Author: The Editorial Staff

At the heart of the country’s commercial exchanges, the port of Abidjan is the subject of investments aimed at increasing its capacity and improving its competitiveness. This modernization is taking place in a context of growing flows and increased competition between port platforms in West Africa. The port of Abidjan plays a central role in the Ivorian economy. It is the main transit point for the country’s imports and exports, while also serving a regional function by connecting landlocked states such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. This position gives it a structuring role in West African trade. However, it…

At the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Ecobank Group announced a commitment of $3 billion over three years to support intra-African and international trade financing. This initiative is part of the Africa-France Impact Coalition, supported by Presidents Emmanuel Macron and William Ruto. The pan-African banking group, present in 34 African countries, aims to strengthen regional...

In Morocco, microfinance has long been the last resort against banking exclusion. Today, Rawaj Bank, the third operator in the sector, is attempting an unprecedented leap: to become a full-fledged banking group without losing its social soul, although this bet reveals as much strategic ambition as structural vulnerabilities. Analysis. The third Moroccan microfinance operator, Rawaj...

Just a few months after his notable return to the Moroccan financial landscape with the creation of Tessera Capital, Tariq Sijilmassi is taking a new strategic step. The former head of Crédit Agricole du Maroc announces the launch of Tessera Climate Intelligence, a subsidiary dedicated to decarbonization issues, climate finance, and financial engineering related to...

At Nairobi, on May 12, 2026 on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit 2026, UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered one of the most aggressive pleas in recent years for a overhaul of the economic relations between Africa and the rest of the world. In a highly political speech, the head of the United Nations...

In Nouadhibou, on May 12, 2026, Africa Ocean Group (AOG) and the Mauritanian Institute of Oceanographic Research and Fisheries (IMROP) officially signed a five-year renewable strategic partnership aimed at strengthening cooperation between scientific research, the private sector, and marine resource governance in Mauritania. This agreement aims to consolidate synergies between the two institutions in the face of growing challenges related to the sustainability of fishery resources, pressure on marine stocks, and the impacts of climate change on oceanic ecosystems. For Aziz Boughourbal, president of Africa Ocean Group, this alliance reflects a strong belief: “sustainable management of fishery resources can only…

On the occasion of the first day of the Africa Forward Summit, jointly organized by France and Kenya under the high patronage of the President of the French Republic and the President of the Republic of Kenya, the AFD Group and its partners announced several major initiatives in favor of innovation, sustainable growth, and infrastructure in Africa. This first day of the summit, dedicated to the business forum “Africa Forward: Inspire and Connect,” highlighted the wealth of economic, entrepreneurial, cultural, and sports cooperation between Africa and France, as well as the opportunities in strategic sectors such as energy, digital technology,…

The West African Development Bank and PROPARCO have announced, on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit, the launch of an unprecedented cross-financing operation of 200 million euros, approximately 131 billion CFA francs, aimed at supporting the private sector in the UEMOA region. Structured by Galite in the form of a cross-border transaction between the euro and the CFA franc, this operation is presented as a world first in terms of its financial architecture and ambition. The objective is twofold: to broaden the access of local businesses to financing in local currency while strengthening the macroeconomic resilience of the UEMOA…

On the occasion of the inauguration of the new offices of the West African Development Bank on May 7 in Dakar, the president of the institution, Serge Ekue, delivered a speech marked by the desire to further anchor the bank in the economic dynamics on the ground and strengthen its role as a catalyst for regional development. In front of several members of the Senegalese government, representatives of the Central Bank of West African States, technical and financial partners, as well as private sector actors, Serge Ekue emphasized the symbolic significance of this establishment in the Senegalese capital, the historical…

The Government of the Republic of Congo has officially requested the opening of discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the establishment of a new economic and financial program supported by the Bretton Woods institution, according to a statement released on May 11, 2026 by the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Public Portfolio. This...

Orange Bank Africa announced on Wednesday, May 6, the appointment of Audrey Koffi as Chief Executive Officer. She succeeds Jean-Louis Menann-Kouamé, who was previously leading the institution. Prior to this appointment, Audrey Koffi held the positions of Director of Business Development and Strategy. She also served as Chief Risk Officer at the bank, where she...

