Author: Dominique Mabika

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…

In 2025, Cash Plus, a financial and technological institution (fintech) based in Morocco, recorded a strong growth in its activities, with a total processed volume exceeding for the first time 130 billion dirhams (approximately 13 billion dollars) (+13%). This performance is supported by the expansion of the customer base and the intensification of usage, while the average revenue per user increased by 15% to reach 115 dirhams (approximately 11.5 dollars). The year was also marked by a strategic partnership with PayPal, strengthening cross-border service capabilities. The listing on the Casablanca Stock Exchange in December, for 750 million dirhams (75 million…

Algeria has launched, on Wednesday, March 18, the examination of an executive decree project aimed at specifying the modalities of application of the general rules governing public procurement. This initiative is part of a broader reform dynamic, including the overhaul of the regulatory framework and the development of sectoral roadmaps for the period 2026-2028. The...

The reinsurance and insurance group Africa Specialty Risks (ASR), specializing in Africa and the Middle East, has announced the appointment of Alexander Milne as Director of International Policies and Partnerships. In his new role, he will be responsible for developing strategic partnerships with governments, development finance institutions, donors, and philanthropic organizations to support ASR’s initiatives in resilience, climate finance, and reducing investment risks in emerging markets. According to the press release issued on Tuesday, March 17, Alexander Milne will focus on developing ASR’s public-private partnerships to expand insurance solutions, help bridge the protection gap, facilitate investments in emerging economies, and…

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning of Rwanda has presented the country’s very first National Insurance Strategy (NIS). According to an official statement, this strategic framework positions the insurance sector as a key lever for economic resilience, in line with the country’s ambition to achieve upper middle-income status by 2035, and then high-income status by 2050. The strategy sets several quantified objectives to be achieved by 2035, including increasing the insurance penetration rate from 1.9% to 5%, raising insurance density from 25,000 Rwandan francs (approximately $17.15) to 45,000 francs, expanding the coverage of the insured population from 27% to…

The central bank of Morocco, Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM), decided, during its first quarterly meeting of 2026 held on Tuesday, March 17, to keep its key rate unchanged at 2.25%. In its statement, the institution indicates that it will continue to closely monitor the evolution of the national and international economic situation, particularly the situation in the Middle East and its potential repercussions on economic activity. This decision is based on several elements. Inflation has recently remained at low levels, driven by the improvement in the supply of certain food products and the decline in fuel prices. In the medium term,…

Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to Egypt reached around $11 billion in 2025, according to a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) titled “Review of the quality of foreign direct investment in Egypt.” The document highlights the country’s ability to attract increasing volumes of foreign capital, but points to a still insufficient contribution of these investments to job creation and innovation. According to the study, the economic impact of these investments remains limited: every billion dollars of FDI generates only about 1,100 jobs in Egypt. This level represents nearly half of the average recorded in OECD…

The Commercial International Bank (CIB), the main private bank in Egypt, announced that its board of directors has approved the reappointment of Hisham Ezz Al-Arab as CEO for a new three-year term, covering the period from March 2026 to March 2029. This decision was ratified at the General Assembly held on March 15, 2026. At the helm of the bank since 2002, Hisham Ezz Al-Arab was forced to step down in October 2020 at the decision of the central bank, citing “compliance issues.” The governor at the time, Tarek Amer, himself resigned in August 2022 during a monetary crisis, one…

Moroccan insurer AtlantaSanad Assurance recorded sustained growth in its activity in 2025, with a 15% increase in turnover compared to the previous year. According to the company, this performance reflects both the commercial dynamism of its networks and the effectiveness of the strategic directions implemented during the year. In detail, the Life insurance activity saw a strong increase of 43%, driven in particular by the new strategic partnership concluded with Crédit du Maroc as well as the contribution of historical partners, including CIH Bank. On the other hand, the Non-Life insurance activity showed a more moderate increase of 6.3%, supported…

The board of directors of Attijari bank Tunisia announced a net profit of 232.1 million Tunisian dinars (approximately $75 million) at the end of December 2025, compared to 232.4 million dinars (almost $75.1 million) a year earlier. This almost stable performance reflects, according to the bank, its ability to preserve its profitability in a constantly evolving economic environment. In light of these results, the board of directors proposes a dividend payment of 4.200 dinars per share (approximately $1.36), compared to 5 dinars (around $1.62) for the previous fiscal year. This decrease in the per share dividend is mainly explained by…

As the largest automotive market in North Africa and one of the most dynamic on the continent, Egypt confirms at the beginning of 2026 the strength of its economic recovery. According to data published by the Automotive Market Information Council (AMIC), vehicle sales reached 14,100 units in January 2026, compared to 10,150 units in the same period in 2025, representing a 38.7% year-on-year increase. This performance is mainly driven by the strong growth in sales of passenger cars, which increased by 43.3% to around 10,900 units during the period. This is a strong signal of the gradual restoration of household…

As of March 6, 2026, the net assets under management of collective investment schemes (CIS) decreased to 795.5 billion dirhams (approximately $79.5 billion), representing a weekly decrease of 0.48%, according to the latest data from the Moroccan Association of Management Companies and Investment Funds (ASFIM). This decline comes in a climate of nervousness in international financial markets, marked by escalating tensions in the Middle East and rising oil prices, which has revived risk aversion. Strong correction in equity funds Equity CIS show the most pronounced correction during the period: their assets dropped by 6.17% in one week, falling from 76.43…

The National Electrolysis and Petrochemical Company (SNEP) announced the appointment of Ali Alami as the new CEO, replacing Fayçal El Kadiri, following the board meeting held on March 6, 2026. This appointment reflects the company’s desire to strengthen its activities and enhance its presence in its markets. A graduate of the École Mohammadia d’Ingénieurs and holder of an MBA from the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, Ali Alami began his career within the OCP Group. He then continued his career in several national and international industrial groups, where he held various management positions. Throughout his career, he has gained…