foreign stocks remained limited to…

Misr Life Insurance – Takaful, an Egyptian life insurance company, announced an increase in its share capital, now set at 400 million Egyptian pounds (approximately 7.3 million USD). This recapitalization was made possible thanks to a contribution of 250 million Egyptian pounds (approximately 4.6 million USD) injected by its main shareholders: Misr Holding Insurance Company, Misr Insurance Company, and Misr Life Insurance Company, according to a statement released on Thursday, April 9. This operation is part of the new requirements imposed by the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), which has asked insurance companies to strengthen their capital to ensure the stability…

The Egyptian government has unveiled the main directions of the 2026/2027 budget, focusing mainly on expanding social protection and supporting the most vulnerable populations. Credits for support and social protection reach 832.3 billion Egyptian pounds (approximately $16.6 billion), up 12% from the previous year, illustrating the state’s commitment to strengthening social justice, the Ministry of Finance said. According to an information note, subsidies for food products amount to 175.3 billion pounds (approximately $3.5 billion) and benefit more than 60 million citizens. Furthermore, 55.3 billion pounds (approximately $1.1 billion) are allocated to financial assistance programs, including “Takaful and Karama” and social…

Sasria, the South African public insurer specializing in political and social risks, announces the relaunch of its “Wrap Cover” product. This coverage aims to protect large companies against the rising risks related to civil unrest, riots, strikes, public disorder, and terrorism. The scheme returns to the market nearly five years after its withdrawal, following the riots of July 2021. These events had generated compensation claims exceeding 31 billion rands (1.9 billion USD) and had deeply disrupted the global market for political violence insurance. It is in this context that Sasria chooses to reintroduce additional capacity today. The new version of…

BNA Assurance, a player in life and non-life insurance products, announced a net profit of 17,045,881 Tunisian dinars (approximately 5.5 million dollars) for the year 2025, compared to 16,315,042 dinars (5.3 million dollars) in 2024. This represents an increase of 4.5%, according to the financial statements published on April 6, 2026 following the Board of Directors meeting. In addition, the company’s activity report highlights a significant increase in turnover, which reached 190,546,610 dinars (61.3 million dollars) in 2025, compared to 173,774,364 dinars (55.9 million dollars) in 2024, an increase of 9.7%. Similarly, net investment income amounted to 31,505,769 dinars (10.1…

Moody’s Ratings confirmed, on April 2, 2026, the long-term credit rating of Baa3 with a stable outlook for the OCP Group, a global player in phosphates and phosphate fertilizers based in Morocco. This decision, announced after a rating committee, reaffirms the group’s credit profile resilience in an increasingly demanding geopolitical and economic environment. Firstly, the agency highlights OCP’s structural strengths. The group controls nearly 70% of the world’s proven phosphate reserves and is the leading global producer of phosphate fertilizers in terms of capacity. In addition, its competitive cost structure allows it to generate margins higher than those of most…

Yahia Chraïbi has been officially appointed interim CEO of Allianz Morocco, effective April 7, 2026. This appointment comes in a strategic context marked by the approval of the competent authorities for the merger between Sanlam and Allianz in Morocco, an operation aimed at strengthening the solidity of the insurance sector and creating a reference player in the national market. By combining his new role with that of CEO of Sanlam Morocco, a position he has held since 2021, Yahia Chraïbi becomes the central figure in the governance of the merged group. His main mission will be to ensure unified and…

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has raised the minimum capital required for national microinsurance operators to 3 billion nairas (approximately $2.2 million), nearly five times higher than previous requirements. This decision aims to accelerate the penetration of insurance among low-income populations. The revised framework stipulates that companies seeking a national license must reach this threshold to operate in all 36 states of the country as well as in the Federal Capital Territory, offering simple and low-premium products for informal and underinsured markets. The new licensing guidelines for 2026 represent a significant increase compared to the previous regime, which required 40…

In Tunisia, SMART Tunisia, a key player in the IT distribution sector, recorded a strong increase in its results in 2025. The company posted a net profit of 21 million dinars (approximately 6.7 million dollars), compared to 15.6 million dinars (5.0 million dollars) a year earlier, representing a 35% increase. These results were published following its board of directors meeting on April 3, 2026. The consolidated financial statements show a net profit of 22.1 million dinars (approximately 7.1 million dollars), compared to 15 million dinars (approximately 4.8 million dollars) in 2024, representing a 47% increase. The Board of Directors has…

The Gulf of Suez Petroleum Company (GUPCO), a joint venture between the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and Dragon Oil, has announced a successful new discovery in the South Wasl exploration zone, located in the Gulf of Suez. The “South Wasl BB” well has reached a production of approximately 2,500 barrels of oil per day, as well as 3 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, confirming the energy potential of this strategic area. The well was quickly connected to the existing production network, allowing for accelerated exploitation and optimization of development costs. Thanks to this new discovery, GUPCO’s…

Independent investment bank ALMAR Capital was officially launched in Casablanca on Monday, April 6th by its founder Amine Alami Mesmoudi. The new firm focuses on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, restructurings, and strategic advisory. According to a statement released, ALMAR Capital aims to establish itself as an independent financial advisor in Morocco, supporting its clients in structuring and executing their strategic operations through a demanding approach and a thorough understanding of market dynamics. “The acceleration of investment cycles requires a new level of capital structuring. Operations are becoming more complex, stakes are increasing, and the quality of advice makes the…