Lomé, May 4, 2026 – The first edition of the Togo Media Foot Festival took place on Saturday, May 2, 2026 on the synthetic field of the University of Lomé. Under the sign of conviviality, sport, and fraternity, this day was a real success, thanks to the strong mobilization of various institutions, organizations, and teams. Organized as part of World Press Freedom Day, the festival achieved its objectives: to create a networking space, offer a moment of relaxation to the Togolese media community, and strengthen fraternal ties. On the sports side, 33 matches were played with around thirty goals scored.…

French, American, and international health authorities are closely monitoring several cases of hantavirus detected among passengers of the cruise ship MV Hondius. However, authorities are calling for caution in communication to avoid any confusion with a pandemic situation. In France, Health Minister Stéphanie Rist confirmed on Monday that a French passenger repatriated from the MV...

[Press release from GIM-UEMOA, Dakar May 7, 2026] The regional monetary integration process takes a new step in the UEMOA. The Interbank Monetary Group of the UEMOA (GIM-UEMOA) announced on May 7, 2026 in Dakar that eight banking institutions have successfully validated the first pilot tests related to the regional processing of e-commerce transactions. The banks that have succeeded in these pioneering operations are: • Bank of Africa Ivory Coast • Bank of Africa Senegal • Bank of Africa Niger • Bank of Africa Benin • Bank of Africa Burkina Faso • Bank of Africa Togo • Coris Bank Senegal…

By Edna Mwenda, Nairobi Kenya and France have signed 11 bilateral agreements worth over a billion dollars in total on the eve of the Africa Forward Summit, covering the sectors of transportation, energy, technology, trade, health, education, and climate initiatives. The summit, co-hosted by the two countries from May 11 to 12 in Nairobi, brings...

● In the presence of the Presidents of the French and Kenyan Republics, Mr. Emmanuel Macron and Mr. William Ruto, this signature positions Kenya as a major regional gateway for East and Central Africa. ● An investment of 700 million euros in Kenya and strengthening of its African ambitions ● The Group confirms a long-term investment strategy in Africa, focused on port infrastructure, logistics integration, and decarbonization. A strategic partnership with the Republic of Kenya at the heart of CMA CGM’s strategy in East Africa. The CMA CGM Group, a global player in maritime, land, air, and logistics solutions, announces…

S&P Global Ratings has confirmed, on May 8, 2026, Burkina Faso’s sovereign ratings at “CCC+/C” with a stable outlook, stating that the country maintains a relatively resilient economic trajectory despite a still fragile security and geopolitical environment. According to S&P, the Burkinabe economy is expected to achieve an average growth of 4.4% between 2026 and...

The governors of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, and the Central Bank of Central African States (BEAC), Yvon Sana Bangui, held a bilateral meeting on May 6, 2026 in Dakar, at the headquarters of the BCEAO. This meeting is part of the implementation of the cooperation agreement signed between the two institutions on November 18, 2008 in Dakar, aimed at strengthening the synergy of actions between the two central banks in the face of common challenges. The two parties reviewed the progress of the action plan adopted in Yaoundé on January 27, 2025 for…

The first listing of BGFI Holding Corporation will take place on Thursday, May 7, 2026, on the Central African Securities Exchange (BVMAC), marking the culmination of an operation closely followed by the regional market after a subscription period oversubscribed at 136%. In a notice published under reference No. 020/2026/BVMAC/DG, the BVMAC announces the listing of...

At the head of the Afrik Finances Group, formerly Afrik Créances, Blaise Ahouantchédé wants to build a new pan-African player in financial innovation. The former CEO of GIM-UEMOA, a graduate of Polytechnique, Dauphine and Harvard, has a clear ambition: to make the group a financial hub serving the clean-up of portfolios, financing African economies and mobilizing endogenous resources. Created in 2022, Afrik Finances is already present in five countries: Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo, Guinea Conakry and Mauritius. The group aims to establish itself in ten countries by 2031, with an offer structured around centralized debt management, debt collection, credit brokerage,…

The pan-African banking group Oragroup has definitively turned the page on its troubles. Present in 12 African countries and operating in four monetary zones, the group announces a net profit of 21.64 billion CFA francs for the 2025 financial year, compared to an abyssal loss of 44.4 billion CFA francs a year earlier. This improvement...

