Author: ISSOUF KAMAGATE

The Ivorian government, under the presidency of Alassane Ouattara, officially approved a reduction and harmonization of aeronautical fees during the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday, April 29 in Abidjan. This regulatory reform results in the adoption of several decrees deeply modifying the fee structure applied to passengers, as well as the charges related to...

The Ivorian government, under the presidency of Alassane Ouattara, officially approved a reduction and harmonization of aeronautical fees during the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday, April 29 in Abidjan. This regulatory reform translates into the adoption of several decrees deeply modifying the tariff structure applied to passengers, as well as levies related to security...

Commercial International Bank (CIB) has finalized a securitization issuance worth 1.307 billion Egyptian pounds ($27.3 million) on behalf of B.TECH. For this transaction, completed in mid-April, CIB acted as the exclusive financial advisor, lead arranger, issuance manager, promoter, and subscriber. This operation, structured in a single tranche with a maturity of 12 months, represents the third phase of B.TECH’s 14th securitization program, with a total envelope of 10 billion Egyptian pounds ($208.8 million) over two years. Middle East Rating & Investors Service (MERIS) has assigned a credit rating of “P1” to this issuance, based on the strength of the underlying…

The Electricity For All Program (PEPT) is embarking on a new trajectory with the admission to the listing of the Regional Stock Exchange (BRVM) on Thursday, April 23, of a bond in three tranches totaling 99.01 million dollars (60 billion CFA francs). This operation, structured through the “FCTC EPT 2025-2040” fund, is divided into three maturities for respective amounts of 41.25 million dollars (25 billion CFA francs), 24.75 million dollars (15 billion CFA francs) and 33.01 million dollars (20 billion CFA francs). This listing comes two years after a similar issuance, carried out in May 2024, which had already raised…

The Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade launched, on Wednesday, April 22, a three-month promotion campaign dedicated to investment zones governed by Law No. 72 of 2017. This initiative aims to raise awareness of this strategic framework among business circles, in order to attract national and foreign capital. The system relies on integrated industrial and service clusters, equipped with advanced infrastructure and a flexible regulatory environment, designed to accelerate project implementation. According to performance indicators published by the ministry, 12 investment zones are located in strategic sites nationwide. These spaces have attracted total investments of around 1.39 billion dollars, equivalent…

The Royal Theatre of Rabat officially opened on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 with its opening show, the first cultural activity welcoming artists and the public within its premises. This effective commissioning comes after an official inauguration held on October 29, 2024, without any artistic programming open to the public. On Wednesday evening, Princesses Lalla Khadija,...

A national harvest of 90 million quintals and a growth of around 15% in agricultural GDP: these are the prospects announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Ahmed El Bouari, for the 2025-2026 campaign, on the occasion of the 18th edition of the International Agriculture Fair in Morocco (SIAM), held on April 20, 2026 in Meknes. After several cycles of drought, the return of rainfall between January and March 2026 favored the sowing of 3.9 million hectares of cereals, thus marking a clear recovery in the sector. The improvement in the water situation is the foundation of this revival, with dam…

The Director General of Taxes, Abou Sié Ouattara, presented, on April 17, 2026, the balance sheet of the activities of the General Tax Directorate (DGI) for the first quarter. The tax services mobilized 2.02 billion USD, against a target of 2.22 billion USD, resulting in a negative deviation of 196.67 million USD compared to budget forecasts. The overall achievement rate of revenue targets thus stands at 91.1%. During the same period in 2025, the DGI had collected 1.85 billion USD, against a target of 2.13 billion USD. Year-on-year, revenues therefore increased by 176.67 million USD, representing a growth of 9.7%.…

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has announced a new strategic direction aimed at transforming diaspora remittances into a source of long-term investment capital. During a roundtable in Washington D.C., the governor of the central bank, Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, revealed that these financial flows reached nearly $7.8 billion at the end of 2025, up from $4.6 billion in 2024. Now representing around 6% of the GDP, these inflows surpass foreign direct investments (FDI), consolidating their systemic role in the country’s external stability and monetary position. The issuing institution is currently collaborating with state agencies to structure specific financial products, including…

Approximately 435 tons of gold escape formal channels each year in Africa. In Côte d’Ivoire alone, 142 tons of gold leave official channels, resulting in an estimated loss of 4,600 billion CFA francs. Faced with this situation, the Ivorian state is implementing a strategy focused on three main areas: supervision, repression – with over 7,000 illegal sites dismantled – and formalization. This vision was presented on the sidelines of the ongoing World Bank spring meetings in Washington. Côte d’Ivoire’s vision, represented by the Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly, is based on four major pillars: strengthening governance,…

“The Ivory Coast has been officially selected to host our representation covering the West, North, and Central Africa regions, a decision motivated by the country’s economic performance and strategic positioning in the sub-region,” said Catherine Koffman, Africa Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Received in audience on April 17 in Abidjan by the Ivorian Prime Minister, Robert Beugré Mambé, along with the Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition, Abou Bamba, the Africa Director of the GCF highlighted “the quality of Ivorian initiatives” as well as the positive ratings obtained by the country from international agencies. Discussions focused on investment…

