Author: The Editorial Staff

Orabank and Ecobank dominate the Togolese banking landscape in 2025. Data from the Banking Commission of the UEMOA reveals a market structured around a top trio completed by Coris Bank International Togo, while a second particularly tight group is forming behind the three leaders. The Togolese banking summit is played out between two heavyweights. Orabank...

The Finnish group will deliver five Wärtsilä 32 engines for the Diamba Sud project of Fortuna Mining. Located in a remote site, it must ensure the continuity of operations and prepare for the integration of future renewable energies. Wärtsilä will provide five units equipped with Wärtsilä 32 engines to power the gold project Diamba Sud...

Mali and the United Nations are strengthening their cooperation framework. The Board of Directors of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) approved, on Wednesday, August 26 in New York, the new programs intended for the country for the period 2027-2031. The cumulative indicative envelope amounts to $173.1 million. UNDP plans for $130.2 million, compared to $42.9 million for UNFPA. In total, $39.9 million will come from the regular resources of the two agencies, while the remaining $133.2 million will have to be mobilized from partners and other financing mechanisms. Mali’s Permanent Representative to…

The American group Hilton announced on Thursday, August 27, the signing of an agreement with Terrace Africa for the Hilton Garden Inn Harare Highlands, its first address in Zimbabwe and the launch of its upscale service-oriented brand, Hilton Garden Inn, in the country. The announcement was made on the sidelines of ZimReal, a real estate...

An indicative investment of $1.258 billion is planned for the modernization of the Dilolo-Sakania railway section, which is 1,004.5 kilometers long. The concession contract for the line was signed on August 26, 2026 in Kinshasa, in the presence of the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, and his Angolan counterpart, João Manuel...

[1 USD, 129 KES] The African session of August 28, 2026 is dominated by the spectacular rebound of Nairobi Securities Exchange results, the strong comeback of Sibanye-Stillwater, and a busy primary agenda with the announced listings of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Airtel Money. On the secondary market, performances remain very mixed: Lagos, Accra, and Tunis...

The 2025 ranking of banks in Burkina Faso confirms the dominance of Coris Bank International, far ahead of Ecobank and Bank of Africa. But behind the overwhelming lead of Idrissa Nassa’s group, the battle is much closer: Ecobank and BOA are vying for second place, Vista is gaining strength, UBA maintains a significant position while...

The African private equity market is seeing a flurry of activity. Fundraising, new institutional commitments, direct investments, and portfolio exits are shaping the end of August 2026. Financial Afrik provides an overview of the key deals. Ventures Platform closes $84 million. The pan-African venture capital manager has completed the final closing of its second fund at $84 million, surpassing its initial target of $75 million. The fund aims to continue investing in early-stage African tech companies, with a particular focus on fintech, healthcare, and software. CardinalStone reaches $76 million at first closing. CardinalStone Capital Advisers has announced a first closing…

Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed was elected on Thursday, August 27, 2026 in Jeddah as Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). An election obtained unanimously by the member states that propels Mauritania to the head of an organization of 57 countries representing nearly two billion people. This is a major diplomatic...

At the end of a simultaneous auction of Treasury assimilable bonds (BAT) with a maturity of 364 days and Treasury assimilable bonds (OAT) of 3, 5 and 7 years organized on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at the West African Monetary Union (UMOA) financial market, the State of Côte d’Ivoire, through its General Financing Directorate (DGF),...

The South African telecom operator MTN Group is exploring obtaining banking licenses in a selection of African markets. The ambition, declared on Tuesday, August 25 by its CEO Ralph Mupita during a press briefing, aims to move away from the current intermediary lending model to directly use its own balance sheet, collect deposits, and strengthen...

Two French filmmakers, Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani, along with their Togolese fixer Fred Vedomey, have been detained in Togo since July 27, 2026. Arrested while filming an episode of the documentary series “Les routes de l’impossible” for France Télévisions, they were charged on August 17 with “false statements”. On Saturday, August 22, Lomé spoke out for the first time, stating that they have “serious and consistent evidence” against them. A chronicle of a case that adds to the crisis between Paris and Lomé. An arrest during filming The three men were arrested on July 27 near Kara, in…

Egypt launched, on August 19, 2026, the construction of a phosphoric acid production complex on the Abu Tartour plateau in the Western Desert, with an investment of $658 million. Located in the New Valley Governorate, the project aims to strengthen the local transformation of phosphate and produce more high value-added goods for international markets. The complex, led by a dedicated company, Abu Tartour for Phosphoric Acid (AT-Phos), brings together several Egyptian state-owned companies: Phosphate Misr (25% of the capital), Abu Qir Fertilizers and Chemical Industries Company (10%), and Helwan Fertilizers Company, in addition to local financial institutions such as Al…

The Niger has carried out a first revision of its 2026 budget, with the envelope now set at 2,980.54 billion CFA francs, or approximately 5.3 billion dollars*. The initially planned amount was 2,922.22 billion CFA francs (about 5.2 billion dollars). This new programming represents an increase of 58.32 billion CFA francs – around 104 million dollars – or +2%. Adopted in the form of an ordinance amending the finance law for the 2026 budget year, during the Council of Ministers on August 21, 2026, this text amends ordinance No. 2025-44 of December 31, 2025. The revision responds to several developments…

With a total balance sheet of 1,886.8 billion FCFA at the end of 2025, the Banque Internationale pour l’Industrie et le Commerce (BIIC) clearly dominates the banking landscape in Benin. It is nearly 920 billion FCFA ahead of BOA Benin, its closest competitor. Formed from the merger of BIBE by BAIC in 2020 and listed...

