Author: Dominique Mabika

Tunisian diaspora transfers reached nearly 1.5 billion dinars, or 1,467.7 million dinars (approximately $514 million) in the first two months of 2026, according to data published by the Central Bank of Tunisia. This amount represents an increase of 6.7% compared to the same period in 2025. For comparison, these transfers had recorded a more significant increase of 16.1% year-on-year in the same period of 2024, according to data reported by TEMA (approximately $511 million, compared to $432 million) a year earlier, representing an 18.2% increase. This evolution is mainly explained by an exchange rate effect, as the dollar depreciated by…

It took nearly half a century of waiting, multiple delays, and significant funding from the African Development Bank for the Gambia River to no longer be a geographical barrier. Inaugurated on January 20, 2019, and opened to traffic on January 23, the Senegambia Bridge – 942 meters long, 18 meters high – connects Farafenni to Soma and fundamentally transforms the economic dynamics between the north and south of Senegal, while repositioning the Gambia as a regional transit hub. For decades, crossing the river was a logistical gamble. The unreliable and irregular ferries would strand trucks and travelers. Delays could stretch…

In 2026, the states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) will have to mobilize nearly 15 trillion CFA francs on the regional market. An unprecedented volume that reflects both the magnitude of budgetary financing needs and the increasing maturity of debt repayments. Faced with this acceleration of sovereign issuances, the regional financial market is being put to the test. Investors, more selective in an international context marked by high interest rates and increased risk aversion, now demand higher premiums, increasing the cost of debt for states. The question of sustainability, market depth, and the capacity of banks…

The World Bank Group, through the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is launching a new $6 billion mechanism aimed at strengthening access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises in emerging markets. Backed by insurance coverage, this initiative aims to support job creation and stimulate the development of the private sector. The program allows partner insurers to share some of the credit risk associated with loans granted. Specifically, the $6 billion credit insurance policy concluded between the IFC and a consortium of 19 international insurers is expected to support up to $10 billion in new financing. This mechanism enables the IFC…

Khalid Alabbadan has been appointed regional director of the Moroccan office of Ghana Reinsurance PLC. A seasoned professional in the insurance and reinsurance sector, he has extensive experience in leadership positions and technical roles covering the entire value chain of the business. Throughout his career, he has developed a strong expertise in establishing strategic international partnerships in insurance and reinsurance, conducting strategic risk assessments, managing complex claims, negotiating sophisticated placements, and overseeing contractual documentation. He has also excelled in leading risk prevention and management initiatives. Holder of a degree in civil engineering and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, he also…

Moroccan insurance broker AFMA closed the 2025 fiscal year with a performance marked by an 11% increase in its consolidated revenue. This stands at 317 million dirhams (MDH), compared to 286 MDH in 2024. The parent company, AFMA SA, also recorded positive momentum. Its social revenue stands at 264 MDH, up 10% from the 241 MDH achieved a year earlier. The group attributes this favorable evolution to its commercial strategy based on both acquiring new clients and developing its existing portfolio. AFMA intensified its investments in 2025. The total amount committed, including financial interests, reached 26 MDH, compared to 16…

The United States Department of State announced on Wednesday, February 25, the signing of a five-year bilateral memorandum of understanding with Burkina Faso, for a total amount of $147 million. This financial support aims to assist the country’s efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other infectious diseases, while strengthening national capacities for epidemiological surveillance and response to health emergencies. According to the official statement, the agreement establishes the basis for enhanced cooperation aimed at improving Burkina Faso’s capacity to prevent and contain the spread of communicable diseases. As part of this partnership, Burkina Faso commits to increasing its…

The board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved, during its meeting on February 25, the fifth and sixth reviews of the program under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), as well as the first review under the Resilience and Sustainability Program (RSF). This decision paves the way for the disbursement of a new tranche of financing totaling $2.3 billion to Egypt, according to a statement released by the institution. Following this approval, Egypt is authorized to make a new drawdown under the “extended financing” and “resilience and sustainability” mechanisms, in accordance with the economic reform program agreed with the IMF.…

South African insurer Santam has announced the appointment of Nico Conradie as Chief Executive Officer of Santam Re, its reinsurance subsidiary specializing in non-life treaties. He is set to take up his position on March 1, 2026, according to a statement released on February 24, 2026. Nico Conradie has over 30 years of experience in insurance and reinsurance on an international scale. He recently completed his term as CEO of Munich Re’s Africa branch. Within the German group, he also held the positions of executive director and CEO of life insurance. He also led Hannover Life Re Africa, thus consolidating…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has decided to postpone the proclamation of certain provisions of the National Health Insurance (NHI) law, due to ongoing legal challenges before the constitutional court. In a statement released on February 24, 2026, the presidency indicates that this decision was made following consultations between the head of state and the Health Minister, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi. The dispute revolves around the legislative process that led to the adoption of the law. The proclamation of the relevant sections is therefore suspended until the South African Constitutional Court makes its decisions, expected following the scheduled hearings from May…

