Author: The Editorial Staff

From Pretoria to Libreville, AfCFTA hindered by the awakening of nationalisms The government of President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has announced the ban for foreigners – mainly Cameroonians, Nigerians, Malians, and other West African nationals – from operating small businesses. Presented as a measure to protect national operators, this decision is part of a strategy of “Gabonization” of urban economic circuits. Behind this, a political calculation: to attract an urban electorate often hostile to foreign competition in retail, a sector where the average profit margin can reach 20% but where rents and charges weigh heavily on margins. After the announcement…

The FINACTU Group announces the success of its exclusive advisory mandate to the AFG Group, a major player in the African financial sector, for the acquisition of Société Générale Guinea. This strategic transaction allows AFG to take control of a leading bank in the Guinean market, with over 100,000 clients and, as of the end of 2024, a total balance sheet of around 950 million euros, equity of 161 million euros, client resources of 744 million euros, and a loan portfolio of 357 million euros. For Léon Konan Koffi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AFG Holding, this operation…

In Ivory Coast, cocoa figures are stubborn. In June, grindings increased by 2.2% year-on-year to 46,180 tonnes, but the cumulative total from October to the end of June stands at 475,764 tonnes, down 0.8% year-on-year, according to GEPEX, which brings together the six largest processors in the country. The regulator estimates the national capacity to...

Maputo, Mozambique – August 13, 2025 – Africa50, a pan-African infrastructure investor and asset manager, announced the first closing of the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa Project Development Fund (AGIA-PD) at $118 million. This milestone marks a significant step in implementing climate-resilient and low-carbon infrastructure projects across the continent. The fund, managed by Africa50, aims to mobilize up to $400 million of mixed capital to finance the upstream development of transformative projects in strategic sectors: renewable energy, sustainable transport, water, and ICT. Launched at COP27 with the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Union Commission,…

Algeria is on the verge of finalizing two major agreements with American giants ExxonMobil and Chevron as part of an ambitious strategy to exploit its immense shale gas reserves. With 3,419 trillion cubic feet in place, including 707 trillion technically recoverable, the country holds the third largest reserve in the world behind China and Argentina, nearly four times its proven conventional reserves. This potential represents a strategic lever to diversify production, strengthen exports, and meet the growing demand of markets, particularly in Europe. According to Bloomberg, discussions are at an advanced stage and should lead to official signatures in the…

During the week of August 11-15, African governments continued the trend of taking control of so-called strategic deposits. Faced with this sovereigntist and, for some, populist wave, major mining companies are mobilizing armies of lawyers while negotiating with states, redirecting their portfolios towards the safest assets, and reducing their presence in less productive segments. In the gas sector, BP, TotalEnergies, Shell, and Chevron are maintaining or adjusting their positions, often favoring offshore acquisitions (less conflictual, more segmented) over onshore. Here is the summary of the week. Niger – Orano: showdown over an arbitrator In the dispute between the Nigerien State…

Cotonou, August 12, 2025 – The Interbank Monetization Group of the WAEMU (GIM-WAEMU) and the National Treasury of Benin (TPN) have officially launched the regional prepaid card “RoW”, the first of its kind issued by a Treasury in the WAEMU space. Accessible to all, without the need to open a bank account, this modern, secure, and interoperable card works in the eight member states of the Union. The RoW card allows to withdraw money from all ATMs connected to the GIM-WAEMU network, to pay on POS terminals, to make online purchases, to initiate transfers via mobile, and to track its…

Nigeria is embarking on one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in its contemporary history: the construction of a high-speed rail network spanning 4,000 kilometers, connecting the western corridor (Lagos) to the eastern corridor (Port Harcourt) and incorporating several strategic regional links. The route, currently being finalized, is designed to accommodate trains running at commercial speeds of 200 to 250 km/h, with a fully electrified double-track infrastructure. The most densely populated sections are expected to incorporate an ETCS level 2 signaling system (European Train Control System), coupled with centralized traffic control. The planned trains would be electric multiple units (EMU)…

