Author: The Editorial Staff

The Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) group has definitively closed one of the most sensitive legal cases in its history in Europe. The French-speaking Court of First Instance in Brussels has approved a settlement agreement between BCP, its subsidiary Banque Chaabi du Maroc (BCDM), and the Belgian federal prosecutor, putting an end to a case opened...

Cotonou, August 7, 2026 – The international rating agency Moody’s has upgraded Benin’s long-term sovereign rating from “B1” to “Ba3”, with a stable outlook, reinforcing the country in the “BB/Ba” category of sovereign ratings. This improvement comes in a context marked by sustained economic growth and a gradual consolidation of public finances. According to Moody’s, the Beninese economy grew by 8.1% in 2025, its highest level since 1990. The agency anticipates a GDP growth between 6.5% and 7% per year until 2030, supported notably by investment, industrialization, and the development of local raw material processing. The agency also highlights the…

By Ismael Sy, Casablanca The Moroccan banking sector confirms its strength at the end of the first half of 2026. Driven by a sustained recovery in economic activity, an increase in credit demand, and an improvement in income, the main banks of the Kingdom are showing increased financial performance, reinforcing their role as a driver...

Nairobi, Kenya – August 6, 2026 – S&P Global Ratings confirmed that Shelter Afrique Development Bank’s (ShafDB) sustainable finance framework fully complies with the principles for green bonds, social bonds, and sustainable bonds set by the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA). S&P Global Ratings also announced the official publication of ShafDB’s sustainable finance framework and corresponding Second Party Opinion (SPO). This validation comes ahead of the Bank’s planned issuance of bonds in FCFA for West Africa and multi-currency bonds for East Africa, aimed at enhancing financing to address the growing housing deficit in Africa. The sustainable finance framework, developed with…

CGF BOURSE and its asset management subsidiary, CGF GESTION, announce several strategic appointments. Gabriel Lopes takes over as Chairman of the Board of CGF BOURSE, while Ndeye Khady Diack is promoted to Managing Director of CGF GESTION. In Côte d’Ivoire, Cheickna Sibi becomes interim Country Director of CGF GESTION. The financial group CGF is opening...

The Presidency of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania announced on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the appointment of Sidi Ahmed Ould Raïss as the president of the National Regulatory Council (NRC). He succeeds Ahmed Ould Mohamedou, who held this position since June 2022. The National Regulatory Council is the governing body of the Regulatory Authority, responsible...

On the sidelines of the 4th edition of Mali’s digital week, Mah Bintou Coulibaly spoke with Financial Afrik. The director of Wave Mobile Money Mali reflects on the rapid rise of the little blue penguin and the assessment of Wave’s participation in the digital week. Why is Wave supporting the Digital Week? Present in Mali since 2021, Wave affirms its desire to support digital development. After our participation in the third edition, it was obvious for us to take part in this 4th edition, which has become a key event at the regional level. The Digital Week provides a platform…

The ECOWAS Investment and Development Bank (EBID) and Coris Holding signed a financing agreement of 80 million euros on July 30, 2026 at the BIDC headquarters in Lomé (Togolese Republic) to strengthen financing for the productive sector in West Africa. The agreement was signed by Dr George Agyekum Donkor, President of EBID and its Board of Directors, and Mr. Diakarya Ouattara, CEO of Coris Holding, in the presence of senior officials from both institutions. This financing will allow Coris Holding to support projects and activities along the food, energy, and agricultural value chains, thus contributing to the sustainable economic development…

The sight of nearly 60,000 young migrants storming Ceuta will remain one of the most striking images of this year 2026. More than just a migratory news item, more than a border incident between Morocco and Spain, this human tide tells the contradictions of a world where capital flows at the speed of light while...

