Author: The Editorial Staff

The BMCI acquisition by Holmarcom brings back the option of a merger in the Moroccan banking landscape. For the first time in two decades, the same group would own two listed banks. What plausible scenario could unfold? The Moroccan banking sector is experiencing a unique moment. The ongoing deal regarding the acquisition of BMCI by...

Through its Africa Tour 2025, Casablanca Finance City (CFC) asserts a clear ambition: to make Casablanca a financial and strategic pivot for African economic integration. From Cotonou to Lomé, then Accra, this West African tour highlights rapidly changing economies, emerging logistics hubs, and a new geography of capital on the continent. In an African context marked by accelerated reconfiguration of value chains, increased quest for capital sovereignty, and reinforced competition between regional financial hubs, Casablanca Finance City aims to consolidate its role as a platform for continental interconnection. The CFC Africa Tour 2025, which took the Moroccan delegation to Benin,…

Following an auction of Treasury assimilable bonds (OAT) with maturities of 2 and 4 years, organized on Friday, December 26, 2025 on the UMOA financial market, the public Treasury of Benin raised 55 billion CFA francs (approximately 99 million dollars), exceeding the initial target set at 50 billion CFA francs. The operation generated strong investor...

Senegal has officially presented its EITI 2024 Report, with data confirming its effective entry into the oil and gas era and opening a new chapter in its economic development. The launch ceremony, held on Tuesday, December 23 in Dakar, brought together public authorities, technical partners, and stakeholders in the extractive sector around a common goal: transforming natural wealth into a sustainable lever for growth and stability. According to the report data, the overall contribution of the extractive sector reached 455 billion CFA francs in 2024, or approximately 758 million US dollars, marking a doubling in less than five years. This…

The Board of Directors of the Casablanca Stock Exchange has unanimously appointed Mr. Nasser Seddiki as General Director. This decision, made in accordance with legal and statutory provisions, will take effect on January 19, 2026. It marks an important step in the strategic trajectory of the Moroccan stock market infrastructure, at a time when the...

At the end of a targeted auction of Treasury assimilable bonds (BAT) with a maturity of 364 days and Treasury assimilable bonds (OAT) with maturities of 3 and 5 years, the Senegalese Public Treasury collected on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, an amount of 59.997 billion CFA francs (108 million dollars) on the West African Monetary...

Abidjan, December 19, 2025 – Groupe Dayo, a player specialized in insurance brokerage, is strengthening its presence in West Africa with the opening of its subsidiary in Côte d’Ivoire. This new establishment is part of the group’s growth dynamics and reflects its commitment to sustainably support economic actors in the sub-region. Already recognized for its expertise, rigor, and performance-oriented approach, Groupe Dayo now offers its know-how in risk management, insurance program structuring, and claims management to the Ivorian market. “We are particularly pleased to open an insurance brokerage company in Côte d’Ivoire, my native country. This establishment reflects our commitment…

Guinea crosses a key institutional threshold in steering its transformation agenda with the creation of a dedicated Delivery Unit for the Simandou 2040 Program. Directly attached to the Presidency of the Republic, this unit for execution and performance management signifies a change in method: less announcements, more measurable results. Conceived as a fifteen-year economic vision, Simandou 2040 goes beyond the strict framework of the mega mining project. It aims to convert iron ore revenue into a lever for structural transformation, through an integrated industrial corridor, heavy infrastructure (rail, roads, energy), specialized economic zones, and an upgrade of human and digital…

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye inaugurated, on December 16, 2025, the first national assembly plant for military vehicles, located on the International Industrial Platform of Diamniadio and led by ISEVEM, Senegalese Military Vehicle Industry. Senegal is thus taking a decisive step in its strategy of industrial and security empowerment. This infrastructure marks a strategic turning point. According to authorities, it reflects Dakar’s desire to reduce its external dependence, increase its projection capabilities, and structure a true defense industrial base. Developed on 200 hectares in two phases, the complex aims for an annual production of 1,000 vehicles and the creation of…