The Republic of Guinea, represented by the Minister of Mines and Geology as well as the Minister of Economy, Finance and Budget, on the one hand, and the companies Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), on the other hand, have reached an amicable agreement aimed at definitively resolving the disputes related to the cessation of GAC’s activities in Guinea and the interruption of bauxite supply to the EGA group. The agreement, negotiated under the leadership of the current President of the Paris Bar Association, also covers all disputes related to the Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG).…

Driven by a sharp increase in profitability, strengthened prudential discipline, and a favorable economic environment, Moroccan banks are entering a new consolidation cycle, according to Fitch Ratings. By 2026-2027, the sector is not just resisting anymore: it is repositioning itself as a central lever for financing the economy. The signal is clear: the Moroccan banking sector is changing dimensions. In a recent note, Fitch Ratings anticipates a continuous improvement in the credit profiles of banks over the period 2026-2027, extending a momentum that started in 2025. A pivotal year marked by a 26% increase in aggregate net income and an…

By Locéni Compaoré, Ouagadougou. Announced weeks ago, it is scheduled to take place on May 6, 2026, in the upscale neighborhood of Ouaga2000 at the Conference Hall. This is the official launch of the subscription to “Diaspora bonds”, initiated by the Burkinabe State in collaboration with its partners to mobilize at least 240 billion CFA...

The Nigerian Exchange Group is on a roll. In just one week, the composite index gained +8.72%, pushing the market capitalization to 155,900 billion nairas (approximately 100 to 105 billion dollars), while the session on April 29, 2026 set an all-time record in points. Beyond the raw performance, this sequence reveals a deeper reconfiguration: Lagos...

Burkina Faso is on track to establish itself as one of the top students in the UEMOA, with an execution rate of 89% in implementing community reforms for the years 2024 and 2025, according to the conclusions of the 11th annual review. A memorandum outlining the conclusions of the technical review held from November 5...

At Pointe Sarène, on the Petite-Côte (Mbour, west), Senegal confirms its strategy of economic transformation through tourism. The laying of the first stone of the Palmera Hotel & Resort, a 5-star complex with 253 rooms, marks a new step in upgrading the national offer, with a structuring investment of 16 billion CFA francs (approximately $26 million), entirely financed by Senegalese capital. Presiding over the ceremony on behalf of the Prime Minister, Boubacar Camara emphasized the strategic significance of the project: “This 5-star complex illustrates the ambition to provide Senegal with infrastructures capable of attracting investors and world-class hotel operators.” A…

FINACTU confirms its positioning in the strategic segment of public debt management in Africa by winning two new missions funded by the African Development Bank. Following international tenders, the firm will intervene in Comoros and the Central African Republic to strengthen the capacities of the administrations in charge of debt management. In Comoros, the support includes the development of Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) and a medium-term management strategy, as well as the structuring of the monitoring of contingent liabilities and arrears. In the Central African Republic, the mission aims for a complete upgrade of the debt management department, including organizational…

During his major interview on May 2, 2026, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye delivered a message of clarity and confidence to international partners and investors: “Senegal is stable, committed, and open for business.” Economically, the head of state reaffirmed that Senegal is not breaking with the IMF, that discussions are ongoing, and a new program is...

Present in the Beninese fintech ecosystem, Hermann Aguessy is part of the generation of entrepreneurs who are contributing to the progressive structuring of digital markets in West Africa. His activities cover several complementary segments: digital payments, software engineering, digitalization of services, as well as digital inclusion, digital education, and connectivity. As the founder of Nautilus Technology and co-founder of FedaPay, he develops solutions for companies, financial institutions, and public entities. This trajectory is part of a regional context marked by the rise of mobile money, the increase in digital transactions, and the states’ desire to accelerate the digitalization of services.…