Author: Dominique Mabika

The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) presented its 2025 Annual Report on Wednesday, July 22 in Dakar. The document outlines the actions taken, decisions made, and results achieved in the exercise of its missions, in an economic and financial environment marked by profound changes. In 2025, the institution structured its actions around three strategic priorities: controlling inflation, strengthening financial system stability, and accelerating financial inclusion and innovation. The year 2025 unfolded in an uncertain international context, marked by rising protectionism, tightening trade barriers, persistent fragmentation of global trade, and financial market volatility. Regionally, security challenges and the effects…

Banks and microfinance institutions in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) increased their contribution to financing the economy in 2025. According to data presented by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) during a training seminar organized on July 20 and 21, 2026 for journalists in the Union, outstanding bank loans to customers amounted to nearly 39,000 billion CFA francs at the end of December 2025. On this occasion, the Central Bank presented an overview of the financial sector as well as the main reforms initiated to improve financing conditions in the Union. A support role in…

The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) opened a two-day seminar for economic journalists of the West African Monetary Union (UMOA) in Dakar, Senegal on Monday, July 20. This session brings together media professionals from the eight member states of the Union. According to BCEAO, the aim is to enhance their understanding of the institution’s missions, policies, and actions. During these two days, there will be exchanges between participants and several experts from the Central Bank on topics such as monetary policy, financial stability, the banking system, financing the economy, digitalization, and financial innovations. Issues related to payment systems…

Sanlam Emerging Markets Ireland Limited, an international investment vehicle of the South African financial services group Sanlam, has directly crossed the thresholds of 5% and 10% ownership in the capital of Sanlam Morocco, according to a statement from the Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC) published on July 16, 2026. This crossing of thresholds comes as...

Tunisia’s foreign exchange reserves have recorded a sharp decline, standing at 23,150 million dinars (approximately 7.98 billion dollars) on July 14, 2026, equivalent to 92 days of imports, according to data published by the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT). This decrease marks a departure from the upward trend observed during the first week of July....

In Kenya, a bill being examined in the Senate proposes to introduce mandatory annual emissions testing for vehicles. The text, entitled the Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aims to make an emissions certificate a prerequisite for several procedures, including obtaining a vehicle inspection certificate and taking out or renewing car insurance. In detail,...

The Egyptian market for investment funds backed by precious metals continues to grow. According to the latest data from the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), the net assets of funds invested in gold and silver reached 9.35 billion Egyptian pounds (approximately 190.5 million dollars) at the end of June 2026, compared to 9.28 billion pounds (approximately...

The Republic of Benin is taking a new step in the reform of its electoral system. On July 10, 2026, Members of Parliament unanimously adopted Law No. 2026-14 temporarily abolishing the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA), the institution responsible for organizing elections. This decision comes just a few days before the expiration, on July 14, of the five-year non-renewable term of the current Electoral Council members. It is part of the institutional reforms that have established a new seven-year political cycle, resulting in the postponement of the next major national electoral deadlines to 2033. The adopted text provides that a…

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a financing of $66 million to support the first phase of the Dendera solar project, in the Qena governorate, in southern Egypt. This funding covers the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of a 500 MW photovoltaic plant coupled with an integrated energy storage system using 100 MWh batteries. The objective is to strengthen the country’s supply of clean electricity while improving grid stability, compensating for solar production intermittency, and covering periods of high demand, especially in the evening. The financial package consists of $46 million from AfDB’s ordinary resources and $20 million in…

The Tunisian tourism sector continues its recovery momentum. During the first six months of 2026, tourist revenues reached 3.352 billion dinars (approximately one billion euros), up 8.3% compared to the same period in 2025, according to the latest indicators published by the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT). This growth represents a gain of 255.6 million...

Africa Specialty Risks (ASR), an insurance and reinsurance group specializing in emerging markets, has announced the appointment of Kieran Wilson as Senior Energy Underwriter. Based in London, he will be responsible for developing and underwriting the group’s energy portfolio. He will work closely with brokers to accelerate ASR’s activities in the oil, gas, and energy...

Air Algérie continues to expand its international network with the upcoming opening of four new destinations, including two in Europe. The announcement was made on Saturday, July 11, 2026 by the Minister of Transport, Saïd Sayoud, on the occasion of the delivery of two new aircraft for the national carrier. As part of this expansion,...

AM Best has confirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of “B” and the long-term issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bb” of the Tunisian Reinsurance Company (Tunis Re). The outlooks associated with these ratings remain stable, according to a statement released on July 10, 2026. According to AM Best, these evaluations are based on the strength...

The Central African States Bank (BEAC) has officially joined the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), marking a major advancement in the development of cross-border payment infrastructures on the continent. This membership opens a new chapter for financial integration in Central Africa and serves as an additional lever to boost intra-African trade. According to a...

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), through its impact investment subsidiary, the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), announced on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, the appointment of One Street Studios as co-General Partner of the Pan-African Film Fund. With a mobilization target of up to $1 billion, this investment vehicle aims to accelerate the development of African film and creative industries. Launched in May 2025 as part of Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) program, this fund is designed to finance the growth of African film, television, and immersive media sectors. The goal is to enhance the continent’s international competitiveness in…

The official reserve assets of Bank Al-Maghrib continue to increase. As of June 26, 2026, they stood at 495.8 billion dirhams (approximately $54.6 billion), up 1% from the previous week, 12% since the beginning of the year, and 23.4% year-on-year, according to the latest weekly indicators published by the central bank. In the foreign exchange...