Former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara regained his freedom on Saturday, August 1, 2026, after serving a one-year prison sentence. The information was confirmed by a representative of his party, Yelema (The Change), as well as a judicial source. He had been held at the Central House of Arrest in Koulikoro, about sixty kilometers from Bamako, since his arrest. As Prime Minister from April 2014 to January 2015 under the regime of Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, Moussa Mara was arrested on August 1, 2025. He was charged for statements published on the social network X on July 4, 2025, in which…

Accra (Ghana), July 29, 2026 – The regional high-level conference on governance, critical minerals, and conflicts in Africa concluded today by calling for a new continental approach to governance of Africa’s critical minerals. It places democratic governance, accountability, industrialization, peace consolidation, and citizen participation at the heart of the continent’s response to the growing global demand for strategic mineral resources. Organized by Open Society Foundations, this three-day conference brought together senior government officials, representatives of the African Union and Regional Economic Communities, parliamentarians, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, mining communities, academics, development partners, philanthropic organizations, and private sector actors to…

The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (BIDC) and the government of Bauchi State officially signed a financing agreement of $91.63 million on July 29, 2026 in Lomé, aimed at the construction and completion of 24 strategic road projects and infrastructure. Beyond the financial amount, the operation reflects a broader ambition: to enhance territorial connectivity, open up production areas, facilitate trade, and support more inclusive growth in northeastern Nigeria. The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (BIDC) and the government of Bauchi State in the Federal Republic of Nigeria have taken a new step in their cooperation with the signing…

Knighted in the Legion of Honor in France on March 24, 2018, 76-year-old Nigerian businessman Ronald Chagoury, a close associate of Emmanuel Macron, was once again honored in the promotion of July 14 by being elevated to the rank of officer. As the French President is set to visit Nigeria again in early November as...

By Félix NZALÉ In a continent marked by increasing investments and the sophistication of legal operations, law firms play a leading role. Here is Financial Afrik’s ranking based on a compilation of professional opinions. The Financial Afrik ranking cannot claim to be exhaustive but offers a clear indicator of the dominant players in advisory services...

The WE! Fund, the impact investment vehicle of the Sovereign Strategic Investment Fund (FONSIS), continues its deployment in Senegalese SMEs. On July 28, 2026, the fund signed two investment agreements totaling 800 million CFA francs in favor of Dakar Dialysis and BERCA, two companies operating in health and recycling. This new operation is part of...

For the past few days, viral messages have claimed that Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Gambia have “rejected” the Eco common currency project. After verifying the ECOWAS statements, official declarations, and positions of the concerned states, this claim is false. In reality, these three countries are among the historical members of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), created precisely to prepare for the introduction of the Eco. This zone includes Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. For over twenty-five years, they have been working to meet the convergence criteria leading to a common currency. The confusion dates back to…

Gabon makes its return to the international bond markets with a $920 million Eurobond issuance, marking one of the largest African sovereign transactions of the year 2026. The issuance, which was heavily oversubscribed, reflects the renewed confidence of international investors in the Gabonese signature and the country’s economic prospects. In this operation, AFG Capital Ltd...

After a first semester marked by a cautious recovery in fundraising, the African private equity market continues to show sustained activity, mainly around private debt, agriculture, financial services, and fund of funds. International investors remain present, while African fund managers strengthen their role in capital mobilization. An overview of the main deals announced in recent...

The speech addressed to the Nation by King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the Throne Day marks a new stage in the development strategy of the Kingdom. More than just an economic assessment, the Sovereign outlined a model based on industrial sovereignty, institutional stability, and the strengthening of productive sectors....

On July 29, 2026, the American firm Grant Thornton Advisors LLC announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire CBIZ Inc., a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CBZ), in an all-cash transaction valuing the company at 5 billion dollars (enterprise value). The transaction, which offers 55 dollars per share to...

