Author: ISSOUF KAMAGATE

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 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,…

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…

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…

Since 2015, the Chauffeured Transportation Vehicles (VTC) sector has undergone a spectacular transformation, moving from a niche innovation to a structural pillar present in over 80 countries. A strategic study presented on Thursday, February 26, by experts from the KPMG firm – Marcel Kopoin, Carlos De Souza, Xavier Caruge, and Gilles N’Gatta – reveals exceptional...

The 39th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union on February 14 and 15 in Addis Ababa marks a diplomatic and financial turning point for the continent with the first official participation of Dr. Sidi Ould Tah as president of the African Development Bank group. Taking office on September 1, 2025,...

The Ghanaian government, through its Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, announced on Thursday, February 12, a major overhaul of the cocoa industry to address a failing financing model. This structural reform is based on three major pillars: converting several billion dollars of debts of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), a drastic revision of producer...

A note circulated on social networks this Wednesday, February 11, reported the kidnapping of Adama Bictogo, president of the SNEDAI group and former president of the National Assembly. This document, bearing the name of Me Kouamé Fulgence, presented as the politician’s lawyer, claimed that his client had been kidnapped from his home by armed and hooded individuals. The text specified that the incident took place the day before around 8:00 p.m. local time, after the attackers had neutralized the security guards before taking the man to an unknown destination. Contacted by Financial Afrik, Adama Bictogo’s communication advisor, Alain Toussaint, formally…

The Cheddid Capital group, owner of the broker Ascoma, and the École Supérieure d’Assurances (ESA) in Paris officially signed a partnership on February 10, 2026 on the sidelines of the 50th general assembly of the Federation of National African Insurance Companies (FANAF). This alliance, which aims to be a major turning point for the insurance sector on the continent, is directly related to the theme “Building the future of insurance”, the central theme of the continental insurance gathering. The objective is clear: to structure an offer of excellent training dedicated to senior executives to meet the growing demands of governance…

The opening of the 50th General Assembly of the Federation of African National Insurance Companies (FANAF) on Monday, February 9, 2026 in Abidjan, marks a historic milestone for the sector under the theme: “FANAF’s Fiftieth Anniversary: Building the Future of African Insurance”. This sectoral meeting, which brings together insurers, regulators, and international institutions, takes place in a context of profound transformation of the continental financial landscape. Representing Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, Minister of Economy, Finance and Budget, Adama Coulibaly, emphasized the catalytic role of the federation in the emergence of regional champions, making insurance an essential instrument of stability…

The presidency of the Refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar officially expressed, on Saturday, February 7, its “strongest condemnation” towards the Kingdom of Eswatini. The reason: the official reception given to the former ousted president, Andry Rajoelina. For the current authorities in Antananarivo, this diplomatic act is perceived as an unacceptable interference and a serious...

Standard Chartered Bank anticipates a robust year for global financial markets in 2026, driven by a synergy between technological innovation and favorable macroeconomic conditions. The central engine of this performance lies in the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence, which continues to boost profit growth by improving operational efficiency for businesses. Combined with monetary policy easing...

On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan was the scene of an operational incident involving Air France flight AF 702. The aircraft, an Airbus A350 registered as F-HUVM arriving from Paris, made a normal landing on runway 03 at 7:27 pm. It was during the taxiing phase, after leaving the...

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the General Confederation of Ivorian Enterprises (CGECI) officially launched the Local Champions Acceleration initiative on January 29, 2026 in Abidjan. This pilot program aims to identify and propel local companies with high potential that have already demonstrated operational maturity, strong governance, and a strong market presence. The central objective is to transform these high-performing actors into true pillars of economic and social development, capable of sustainably stimulating job creation in Ivory Coast. As part of this collaboration, the IFC will deploy a range of advisory services and technical expertise based on international best practices.…

The office of the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kaba Nialé, formally summoned the ambassador of the Republic of Niger in Côte d’Ivoire on January 30, 2026. Through this official step, Abidjan expresses its “strong indignation” and rejects the accusations of involvement in the assault on Niamey airport, marking a clear break with Niger’s allegations. The diplomatic climate between Côte d’Ivoire and Niger has sharply deteriorated following a major terrorist attack. During the night of January 28 to 29, 2026, the 101st air base of Niamey’s Diori Hamani International Airport (Niger) was the target of a large-scale assault.…

Facing a critical slowdown in domestic marketing, the Coffee-Cocoa Council (CCC) officially launched, on Thursday, January 29, 2026, a strategic operation to buy back unsold cocoa stocks. Chaired by Koné Brahima Yves, Director General of the CCC, this initiative aims primarily to release the volumes immobilized by producers and to ensure the maintenance of their incomes. This safeguard measure, dictated by the presidency of the Republic, is intended to protect the farmers whose production from the main 2025-2026 campaign had been suffering until now. The Transcao industrial complex, located in the Akoupé-Zeudji area (PK24), is the operational pivot of this…