Author: Dominique Mabika

Ethiopia and the Dangote Group continue their partnership around a fertilizer complex project in Gode, in the Somali region. Initially estimated at $2.5 billion, the total investment now exceeds $4 billion, according to the Dangote Group. The project plans for an annual production capacity of 3 million tons of urea. According to Ethiopian Investment Holdings,...

Unemployment slightly decreased in the first quarter of 2026 to 15%, compared to 15.2% in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to data published on May 15 by the National Institute of Statistics. This rate stands at 14.4% in urban areas and 16.5% in rural areas. The number of unemployed people decreased to 641,700, compared to 645,200 in the previous quarter. At the same time, the active population increased to 4.268 million people, compared to 4.255 million at the end of 2025, representing an increase of 13,000 active individuals. The activity rate of people aged 15 and over stood at…

LabelVie Group recorded a turnover of 4.818 billion dirhams in the first quarter of 2026, or approximately $482 million, an increase of 15.9% compared to the same period in 2025. Sales in the large distribution segment amounted to 4.188 billion dirhams, or nearly $419 million, up 15.6% year-on-year. This performance is notably driven by the growth of the 141 stores opened in 2025, which continue to strengthen the group’s territorial coverage and expand its offering across all formats. According to the statement, the group had a dynamic start to the year, with a 16.4% growth in the first quarter and…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) began the seventh review of the program supported by the Extended Credit Facility with Egypt on May 14, 2026. This review could lead to new financing of around $1.6 billion. The mission also includes the second review of the Resilience and Sustainability Mechanism, as well as discussions with Egyptian authorities...

Under the guidance of the International Monetary Fund, the Egyptian government has initiated a gradual reduction of public guarantees granted to the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), deemed burdensome for public finances. In this context, the Ministry of Finance has started settling significant arrears and debts totaling around 451.8 billion Egyptian pounds. According to government...

ASCOMA insurance broker, a subsidiary of Chedid Capital Holding group, announced on May 12 the appointment of Jonathan Valette as General Manager of the West Africa Zone (WAZ). He previously held the position of Deputy General Manager for Côte d’Ivoire. A subsidiary of the Chedid Capital Holding group, ASCOMA is strengthening its governance in West...

The Moroccan insurance sector saw a significant improvement in profitability in 2025. Net income increased by 19.1% to reach 5.7 billion MAD (570 million USD), driven by higher investment income and strong business performance. The return on equity (ROE) stood at 11.2%, compared to 9.9% a year earlier, according to the Insurance and Social Welfare...

The “Insurance Proclamation” project, unveiled at the end of April 2026 by the National Bank of Ethiopia, provides for the creation of the Ethiopian Insurance Regulatory Authority (EIRA). This new body will exercise the prerogatives of the central bank in this area, which has been overseeing the sector since 1976. Once adopted, this reform will...

The long-term insurance (LTI) sub-sector in Namibia remained generally stable in 2025, despite a less favorable environment. Gross premiums issued amounted to 14.4 billion Namibian dollars (approximately $880 million USD), a slight decrease of 0.1% compared to 2024. This result marks a significant slowdown after the 26.8% increase recorded the previous year, partly due to asset transfers from pension funds to a life insurer, according to a report published in April 2026 by the Central Bank and NAMFISA, the insurance regulator. Reinsurance cessions remained limited to 666 million Namibian dollars (approximately $40.7 million USD), a ratio of 4.6%. This level…

Governor Lisa D. Cook, member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, participated on May 8, 2026 in Dakar in the International Conference on Crypto-assets and Digital Innovations organized by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). The meeting focused on the theme: “Crypto-assets and digital innovations: opportunities and challenges for monetary and financial stability.” In her speech, Lisa D. Cook focused on tokenization and its implications for the financial system. She emphasized that distributed ledger technologies, including blockchain, as well as smart contracts, can improve market efficiency, automate certain operations, enhance transaction transparency, and offer…

Gathered on May 8, 2026 in Dakar (Senegal), the leaders of several African central banks discussed the challenges posed by the rise of crypto-assets and digital innovations. At the heart of the discussions: regulatory framework, cybersecurity, modernization of payments, and the preservation of financial stability in economies still largely dominated by cash. Organized under the auspices of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), the International Conference on Crypto-assets and Digital Innovations brought together several central bank governors in Dakar to discuss the issues related to the rise of digital assets. The discussions focused on the regulation of these…