The West African Development Bank (BOAD) has just reached a new milestone in accessing international capital markets. The financial institution of the UEMOA has successfully completed its first public issuance of sustainable Samurai bonds, raising 25 billion yen (approximately 170 million dollars or nearly 100 billion CFA francs) from Japanese investors. The operation, structured in two tranches – 21.7 billion yen for three years and 3.3 billion yen for five years – is a historic first in several respects. It is the first public issuance of sustainable Samurai bonds by a multilateral development bank, and also a issuance without guarantee,…

The Ecobank group kicks off the 2026 semi-annual results of major African banks with solid but contrasting performances. As the leading pan-African private banking group, operating in 35 countries with a total balance sheet exceeding $33 billion, $27 billion in deposits, and among the highest equity capital on the continent, Ecobank confirms its ability to generate revenue in an economic environment marked by geopolitical tensions, currency volatility, and the slowdown of several African economies. In the first half of 2026, the group achieved a net banking income of $1.3 billion, up 15% year-on-year. However, pre-tax profit only increased by 6%,…

BCP Group and Seniors Plus, a pioneer in services dedicated to seniors in Morocco, announce the signing of a strategic partnership for the launch of TIQQA under the name BLADI TIQQA, an exclusive service offering for Moroccans Worldwide, designed to meet the needs of seniors aged 60 and over. Exclusively marketed to the Moroccans Worldwide clientele of the BCP Group, BLADI TIQQA is the solution designed by Seniors Plus to promote autonomy, well-being, and quality of life for individuals aged 60 and over. The operational implementation of this partnership is ensured by Maroc Assistance Internationale, a historical partner of Seniors…

The consolidation movement of rating agencies in Africa is accelerating. After Moody’s, which took control of South African Global Credit Ratings (GCR) – itself the owner of WARA (West Africa Rating Agency) – it is now S&P Global that is strengthening its presence on the continent by announcing the acquisition of a majority stake in...

A high-level conference on governance, critical minerals, and conflicts in Africa opens this Monday, July 27 in Accra, Ghana. It comes at a time when Africa plays a central role in the global transition to green energy and digital technologies, due to the importance of its reserves of critical minerals. In detail, this meeting – which ends on Wednesday – aims to examine the links between these resources, governance, conflict dynamics, as well as issues related to accountability, community rights, peace, and equitable development. The event is organized by Open Society Foundations and brings together public decision-makers, representatives of civil…

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye officially launched his new political party, “KIIRAAY – The Republican Patriots,” on Saturday, July 25 in Dakar, marking a new stage in the reconfiguration of the Senegalese political landscape after his break with PASTEF, led by his former mentor Ousmane Sonko. Unveiled during the constituent general assembly held in a hotel in the city, the new party’s motto is “The Nation First,” affirming a focus on defending national interests, strengthening republican institutions, and consolidating the rule of law. In Wolof language, “Kiiraay” means “that which protects,” a choice that the initiators present as a symbol…

The Vice President of the Republic of Ivory Coast, Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, arrived in Dakar on Friday, July 24, 2026 for a working visit. He was welcomed at Léopold-Sédar-Senghor airport by the Senegalese Prime Minister, Ahmadou Al Aminou Lô. This 24-hour working visit comes in the context of strengthening economic relations between the two main economies of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). Beyond its diplomatic significance, this trip illustrates the willingness of both countries to enhance their economic partnership and their role in regional integration. According to data from the National Agency of Statistics and Demography (ANSD),…

Microinsurance companies operating in the CIMA zone will now have to operate under stricter financial supervision. Meeting on July 3, 2026 in Ouagadougou under the chairmanship of Maman Laouali Abdou Rafa, Nigerien Minister of Economy and Finance, the Council of Ministers of the Inter-African Insurance Markets Conference (CIMA) adopted a regulation amending notably Article 718...

The Union of Customs Brokers of Togo (UPRAD-TOGO) announced on Thursday, July 23, its membership in the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), the leading organization in the international transport, logistics, and transit sector based in Geneva. The country thus becomes the very first in Francophone West Africa to have an association that is a member of FIATA. This membership was approved by the organization’s general assembly on June 26, 2026, and has been officially effective since July 1, 2026, according to details communicated by Patrick Magnon, president of UPRAD-Togo, to the press. For the organization, this integration marks…

DP World announced on Monday, July 27, 2026, the completion of the main dredging works for the future deep-water port of Ndayane, thirteen months ahead of the initial schedule. This major technical milestone now allows for the earlier start of construction work on the quays and other maritime infrastructure, while reinforcing the goal of commissioning...