At the Ministry of State Portfolio and Public Enterprises, the assessment of the reforms initiated for the period 2020-2025 reveals sustained growth in activity indicators. The overall turnover of the portfolio reached 7.75 billion dollars (4,728 billion CFA francs) in 2025, compared to 4.46 billion dollars (2,719 billion CFA francs) in 2021. This progression represents an average annual growth rate of 15%. These figures were revealed on April 16, 2026 in Abidjan-Plateau, during a meeting between the Minister of State Portfolio and Public Enterprises, Mariatou Koné, and all the social leaders of the public sector, including general managers, their deputies,…

Société Générale Côte d’Ivoire (SGCI) announced on Friday, April 17, 2026 in Abidjan, the distribution of 81.081 billion FCFA in dividends to its shareholders for the 2025 financial year, compared to 57.9 billion FCFA a year earlier. According to its CEO, Patrick Blas, this distribution represents 80% of the bank’s net profit, which amounted to...

The microfinance sector in Ivory Coast has strengthened its position following the financial year ending in December 2025. The Professional Association of Decentralized Financial Systems of Ivory Coast (APSFD-CI) revealed, on April 14, 2026, sustained levels of activity for the entire sector. According to the published data, the total amount of collected savings now stands...

The Ivorian Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nialé Kaba, opened on Monday, April 13, 2026 at the Primature, the 2025 sectoral review of the Debt Relief and Development Contract (C2D). Acting on behalf of Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, she brought together all stakeholders for a three-day session, which runs until April 15. This strategic meeting marks a pivotal step in monitoring financial commitments and evaluating the impact of investments made across the national territory, with a total mobilization rate reaching 91.57%. This financial mechanism stems from the Ivorian debt relief granted by France in June 2012. Out…

The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (IHPC) in Senegal recorded a 1.4% year-on-year increase at the end of March 2026. According to data published on Monday, April 13 by the National Agency of Statistics and Demography (ANSD), this inflationary trend is mainly driven by the category of “food and non-alcoholic beverages”, up by 1.7%, as well as by “restaurants and accommodation services”, which show a 2.7% increase. Other consumption segments also contributed to the pressure on prices, notably “alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics” with a significant jump of 10.7%. Health services grew by 1.9%, while the sectors of “personal care,…

BP multinational announced on April 8, 2026, a new natural gas discovery in the Eastern Mediterranean, off the coast of Egypt, following the drilling of the El-Dennis West-1 exploration well. This well is located in the El-Tamsah concession area, about 70 kilometers off the coast, at a water depth of 95 meters. The identified reservoir consists of high-quality sandstone with a total estimated thickness of 90 meters, showing geological characteristics similar to the neighboring Temsah and Denise fields, which have been in operation since 2001. The development of this resource is facilitated by its geographical proximity to existing facilities, located…

Royal Air Maroc (RAM), the national airline, officially received a new long-haul Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft at Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca. This new plane represents the second delivery of this specific model for the year 2026. The aircraft will be operated by the company under a leasing contract. The integration of this Dreamliner allows RAM to increase its total fleet to 65 aircraft, a historical record for the airline since its establishment. This expansion is part of a sustained growth program aimed at strengthening the company’s operational capabilities in the long-haul segment. According to authorities, RAM’s development strategy includes…

The institutional landscape of the National Oil Operations Company of Ivory Coast (Petroci) is undergoing a reshuffle this Saturday, April 11, with the appointment of Moussa Dosso as chairman of the board of directors. Designated by President Alassane Ouattara, this chartered accountant succeeds Joachim Beugré, whose term began in 2019. A former minister-governor of the Woroba district, the new chairman is expected to officially assume his duties in the coming days, joining a management team where Fatoumata Sanogo has been serving as managing director since July 2023. Moussa Dosso’s career stands out for his long-standing presence at the top of…

The Regional Stock Exchange (BRVM) celebrated on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, the listing of two new Securitization Funds (FCTCs). The securities “FCTC KEUR SAMBA NSIA BANK CI 7.00% 2025-2030” and “FCTC KEUR SAMBA ORABANK CI 7.00% 2025-2030” officially entered the bond market. Carried respectively by NSIA Bank Côte d’Ivoire and Orabank Côte d’Ivoire under the supervision of the AMF-UMOA, these operations were fully subscribed by investors. In his speech, the Director General of the BRVM, Dr. Edoh Kossi Amenounve, emphasized that this dual listing is a strategic lever for financing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the UEMOA. By using…

The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) reported on Monday, April 6 that Egypt’s trade deficit reached $4.8 billion in January 2026. This figure represents a 15% increase compared to the $4.2 billion recorded in the same month in 2025. This deterioration in the trade balance is mainly attributed to a significant contraction in export revenues during the period. Total exports dropped by 20.3%, falling from $4.5 billion in January 2025 to $3.6 billion in January 2026. This decline was driven by the decline in several key sectors, including fertilizers which saw a 47.1% decrease. Other segments also…