The Egyptian Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) has granted 10 new licenses to companies operating in various segments of non-bank financial services. In a statement released on Tuesday, July 7, the regulator stated that these decisions are part of its strategy to strengthen the competitiveness of the markets under its supervision, attract more investments, and diversify...

The Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC) published, on July 6, 2026, the list of approvals and visas granted to Collective Investment Schemes in Transferable Securities (UCITS) for the month of June 2026. In total, the regulator issued 12 approvals and 9 visas, interpreted as a reflection of the dynamism of the Moroccan asset management market and the interest of management companies in launching new investment vehicles. In detail, Quantum Capital Gestion obtained approval for the UCITS Quantum Secur Rendement, a fund classified in the Medium and Long Term Bonds (OMLT) category. However, BMCE Capital Gestion concentrated the majority of approvals…

Capital raising in the Moroccan market reached 8.929 billion dirhams, or approximately $982 million, in the month of May 2026 alone, according to the latest monthly indicators of the capital market published on July 6 by the Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC). In the first five months of the year, the cumulative amount of capital...

The inflation rate in Tunisia stood at 5.3% in June 2026, according to data published on July 5, 2026 by the National Institute of Statistics (INS). This evolution is mainly due to the slowdown in the rise of food prices, partially offset by an acceleration in tobacco and leisure prices. This evolution is mainly explained...

The Egyptian bank Bank Misr officially launched its banking activities in Saudi Arabia on July 1, 2026, with the opening of a branch in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom. This establishment comes after obtaining the final authorization from the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA). This new presence is part of Bank Misr’s international expansion...

The second regular session of 2026 of the Council of Ministers of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) opened this Friday, July 3 in Ouagadougou, at the headquarters of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). It focuses on the examination of several files related to the functioning and orientations of the Union, including economic policy orientations for 2027, the report on multilateral surveillance, and the framework for public debt policy. The works are chaired by Aboubakar Nacanabo, Minister of Economy and Finance of Burkina Faso, who is also the current President of the Council of Ministers…

The Congolese chef Thianslly Arlych Madzou Moukassa has reached 25,529 solidarity meals prepared and distributed for free within 24 hours, during an event organized in Brazzaville as part of an attempt to break the Guinness World Records. The event took place from June 28 to June 29, 2026, at the esplanade of the Alphonse-Massamba-Débat stadium, with the initial goal of producing 30,000 solidarity meals intended for vulnerable people. He thus surpasses the previous reference figure set at 15,000 meals, pending the official validation by the Guinness World Records, the only authority authorized to approve this type of performance. The figure…

The board of directors of BNA Assurances, meeting on June 19, 2026, appointed Mourad Hammami as the company’s CEO. He will take up his position on July 1, 2026. He succeeds Faker Rais, who has been in office since June 10, 2025. According to the information provided, Mourad Hammami will be responsible for continuing BNA...

Egypt has raised approximately $500 million through its first issuance of sustainable Samurai bonds denominated in Japanese yen, for an amount of 80 billion yen. This operation is part of the country’s strategy to diversify its sources of external financing and strengthen access to long-term resources dedicated to sustainable development projects. It benefits from the...

Nigeria has officially taken over the presidency of the Council of Ministers responsible for Trade of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), succeeding Egypt at the end of the 18th meeting of this body held on June 30, 2026 in Abuja. This handover is part of the rotation mechanism adopted by the member states of the agreement. A meeting dedicated to AfCFTA priorities The ministerial meeting was mainly dedicated to reviewing the report of the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, as well as the conclusions of the 22nd meeting of the Committee of Senior Trade Officials and the second meeting…

The National Insurance Commission of Nigeria (NAICOM) has just granted a Partnering InsurTech license to Netapps Technologies Limited, a fintech company specializing in digital solutions. This authorization is part of the regulator’s approach to accelerate the digitization of the insurance sector, increase the penetration rate of insurance products, and expand access to insurance services across the country. With this license, Netapps Technologies is now officially part of the approved operators for insurance distribution in Nigeria, as an innovative player authorized to design and deploy digital solutions dedicated to the sector. In announcing this, NAICOM reaffirmed the key points of its…

Standard Chartered bank forecasts a growth of 4.5% in Morocco’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2026, estimating that the Kingdom’s economy will continue to show strong resilience. This performance is expected to be supported by the strength of the industrial sector, the dynamism of tourism, the robustness of household consumption, and the continuation of investments,...

The Cameroonian state-owned airline Camair-Co reduced its net loss for the second consecutive year in 2025, while remaining structurally deficit. It was reduced to 4.7 billion CFA francs (about $7.7 million), compared to 5.5 billion CFA francs in 2024, while cash flow strengthened. The financial statements published by the company report an improvement in commercial activity, but show that its recovery remains largely supported by state subsidies. Revenue increased by nearly 8%, to 24.5 billion CFA francs (about $40.8 million), compared to 22.7 billion CFA francs a year earlier. This growth is driven by increased revenues from air transport and…

The Algerian public pharmaceutical group SAIDAL achieved a record turnover of 44.04 billion Algerian dinars in 2025, equivalent to around $326 million, an increase of 98.43% compared to the previous year. These results were presented at the general assembly held on June 29, 2026. This growth is explained by an increase in sales. The group...