In Senegal, the first National Diaspora Day (NDD), held on December 17, 2025 at the Abdou Diouf International Conference Center (CICAD), is seen as a decisive step in the country’s economic and social transformation strategy. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye reaffirmed an ambitious vision: to place the diaspora at the heart of the Senegal 2050 framework and make it a driver of economic sovereignty, innovation, and modernization of the state. “The diaspora is not just a source of financial transfers; it is a strategic lever for economic and technological transformation,” said the head of state, praising a community that is “talented,…

Yaoundé, December 12, 2025 – Afriland First Bank Cameroon is taking a new step in strengthening its executive governance. During a regular session, the bank’s board of directors approved the appointment of Mr. Ayissi Dieudonné Hervé as Deputy General Manager, a strategic decision aimed at consolidating the management team and supporting the implementation of the...

The Board of Directors of Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP), meeting on December 17, 2025 under the chairmanship of Mrs. Naziha Belkeziz, appointed Mr. Adil Rzal as General Director in charge of Group Risks. Prior to this appointment, Adil Rzal held the position of Chairman of the Management Board of Banque Populaire de Rabat-Kénitra, where he...

The State of Benin, through its Public Treasury, raised 100 billion CFA francs (approximately 180 million dollars) on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, on the financial market of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), following an auction of Treasury bonds (OAT) with maturities of 4, 6, and 10 years. The amount offered at auction...

BRED Madagasikara Banque Populaire announces that it has concluded a financing agreement with the Filatex Group for the extension and construction of two photovoltaic solar power plants with a total capacity of 4 MW, located in Tuléar and Nosy Be. With an electrification rate limited to about 33%, Madagascar faces a strong dependence on thermal power, especially heavy fuel oil (HFO) and diesel (LFO). In this context, the development of renewable energies is a priority. This financing contributes concretely to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 7 (Clean and affordable energy) and SDG 13 (Climate action). The…

Moroccan groups are taking back shares held by French banks, signaling a silent reshaping of the banking landscape in Morocco. Is it time for the Moroccanization of banks? Although not widely publicized, the banking sector is undergoing a silent revolution. The acquisition of Crédit du Maroc by the Holmarcom group, led by Hassan Bensalah, is...

The Republic of Congo has announced the reopening of its international bond issued in November 2025, for an amount of $260 million, as part of its active public debt management strategy. The operation concerns the same bond instrument as the initial issuance: a 9.875% coupon, with a final maturity in November 2032. Repayment will be...

London – The 17th replenishment of the African Development Fund (ADF) of the African Development Bank (AfDB), which opened yesterday in the British capital, started with a strong signal. The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) announced a contribution of $800 million, significantly more than the $550 million left vacant by the withdrawal...

OLEA announces the acquisition of Marsh Botswana, now renamed OLEA Botswana, thus finalizing five years of collaboration with Marsh McLennan. According to the group’s official statement, this operation “aims to strengthen local capabilities, ensure continuity of service, and offer increased proximity to clients.” The integration of Marsh Botswana is part of a structured expansion strategy,...

On Saturday, December 13, 2025, in Dakar, the closing ceremony of SONACOS’ fiftieth anniversary took on a special dimension when its CEO, El Hadj Ndane Diagne, delivered a dense, solemn, and strategic speech. As the peanut sector faces increased foreign competition, price volatility, and a sensitive debate around export taxes, the head of the National Oilseed Company of Senegal emphasized the vital role of the company in food sovereignty and the lives of millions of rural people. This final stage, after Louga, Diourbel, Kaolack, and Ziguinchor, highlighted the deeply national character of this fiftieth anniversary. “SONACOS is not just a…

Cairo, Egypt, December 13, 2025 – The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Africa’s premier multilateral financial institution, reached a historic milestone today with the groundbreaking ceremony for the African Trade Center of Afreximbank (AATC) in the new Egyptian capital, which will also house the Bank’s new global headquarters. Located in the diplomatic district of the new capital, approximately 45 kilometers east of Cairo, the African Trade Center of Afreximbank will be situated in a modern and strategically planned environment bringing together ministries, foreign embassies, and international organizations. It will be the first facility of its kind in the North African region.…

Nearly twenty years after the historic introduction of Maroc Telecom, the Casablanca Stock Exchange has just turned a decisive page. The listing of the Société Générale des Travaux du Maroc (SGTM), closed on December 8, has triggered a rare enthusiasm: nearly 173,000 subscribers, 171 billion dirhams (approximately 17 billion dollars) in demand, which is 34...

Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) makes a big move: economist and former Beninese Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou has been elected President of the Board of Directors at the 149th meeting held on December 11. He succeeds Dr. Chii Akporji. By his side, Said Athman Mtwana is appointed as Vice President of the board. This new...

Holmarcom group confirmed, in a statement released on December 12, 2025, that it has entered into exclusive talks with BNP Paribas for the acquisition of the majority stake of 67% held by the French bank in the capital of Banque Marocaine pour le Commerce et l’Industrie (BMCI). This clarification comes after several market rumors about...

By Hamat Zugulu, N’Djamena . Long marked by low financial inclusion and a concentration on a few major issuers, the Chadian banking sector is undergoing a profound transformation driven by digitalization, the arrival of new operators, and a dynamic of reforms initiated under the impetus of the authorities. Despite a population estimated at 20 million...

Salim Raiss has been appointed General Manager Morocco for all entities of AGL (Africa Global Logistics) in Morocco. His mission will be to lead the development of the company’s activities in Morocco and strengthen its position in this strategic market. This appointment is part of the company’s overall strategy to strengthen its presence in the region, especially to launch and support the growth related to the numerous investment projects planned in the Kingdom in the coming years. An engineer in agri-food industries in France, Salim Raiss began his career in the agri-food industry, notably at Unilever and Danone, before joining…

The IPO of CashPlus has been effective since December 8, 2025. The IPO, which was oversubscribed 64 times, has been a resounding success, raising 750 million dirhams (approximately 69.8 million euros) through a combination of capital increase and share sale. According to the prospectus consulted by Financial Afrik, the Moroccan fintech company attracted over 80,000 subscribers, making it the second IPO of 2025 in Morocco, after Vicenne’s in July. The amount raised, 750 million dirhams, is divided between two distinct parts: 400 million dirhams allocated to capital increase for the acceleration of the development of its super-app integrating payment cards,…

Mauritania held its Insurance General Assembly on December 8 and 9, 2025, a strategic event organized in partnership with FINACTU and under the supervision of the Central Bank of Mauritania (BCM), which has been regulating the sector since September 2025. This transfer of supervision, coupled with a strong desire to reform the market, marks the beginning of a vast transformation aimed at restoring insurance to its rightful place in the national financial system. For two days, insurance companies, intermediaries, legal professionals, security forces, financial institutions, technical partners, and ecosystem actors gathered for workshops, panels of international experts, and consultation sessions.…

The Sovereign Strategic Investment Fund of Senegal (FONSIS) has launched a partnership call for the realization of the Dakar Millennium Center (DMC), a large-scale integrated urban project that aims to transform a strategic site of 37 hectares in Ouakam, on the West Corniche, into a world-class business district. The official document detailing the call for applications specifies the technical requirements, participation modalities, and economic ambitions of the project. A structuring project at the heart of the West Corniche Mandated to enhance one of Dakar’s most strategic lands, FONSIS intends to make the DMC a mixed urban destination, combining high-level tertiary,…

On December 8, the DP World Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to education in Senegal by organizing a large ceremony to distribute school kits to three schools located around the future Port of Ndayane: Kholpa, Niangal 1, and Ndayane. Completely renovated as part of the “Classes of Hope” program, these establishments welcomed the DP World teams as well as local administrative and traditional authorities who came to witness the completion of several months of work and support. In the morning, the delegations visited the schools, raised the flag, attended cultural performances by the students, and symbolically distributed the kits offered by…

Douala, December 5, 2025 — It is now official: Standard Chartered has finalized the transfer of all its operations in Cameroon to Access Bank Cameroon, thus reaching a major milestone in its global strategy of simplification and reduction of its footprint. Decided in April 2022 as part of a broad disengagement plan from several markets...