The latest data on consumer prices show a slight slowdown in annual inflation in April 2026, at 13.4%, compared to 13.5% in March. According to a statement released on May 6 by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), the general index of consumer prices at the national level stood at 287.9 points, representing a monthly increase of 1.2% compared to March 2026. This monthly increase is explained by the rise in prices of several essential products, including vegetables (+5.1%), fruits (+3.8%), fish and seafood (+1.8%), cereals and bread (+1.4%), as well as oils and fats (+1.2%). Housing…

Wafa Assurance Cameroon has announced the promotion of Célestin Njidjou Ngounnoue to the position of Director of Bancassurance and Health Network Development. In his new role, he will be responsible for leading the development strategy of bancassurance and health activities, which are seen as an important growth area for the Cameroonian subsidiary. A graduate of the University of Douala and the International Institute of Insurance in Yaoundé (IIA), Célestin Njidjou Ngounnoue began his professional career in 2005. He has over twenty years of experience in the insurance and brokerage sector. Throughout his career, he has held several leadership positions in…

The first meeting of the year 2026 of the governors of the Association of African Central Banks (ABCA) opened this Thursday, May 7 in Dakar, at the headquarters of the Central Bank of the West African States. Chaired by Yvon Sana Bangui, also governor of the Central Bank of the Central African States, the meeting aims primarily to examine the implementation of decisions adopted during the session of November 28, 2025 held in Cameroon, as well as to strengthen the monetary and macro-prudential integration of the continent. Governors review several major issues related to African financial and monetary integration. Discussions…

BIAT Insurance closed the 2025 financial year with a strong performance, achieving a turnover of 318.2 million Tunisian dinars (TND), compared to 279.6 million TND in 2024, representing a 14% increase, according to data published by the company. The net profit reached 25.6 million TND, compared to 19.9 million TND the previous year, showing a 28.7% increase. This evolution reflects the company’s strong fundamentals and the efficiency of its management. As of December 31, 2025, the company’s equity amounted to 128.8 million TND, confirming the strength of its financial structure. With these results, BIAT Insurance enters the 2026 financial year…

The Egyptian economy recorded a preliminary growth of 5% in the third quarter of the fiscal year 2025/2026 (January-March 2026), according to the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, in an announcement published on Wednesday, May 6. This result exceeds previous forecasts, which had predicted a slowdown to 4.6% due to geopolitical tensions and disruptions in global supply chains, the statement said. Non-oil activities were the main driver of this performance. Suez Canal activity increased by 23.6%, while tourism, particularly restaurants and hotels, saw an 8.3% increase. The construction sector, on the other hand, posted a growth of 5.6%. In…

The Central Bank of Tunisia recorded a net profit of 1.15 billion dinars (approximately 370 million USD) in 2025, compared to 1.36 billion dinars (approximately 438 million USD) a year earlier, representing a decrease of 15.4%. This decline is explained by the decrease in revenues, which amounted to 2.07 billion dinars (approximately 667 million USD) compared to 2.44 billion dinars (approximately 787 million USD) in 2024. The decrease mainly comes from the contraction of income from interventions in the money market, investments, and foreign exchange operations. Other revenues and provision reversals partially offset this decline, but did not fully compensate…

In Egypt, the regulatory authority (FRA) has approved the granting of six new licenses to companies authorized to conduct non-banking financial activities based on financial technology (FinTech). This decision aims to support innovation and expand financial inclusion. The authorizations include financing for small and medium-sized enterprises, securities trading, custody of securities, as well as the...