The Bank Of Africa (BOA) group announces that it closed the 2025 financial year with a general increase in its financial indicators, confirming the strength of its fundamentals and the good momentum of its activities. Consolidated net banking income (NBI) stands at $2.03 billion (20.3 billion dirhams), up 9% year-on-year. This performance is mainly explained by a 9% increase in net interest margin, as well as a 7% increase in commissions, while market activities strongly contributed to this momentum with a growth of 20%. In this context, operating gross profit reached $1.10 billion, a 10% increase. At the same time,…

Hamilton Labs, a fintech company, has announced that it has secured a strategic investment from AXIAN Investment, the venture capital arm of the AXIAN Group. The amount of the investment has not been disclosed. This funding round aims to accelerate the large-scale deployment of USDh, the stablecoin developed by the company, according to a press release published on March 25, 2026. This investment marks AXIAN Investment’s second investment in stablecoin-related infrastructure, highlighting the group’s growing interest in digital financial technologies in emerging markets. The new funding will allow Hamilton Labs to further expand its presence in Africa through integrations with…

The public reinsurance company Kenya Reinsurance Corporation (Kenya Re) has reported a significant decrease in results for the year ending December 31, 2025. The group posted a net profit after taxes of $25.6 million, down by 26.9% compared to 2024, in a context marked by the deterioration of the technical performance of its insurance activities. Total insurance revenues declined by 9.6% year-on-year to $111.9 million. After deducting reinsurance commissions, net insurance revenues amounted to $82.1 million, a decrease of 12.3%. Pressure on technical profitability has significantly increased. Insurance service expenses rose by 20.5% to reach $76.8 million, while net expenses…

According to provisional data from the National Insurance Council (CNA), the national insurance market reached a new milestone in 2025. By the end of December, the sector’s activities generated 200.5 billion Algerian dinars, approximately $1.50 billion, an increase of 8.8% compared to 2024. Damage insurance companies continue to dominate the market, with 165.8 billion dinars, equivalent to $1.24 billion, representing 82.7% of the total turnover. On the other hand, life insurance recorded a moderate growth of 3.5%, with a cumulative production close to 22 billion dinars, approximately $165 million. Strong growth of Takaful The Takaful segment confirms its growing importance.…

‎‎Gathered in Dakar, the Council of Ministers of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) held its first ordinary session of the year 2026 on Friday, March 27, at the headquarters of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). The meeting was chaired by Aboubakar Nacanabo, Minister of Economy, Finance and Prospective of Burkina Faso. At the end of the meeting, several structuring decisions were endorsed. ‎The Council notably adopted decisions regarding the renewal of the mandates of the representatives of the member states within the Financial Stability Committee in the WAEMU (CSF-WAEMU), in order to strengthen the…

Moroccan startup GoSwap, specialized in automated battery exchange solutions for electric scooters, announces its first fundraising with Azur Innovation Fund, for an amount exceeding 20 million dirhams (approximately 2.1 million USD). This operation marks a strategic turning point for the company, which aims to accelerate the deployment of its exchange station network and make electric mobility more accessible in major Moroccan cities. The investment will allow GoSwap to strengthen its existing network in Casablanca, where 20 exchange cabinets are already operational at Petrom, Shell stations, and CashPlus agencies. It will also support expansion to other cities in the Kingdom and…

The first ordinary session of the Council of Ministers of the West African Monetary Union (UMOA) for the year 2026 opened on Friday, March 27 at the headquarters of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) in Dakar. The discussions focus on the examination of reports on the economic and monetary situation of the Union as of December 31, 2025, as well as the approval of several major strategic orientations. Chaired by Aboubakar Nacanabo, Minister of Economy, Finance and Prospective of Burkina Faso, the council will review the reports on the economic and monetary situation of the Union as…

The Africa Feed & Food (AFF) group announces the signing of an investment agreement with RMBV and Proparco, a subsidiary of the French Development Agency group, for a capital entry of 850 million dirhams (around 78 million euros). This operation, carried out exclusively through a capital increase without the sale of existing shares, allows the group to preserve its family control while opening its capital to two leading institutional investors, according to the press release. The finalization is subject to the usual regulatory authorizations, notably the approval of the Competition Council. This fundraising marks a structuring step in the development…

In Ghana, the National Insurance Commission has initiated discussions with the Bank of Ghana and the 24-hour Economy Authority to establish a credit insurance mechanism for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This system aims to remove one of the main barriers to accessing financing for SMEs: the requirement for physical collateral. It would allow companies to obtain credit without having to pledge assets, thus facilitating their access to bank financing and other forms of credit. According to the regulator, nearly 95% of SMEs face difficulties in accessing credit due to their inability to provide the guarantees required by financial institutions.…

The board of directors of Botswana Minerals PLC announced a fundraising of approximately $1.46 million (compared to £1.15 million), through the issuance of 460 million new ordinary shares with a nominal value of 0.25 pence each. This operation, carried out in the form of a placement and subscription with existing and new investors, also includes the cash participation of certain directors. The subscription price was set at 0.25 pence (approximately $0.0032) per share. According to the information memorandum published on March 20, the funds raised will mainly be used to continue the copper exploration program in northwest Botswana, as well…

In Morocco, inflation decreased by 0.6% on an annual basis in February 2026, despite a monthly increase in prices, mainly driven by food products and fuels. According to the High Commission for Planning (HCP), the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.5% compared to January 2026, due to a 0.8% increase in food products and a 0.3% increase in non-food products. In detail, the increase in food prices mainly affected “fish and seafood” (+4.5%), “fruits” (+2.1%), “meat” (+1.6%), “vegetables” (+1.0%), as well as “milk, cheese and eggs” and “coffee, tea and cocoa” (+0.4% each). However, “oils and fats” decreased by…