In 2025, the Maroc Telecom group recorded a consolidated revenue of 36.7 billion dirhams (approximately $3.67 billion), an increase of 1.4% at constant exchange rates compared to 2024. This performance is mainly driven by the sustained growth of international activities (+5.3%), led by subsidiaries Moov Africa, combined with the resilience of the domestic market. Specifically, as of December 2025, the group’s total customer base stands at nearly 77 million, up 3.6% year-on-year. This growth is mainly attributable to Moov Africa subsidiaries (+5.1%), while the customer base in Morocco remains stable at around 22 million subscribers. EBITDA stands at 18.49 billion…

Vista Group Holding, a pan-African financial services group, announces the completion of the acquisition of 99.99% of the capital of Saham Assurances Niger, now renamed Vista Assurances Niger, according to a statement released on Thursday, February 12. This strategic operation marks a new step in the structuring of the group’s insurance division and fits into its vision of building an integrated financial ecosystem combining banking and insurance. The stated objective is clear: to expand access to financial protection solutions for individuals, businesses, and institutions, while consolidating a consistent and efficient regional offering. Already present in the sector through Vista Assurances…

The Suez Canal Bank (CANA) closed the 2025 fiscal year with a significant increase in performance, confirming its growth momentum in the Egyptian banking sector marked by high interest rates and strong activity in the domestic market. According to a statement released on February 11 by the Egyptian Stock Exchange, the bank recorded a net profit of 6.421 billion Egyptian pounds (approximately $207 million) for the period from January 1 to December 31, 2025, compared to 5.681 billion pounds (approximately $183 million) in 2024. This represents an increase of about 13% year-on-year, reflecting the improvement in operational performance and the…

The African insurance sector must strengthen its contribution to financing the continent’s economies. As a key player in the pan-African insurance architecture, the ACTIVA Group has established itself, in just over two decades, as one of the few African champions capable of combining financial strength, strategic discipline, and market intelligence. At the helm, founder and president Richard Lowe embodies this unique trajectory where vision precedes expansion and growth is based on a keen understanding of the continent’s economic dynamics. Present in many countries, ACTIVA has built its footprint on a demanding promise: to sustainably support African economies while providing tailored…

Sanlam Maroc has significantly reduced its stake in Label Vie, falling below the regulatory threshold of 5%. This information was announced by the Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC). According to the published statement, the insurer sold a total of 81,350 Label Vie shares on February 2, 2026, with 32,850 shares on the central market and 48,500 shares on the block market, at a unit price of 4,300 dirhams (approximately 430 USD). This transaction represents a total amount of approximately 349.8 million dirhams (approximately 34.98 million USD). Following this transaction, Sanlam Maroc now holds 63,927 shares, representing 2.21% of the capital…

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Arab Tunisian International Bank (BIAT) signed an agreement on February 6, 2026 in Tunis, for a transaction guarantee facility of $50 million, aimed at strengthening Tunisian foreign trade financing. This initiative aims to support local businesses, promote job creation, and improve access to essential goods for the population, particularly through strengthening supply chains and domestic production. The guarantee will specifically facilitate the importation of industrial inputs, production machinery, and equipment in the telecommunications and renewable energy sectors, considered strategic for the country’s industrialization process. It will provide international banks with coverage of…

Investments in Tunisia recorded a remarkable increase in 2025, reaching 8,356.4 million dinars (approximately 2.7 billion dollars), a 39.3% increase compared to 2024. This is according to the 2025 annual report published on February 9, 2026 by the Tunisia Investment Authority (TIA). This dynamic is expected to create 101,681 jobs, an increase of 5% from the previous year. In terms of sectors, despite a temporary adjustment marked by a 14.3% decrease in volume, the industry maintains its structural role in the Tunisian economy. It accounts for 2,924.7 MDT (approximately 943 million dollars), representing 35% of declared investments, and 39% of…

Annual inflation in Egypt saw a slight slowdown in January 2026, standing at 10.1%, compared to 10.3% in December 2025, according to data from the general consumer price index published on Tuesday, February 10 by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). The price index reached 268.1 points during the period. On a...

“The single approval, or ‘single passport’, represents the ideal horizon of our regional integration” Interview by Dominique Mabika As the fiftieth general assembly of FANAF takes place in Abidjan from February 9 to 13, 2026, we present you with an exclusive interview with the market regulator of the Inter-African Conference of Insurance Markets (CIMA), covering...