Two fires in less than 48 hours, two 33/15 kV substations affected, a part of Nouakchott without electricity and three countries called in for assistance. Faced with rumors surrounding this giant outage, President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, who visited the site, has entrusted Kane Ousmane with an independent investigation commission. The former Minister of...

The project, named DARP NPL EOS Morocco, still needs approval from the IFC board of directors, with a review scheduled for October 15, 2026. If approved, it will be the first investment of the IFC in Morocco under its Distressed Asset Recovery Program (DARP). IFC and EOS, an equal investment The future vehicle would be...

FMO and TDB Group have just raised a syndicated financing to $600 million for ETG. Behind the amount, the operation mainly allows to understand a mechanism still little familiar: the “sustainability-linked loan”. Here, the cost of financing depends in part on the achievement of measurable environmental and social objectives. The figure is impressive: $600 million....

Inaugurated on Saturday, August 22, 2026 in Thiadiaye, in the region of Thies, by President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, the toll highway Mbour-Fatick-Kaolack now connects the Petite Côte to the heart of the Peanut Basin. Stretching over 100 kilometers, complemented by 15 kilometers of connecting roads, the infrastructure has a total cost of $738 million, mainly financed by a preferential loan from the Chinese Exim Bank, which covers nearly $620 million. The commissioning of this axis comes after several years of work and aims to improve the movement of people and goods between Mbour, Fatick, Kaolack, and surrounding territories. For…

Chad is strengthening its external financing. On Thursday, August 20, the Minister of Finance, Tahir Hamid Nguilin, signed two agreements with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and China, totaling approximately $58.3 million, or nearly 32.6 billion CFA francs. These funds are intended to support economic reforms and several development projects. With the AfDB group, the Chadian government has reached an agreement for 8 billion CFA francs, or approximately $14.3 million, dedicated to financing reforms and development projects. This support focuses on economic governance, domestic revenue mobilization, modernization of public administration, and improving the business climate. The second agreement was signed…

More than 150 million dollars paid to the public treasury in 2026, even before the end of the fiscal year. The telecommunications sector continues to increase its contribution to non-tax revenues in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the announcement made on August 18 during the preparation of the 2027 budget puts the mechanics of...

Saturday, August 22, 2026 — African financial markets end the week on a generally positive note. The Regional Stock Exchange of Abidjan (BRVM) has seen an increase of over 50% since the beginning of the year, while Accra and Tunis are among the most dynamic exchanges. On the corporate front, Absa releases its half-year results,...

Abidjan, August 20, 2026 – The market capitalization of the BRVM stock market reached 20,036.18 billion FCFA today, setting a new record for the financial market of the UEMOA. Indeed, the market capitalization of the stock market has increased by 50.30% compared to January 1, 2026, when it stood at 13,330.71 billion FCFA. Over a longer period, it has multiplied by 24 since the start of BRVM activities on September 16, 1998, when it was 836.19 billion FCFA. This market capitalization of the stock market is mainly driven by the Financial Services sector, which represents 44.16% of the total. It…

The billionaire Anas Sefrioui’s Addoha group is betting on Africa as its growth driver. The year 2025 marks a historic turning point for Addoha, signaling the end of a long and painful restructuring phase and the entry into a cycle of sustainable profitability. The numbers, cold but relentless, speak for themselves: a consolidated net profit...

The General Inspection of State (IGE) of Mauritania has released its report covering the years 2024-2025. Out of a perimeter of 32.8 billion ouguiyas (approximately 816 million dollars) audited, the institution estimates the overall financial impact of the irregularities identified at 2.375 billion ouguiyas (approximately 59 million dollars). Administrative sanctions have been imposed and some...

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the parent company of the Ecobank group, is fundamentally revising some of the rules governing its governance. At an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on August 13, 2026, shareholders notably approved the reduction of the maximum size of the Board of Directors from 15 to 12 members and, more significantly, the removal...

The NSIA Group is opening a new chapter in the organization of its banking activities. Starting from September 1, 2026, Beninese banker Benito Fado will take the helm of NSIA Bank Côte d’Ivoire, succeeding Léonce Yacé, whose mandate at the head of the Ivorian subsidiary expires on August 31. This transition goes beyond a simple...

Eight months after its grand launch, the AES Bank has still not disbursed its first financing. Inaugurated on December 23, 2025 in Bamako by the heads of state of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the Confederation Bank for Investment and Development (BCID-AES) was presented as the financial arm of the Confederation. Endowed with an initial...

The new wave of fuel price increases in Francophone Africa does not affect UEMOA and CEMAC uniformly. Behind the same external shock – the rise in oil prices and supply costs following tensions around the Strait of Hormuz – are increasingly difficult budgetary trade-offs. Because between the international price of petroleum products and the price actually paid at the pump, someone has to settle the difference. When it’s not the motorist, it’s usually the state, through direct or implicit subsidies. This bill is precisely what explains the increases observed in 2026. Fuel subsidies prevent, totally or partially, the increase in…

Loceni Compaoré, Ouagadougou. Experts had announced it since the beginning of the Iranian crisis. Fuel prices were going to increase. While some countries had increased fuel prices at the beginning of the crisis, others, especially those in the UEMOA, had resisted due to the principle of paying weeks in advance before being refueled. They had...