Designed in the 16th century by the Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator to facilitate maritime navigation, the Mercator projection distorts the true proportions of the planet. It significantly enlarges areas near the poles, such as North America or Greenland, while compressing those near the equator, like Africa and South America. Thus, a Greenland of 2.16 million km² appears almost the size of the African continent, which actually spans 30.3 million km² and could contain Greenland fourteen times over. For many experts, this visual distortion contributes to maintaining a mistaken perception of Africa as a “marginal” space, when it is actually the…

Maputo, Mozambique – August 14, 2025 – The General Shareholders Meeting (GSM) of Africa50, held under the high patronage of Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo, brought together African and international public and private decision-makers in Maputo around a clear ambition: to accelerate the financing and implementation of strategic infrastructure on the continent. At the heart of the discussions was the recognition of Mozambique’s role as an energy and logistics hub for Southern Africa, and the desire to build catalytic partnerships in energy, digitalization, and regional integration. Three major agreements were signed: – Electricity transmission: project development agreement between Africa50 and…

Thunderclap in Lomé: Alain Nkontchou snatches Ecobank from under all his rivals’ noses The surprise is total. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) announces the signing of an agreement between Nedbank Ltd. and Bosquet Investments Ltd, according to a press release dated August 15, 2025. The sale, concluded by Bosquet Ibvestments Ltd, the private vehicle of Alain Nkontchou, concerns 21.22% of the capital. Thus, the former Chairman becomes the master of the ship… or almost, as the operation still awaits regulatory approval. The backstage is just as strategic: Enko Capital Management LLP advised on the operation, Absa Bank Limited (Corporate & Investment…

The National Transitional Council ratified, on Wednesday, August 13, two loan agreements aimed at financing strategic road projects in Guinea, for a total amount of USD 20.7 million. These investments directly target traffic flow in the capital and the opening up of the northern part of the country, with expected economic benefits at the national...

The Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) has proposed to advance the holding of Ivorian legislative elections to Saturday, December 27, 2025, three months earlier than the initially scheduled date of March 2026. The announcement was made on Thursday, August 14 by its president, Ibrahime Coulibaly-Kuibiert, during a meeting in Abidjan with stakeholders in the electoral process....

Homintec SARL, a Beninese group specializing in the computerized automation of road infrastructure, plans to invest nearly 60 billion CFA francs (approximately $100 million) in the installation of four automated toll and weighing stations as well as the rehabilitation of current toll booths in Gabon. The information came from a meeting held on August 7,...

As announced earlier this week by Financial Afrik, the Tunisian Stock Exchange (BVMT) celebrated on Thursday, August 14, the official introduction of BNA Assurances on the main market. This operation, carried out by direct listing, brings the number of listed companies on the BVMT to 75 and the number of active shareholders on the Tunisian...

Universal Insurance Plc has released its financial results for the second quarter and first half ending on June 30, 2025, marked by a strong improvement in profitability. In the second quarter, the insurance company recorded a net profit of 970.73 million NGN (approximately 630,000 USD), compared to a net loss of 107.91 million NGN (approximately...

By a court decision dated this Wednesday, August 13, TotalEnergies and its joint venture partner Shell are excluded from oil exploration in the offshore block located between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas. An area covering approximately 10,000 km² off the west coast of South Africa. However, the French company is given the opportunity to correct...

The United States has given the green light for an arms sale to Nigeria involving ammunition, precision bombs, and guided rockets, with an estimated value of $346 million. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which refers to it as a “possible sale.” The order, requested by Abuja, includes...

The Algerian Transport Insurance Company (CAAT) closed the 2024 fiscal year with a net profit of 837.8 million Algerian dinars (approximately 6.23 million USD). This was achieved in a highly dynamic and competitive national insurance market. Indeed, the sector maintained its growth in 2024, with a total turnover exceeding 181 billion Algerian dinars (approximately 1.35...

Egyptian delivery platform Breadfast has secured $10 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as part of the second closing of its Series B2 round, originally led by Novastar Ventures. This transaction values the company between $382 and $400 million. The funds will be used to strengthen distribution centers in Cairo, Giza,...