Arab Financial Consultants (AFC), a brokerage intermediary, has announced its entry into the capital of the asset management company Alternative Capital Partners (ACP) with a stake of 39.2%. This strategic investment is a key step in AFC’s development strategy and demonstrates its commitment to strengthening its positioning in high value-added financial activities. Through this operation, AFC intends to diversify and consolidate its range of services for companies and institutional investors, particularly in the areas of private equity, fund structuring and management, as well as strategic support for growing companies. AFC’s investment in ACP marks a natural evolution of its model,…

The Disway group, a key player in the wholesale distribution of IT and telecom equipment in Morocco, announced on February 6, 2026 that it had achieved a historic milestone by surpassing the 2 billion dirhams (approximately $200 million) revenue mark in 2025. This performance is reflected in the activity indicators published for the fourth quarter of 2025. During the last quarter of the year, the group’s consolidated revenue reached 572 million dirhams (approximately $57.2 million), an increase of 3.5% compared to the same period in 2024. For the entire year, Disway reported a revenue of 2,076 million dirhams (approximately $207.6…

Alkimia Chemical Company announced on February 5, 2026, a significant decline in its industrial and commercial performance for the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2025, in a context marked by increased international competition and loss of competitiveness. At the end of 2025, the company’s overall production stood at 22,891 tonnes, compared to 28,974 tonnes the previous year, representing a 21% decrease. This production is divided between 14,220 tonnes of Sodium Tri-Poly Phosphate (STPP – Na₅P₃O₁₀) and 8,671 tonnes of crystallized MAP. According to Alkimia, this decline is mainly due to a highly competitive international environment, increasingly favoring industrial players…

Santam announced on February 6, 2026, a series of strategic appointments and promotions within its leadership team. The South African group states that these changes, which take effect this month, are part of its commitment to strengthen its leadership and support its long-term growth ambitions. In this context, Welma Grobler has been appointed Chief Operating...

Attijari Leasing, a company of the Attijari bank group, specialized in financing investments and supporting businesses through leasing solutions, closed the 2025 fiscal year with a net profit of 10.06 million Tunisian dinars (approximately 3.25 million dollars), slightly up from the 2024 fiscal year, during which the profit was 10.00 million dinars (approximately 3.23 million...

Present at the Financial Afrik Awards, Issa Malgoubri, CEO of IFI International, shared his vision on the levers to activate to strengthen the efficiency and accessibility of Islamic finance tools in mobilizing resources. The discussions, organized as part of this edition focused on PPP as an alternative to public debt, have allowed exploring financing models capable of efficiently mobilizing both local and international resources.

Amadou Thiam, Senior Regional Manager – North, West, and Central Africa at Shelter Afrique Development Bank, participated in the 7th edition of the Financial Afrik Awards as a panelist during the session dedicated to the theme “Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as an alternative to public debt”. In addition to this meeting, the financier discussed with Financial Afrik various key issues, including the challenges to be overcome in building sustainable public-private partnerships in Africa.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced on February 3, 2026, the establishment of a strategic partnership with Nuatum Ports – Safaga Terminal, an entity owned by the AD Ports group, based in the United Arab Emirates and a leading global player in the fields of commerce, industry, and logistics. This operation aims to strengthen Egyptian port infrastructure, boost trade, and generate sustainable jobs. As part of this partnership, the IFC is mobilizing a total financing of $115 million to expand access to essential port services in Egypt. The investment is expected to create direct and indirect jobs, particularly in the…

The Insurance and Social Welfare Control Authority (ACAPS) organized a meeting on February 3 with stakeholders in the insurance sector on the theme: “AML/CFT framework in the insurance sector: state of play and effectiveness challenges.” This initiative is part of the awareness-raising actions carried out by the regulator to strengthen the effectiveness of measures to combat money laundering and terrorism financing (AML/CFT). The meeting brought together, among others, the Moroccan Insurance Federation (FNACAM), insurance and reinsurance companies, as well as several key national institutions, including the National Financial Intelligence Authority (ANRF), the National Commission responsible for implementing United Nations sanctions…

Major natural disasters represent a growing economic risk for Tunisia, with a potential impact estimated at nearly 1.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP). This alert was raised by the Minister of Finance, Mechket Slama Khaldi, on Monday, February 2, on the sidelines of the 18th Carthage Forum on insurance and reinsurance, held in Tunis. According to the data presented, drought alone accounts for more than half of the natural disasters recorded in the country. Floods, although less frequent, account for nearly 60% of total economic losses. The most exposed sectors remain agriculture, infrastructure, and tourism, essential pillars of the…

Al Baraka Bank Egypt (SAUD), a subsidiary of the Islamic banking group Al Baraka, has announced the signing of a strategic cooperation protocol with Salama Takaful Insurance Company Egypt, an international company specializing in Sharia-compliant insurance and Takaful. This initiative aims to strengthen integration between the banking and insurance sectors by developing financial solutions in accordance with Sharia principles, in order to better serve the clients of both institutions and support their common growth plans. According to a statement released on Tuesday, February 3, the protocol is part of its overall vision to build an integrated financial ecosystem, combining banking…