Abdoulaye Alliagui, deputy chief of staff at the Ministry of Transport, stated that the Ferkessédougou port, located in the north of Ivory Coast, has a completion rate of 28%. During the EU-West Africa Corridors Business Forum, held in Abidjan from March 30 to April 1, 2026, Mr. Alliagui recalled that this project, supported by a state investment of nearly $474 million (300 billion CFA francs), was launched in 2021 and is scheduled to be operational by 2028. Designed to become a lever for economic and regional transformation, the construction site, built on an area of 730 hectares, is structured around…

Egypt is preparing to reintroduce its “Citizen Bond” to the market, a bond intended for individuals and distributed through post offices. The announcement was made on March 29, 2026 by the Minister of Finance, Ahmed Kouchouk, after an initial issuance launched on February 22 and presented by the authorities as a success in terms of demand. The product offers a fixed annual yield of 17.75%, paid monthly for 18 months. Exempt from tax, it is presented by the government as a secure savings instrument allowing households to invest directly in sovereign debt. The nominal value of the bond is 1,000…

The Ivorian Fintech Association (CIFA) held a sectoral meeting on March 26, 2026 in Abidjan, bringing together several key players in the digital financial sector. Chaired by Alex Sea, the session included the Financial Inclusion Promotion Agency (APIF) as well as companies in the sector such as Julaya, Hub2, and S-Cash. The event served as a platform for the presentation of the association’s action plan for the current year. An action plan centered around three axes CIFA’s 2026 plan is structured around market structuring, strengthening user trust, and promoting local solutions. These directions aim to consolidate Côte d’Ivoire’s positioning within…

As the world’s leading cocoa producer with nearly 40% of the global supply, Ivory Coast is facing logistical tensions in the flow of its main campaign. Members of the coffee-cocoa agricultural interprofessional organization (OIA), gathered on March 19, 2025 in Abidjan, examined the current situation and challenges related to the evacuation of residual stocks. Out of the 100,000 tons initially inventoried in cooperative warehouses, the assessment remains partial: according to Doua Obedé, 3rd vice-president of the organization, approximately 37,774 tons have been removed to date, in addition to 13,000 tons currently being processed in ports. This assessment leaves a critical…

The Egyptian economy is entering a major transition phase, in which the construction sector is emerging as the main engine of growth. According to Fitch Solutions’ projections, the trajectory is steadily upward: after a consolidation phase at 4.1% for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the sector is expected to exceed 5.6% as early as 2026-2027, before reaching 6.6% the following year. This progression goes beyond simple cyclical recovery; it reflects a budgetary planning deliberately focused on high value-added fixed assets. The strength of these forecasts is based on a strategy of diversifying critical infrastructure. Unlike previous cycles, which were almost exclusively…

The South African presidency confirmed on March 15, 2026, that it had received Israel’s defense memorandum filed with the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This filing follows two extensions granted to the Hebrew state, which pushed back the initial deadline from July 2025 to March 12, 2026. Pretoria’s legal services are now conducting a thorough evaluation of this document. The strategic question revolves around a procedural option: submitting an additional written reply to refute the opposing arguments, or requesting the immediate opening of the oral pleadings phase. This choice, which belongs exclusively to South Africa as the plaintiff, will have…

The national economy is set to validate a fifth consecutive year of recovery in 2026, driven by a synergy between the resilience of non-agricultural activities and a major acceleration of the primary sector. During the Government Council of March 12, 2026, the Prime Minister, Aziz Akhannouch, announced exceptional growth prospects for the agricultural sector, with value added expected to jump by 15%. This record performance positions agriculture as the central engine of the economic dynamics of the current year. The main catalyst for this recovery lies in unprecedented rainfall. Between September 1, 2025, and March 11, 2026, the Kingdom recorded…

Ivory Coast has been facing an intense heatwave since the end of February 2026, covering the entire national territory. The Airport, Aeronautics and Meteorology Development and Exploitation Company (SODEXAM) officially alerted the press on March 9 about the persistence of this phenomenon, expected to last until the end of March, a period traditionally corresponding to the country’s annual heat peak. Beyond the immediate discomfort for the population, this exceptional weather episode exposes strategic economic sectors to significant operational tensions. The explanation for this heat peak lies in an early and direct exposure to solar radiation, characteristic of the dry season…

Stanbic Bank Ghana and Standard Bank of South Africa have successfully structured a $205 million financing for Engineers & Planners Company Limited (E&P). This financial arrangement consists of senior secured term loans and revolving credit facilities. The transaction benefited from a strategic syndication including Ecobank Ghana PLC and Absa Bank Ghana LTD, demonstrating strong banking synergy to mobilize significant capital for the national extractive sector. Scheduled for a maturity of five years, this financing is divided into two distinct tranches of $110 million and $95 million. These resources are specifically allocated to support E&P’s contractual mining operations. The main objective…