The strict unemployment rate in Morocco stood at 10.8% in the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest information from the High Commission for Planning (HCP) on the labor market situation. This rate is 13.5% in urban areas compared to 6.1% in rural areas, and affects women (16.1%) more than men (9.4%). Young people aged 15 to 24 remain the most affected, with a rate of 29.2%, followed by those aged 25-34 (16.1%). In terms of volume, strict unemployment concerns 1.253 million people, with nearly 80% in urban areas and 31.3% women. Furthermore, 671,000 employed individuals are in underemployment…

The international conference on crypto-assets and digital innovations, under the theme “Crypto-assets and digital innovations: opportunities and challenges for monetary and financial stability”, opened on Friday, May 8 in Dakar. Organized by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), this event brings together experts, decision-makers, and financial sector stakeholders to deepen reflections on the strategic and operational issues related to these innovations, with the aim of strengthening institutions’ capacity to fulfill their mission of monetary and financial stability. Crypto-assets, stablecoins, digital payment platforms, and the increasing digitalization of financial services are profoundly transforming traditional financial systems. These developments improve…

On April 30, 2026, the Gabonese insurer Assinco officially adopted the name BGFI Assurances. This strategic evolution aims to strengthen its integration within the BGFIBank Group, improve the clarity of its offer, and accelerate its digital transformation to better serve its clients. It is part of a global dynamic of harmonizing the entities of Henri-Claude...

Sonatrach group is taking a new step in its development strategy with the signing of energy agreements for the development of the Hassi Bir Rekaiz field and an agreement between Algeria and Egypt regarding the export of petroleum products. This initiative is part of the common desire to strengthen intra-African energy cooperation, according to a statement from the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mines published on May 5, 2026. The first agreement concerns an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract concluded between Sonatrach and the Thai company PTTEP, partners in the field’s operation, as well as with a consortium composed…

Misr Life Insurance Company, one of the leading life insurers in Egypt, continues to strengthen its leadership team with the appointment of Saleh Imam as Vice President. This appointment is part of the group’s strategy to accelerate its growth, strengthen its position in the life insurance market, and support its next phase of development. Before...

The Moroccan hotel group Risma announced on Monday, April 27, the signing of a definitive agreement with Pickalbatros Hotels & Resorts (Albatros) for the sale of the Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche hotel for 450 million Moroccan dirhams (around 47 million dollars). This operation is part of the group’s active management strategy for its hotel portfolio....

Nigeria significantly increased its kerosene exports to Europe in April 2026, amidst disruptions in global supplies, particularly related to tensions in the Middle East. According to the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Dangote refinery now supplies over 95% of Jet A1 fuel consumed in the country and shipped around 1.1 billion liters of aviation fuel...

Transactions made through mobile wallets in Egypt have experienced significant growth in 2025, reaching around 4,000 billion Egyptian pounds (nearly 80 billion USD), according to data published by the Central Bank of Egypt. This progress illustrates the acceleration of the transition towards an increasingly digital economy. By the end of 2025, the total number of registered e-wallets stood at nearly 60 million, compared to only 15.2 million in 2019, representing a fourfold increase in just a few years. This momentum is driven by the growth of electronic payment services and an increasing adoption of digital solutions by consumers. Young people…

In the first quarter of 2026, Maroc Telecom recorded a consolidated revenue of 9,327 million dirhams (approximately $942 million), up 5% year-on-year, according to data published on Friday, April 24. This performance is mainly driven by the dynamics of the Moov Africa subsidiaries, whose revenues increased by 8.5%, as well as by the stabilization of...

In the first quarter of 2026, BNA Insurance reached a total turnover of 50.9 million dinars, approximately 17.4 million dollars, compared to 45.4 million dinars (approximately 15.5 million dollars) a year earlier, representing a 12% increase. This performance reflects the positive effects of the company’s diversification strategy, particularly in the life insurance and savings segments. Life insurance emerges as the main growth driver of the quarter. Premiums issued jumped from 8.8 million dinars (approximately 3.0 million dollars) to 11.6 million dinars (approximately 4.0 million dollars), a 32% increase, illustrating the growing interest of policyholders in capitalization and social protection products.…

The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) announced on Wednesday, April 22, the publication of a new regulatory framework governing the actuarial profession. This initiative aims to modernize the sector and improve its efficiency, in line with international developments in insurance markets and non-banking financial services. This reform comes in a context of rapid growth in the...

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.9% in March 2026 compared to the same month of the previous year, according to a note published on Wednesday, April 22, by the High Commission for Planning (HCP). This evolution is the result of a 0.6% increase in food prices and a 1.1% increase in non-food products. In the non-food component, the variations were mixed: prices for “leisure and culture” decreased by 0.4%, while the category of “miscellaneous goods and services” saw a significant increase of 3.5%. On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 1.2% between February and March 2026, driven…