7% annual economic growth by 2027. This is the goal set by Nigerian president Bola Tinubu, with the ambition of lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty. Furthermore, Nigerian authorities forecast a fourfold increase in the size of the economy by 2030. The announcement was made on Wednesday, August 13 by the head of state who, taking office in May 2023, has implemented radical measures including the removal of subsidies on fuel and electricity, and the devaluation of the local currency, the naira, twice in order to boost growth. One of the consequences of these actions is the exacerbation of…

Standard Bank Group closed the first half of 2025 with a total profit of 24 billion rand (1.32 billion USD), up 6% year-on-year, and a return on equity (ROE) of 19.1%, at the high end of its annual target range (17-20%). This was reported by the group in its report published on Thursday, August 14. On the other hand, net banking income increased by 8%, driven by balance sheet growth, increased fee and trading income, as well as strict cost control. The group also announced an interim dividend of 7.80 rand (0.43 USD) per share, up 9%, reinforcing the confidence…

During its meeting on August 12, 2025, the Council of Ministers adopted the Ordinance authorizing the Gabonese state to borrow 91 billion CFA francs (158.5 million USD) from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The approval of the Council of Ministers follows the loan agreement signed on July 18, 2025 for the financing of the Gabon Urban Development Project (PDUG) included in a comprehensive Gabon Infrastructure Development Program (PADIG). The latter aims to improve access to climate-resilient urban infrastructure, strengthen public facilities, and reduce flood risks in several cities in the country (Oyem, Lambaréné, Koulamoutou, Franceville, Mouila, Lebamba,…

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Spanish club Barcelona FC announced at the end of July that they had reached a four-year agreement with the aim of promoting football and the culture of sport and peace. The initiative divides opinion, as it follows the signing of similar partnerships with AS Monaco and AC Milan in June. According to the announcement made by both parties, the Club will contribute, as part of this agreement, to enriching the training of young athletes in the country through the transmission of its ecosystem of values. It also includes the…

In Algeria, a new mining law, adopted last July, came into force on August 10, 2025, profoundly redefining the legal framework of the sector. Indeed, the text regulates mining activities, excluding hydrocarbons and water. It reserves the exploitation of mines for Algerian companies, relaxes foreign participation (removal of the 49/51 rule for mines but maintained...

The World Food Programme (WFP) is sounding the alarm. The UN agency announced on August 11, 2025, that it urgently needs $270 million to maintain its humanitarian operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from July to December 2025. This appeal comes at a time when humanitarian needs are exploding and funding prospects remain...

In June 2025, Senegal’s exports recorded a 9.6% increase compared to the previous month, according to data from the National Agency of Statistics and Demography (ANSD) based in Dakar. These data indicate exports amounting to 514.6 billion CFA francs (926.280 million dollars) compared to 469.7 billion CFA francs (845.460 million dollars) in May 2025. “This...

The outstanding bank credit in Morocco increased by 5.8% by the end of June 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM), the Moroccan Central Bank based in Rabat. This outstanding amount stood at 1,175.5 billion dirhams (129.305 billion dollars) compared to 1,110.5 billion dirhams (122.155 billion dollars)...

rridors of Standard Bank, the announcement on August 14 was like a coded signal: Sim Tshabalala, CEO since 2013 and historical figure – the first black leader of the parent company – will leave at the end of 2027, along with his CFO, Arno Daehnke. Officially, it is a planned departure as part of a governance renewal. Unofficially, several internal sources mention a desire from the board to prepare for a faster transition than announced. The retirement age for executives has been raised from 60 to 63, but this measure will not apply to Tshabalala and Daehnke, who are kept…

“Our profitability remains one of the strongest on the continent” In this exclusive interview published in Financial Afrik magazine issue 122, Mustafa Rawji, CEO of Rawbank, discusses the exceptional results of the leading Congolese bank in 2024, its positioning in structured finance, the growing importance of the Illicocash application, the impact of the “20,000 SMEs” program, and the ESG ambitions of the institution. With a tone that is both direct and rooted in the Congolese reality, he advocates for a vision of a strong, inclusive bank focused on the future. Rawbank recorded a net banking income of 514 million USD…