Author: The Editorial Staff

The Rwandan public investment company Crystal Ventures Ltd (CVL) has appointed Nick Barigye as its new Chief Executive Officer, replacing Jack Kayonga who had been in this position since March 2020. This appointment comes in the context of accelerated regional expansion for CVL, whose portfolio is now estimated at $1.8 billion, covering strategic sectors ranging...

Senegal has reached a decisive turning point in its strategy to secure access to drinking water with the signing of the renegotiated contract for the construction of the Grande Côte seawater desalination plant, in partnership with the Saudi giant ACWA Power. This structuring project is now at the heart of the national economic ambitions within...

France officially ended its permanent military presence in Senegal on Thursday, July 17, 2025, after over sixty years of uninterrupted deployment. This withdrawal was mainly a promise from the new Senegalese president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, elected in March 2024, to revise the military agreements signed with the former colonial power. Through a ceremony held at Camp Geille in Dakar, French military authorities handed over the last two military installations: Camp Geille and the military stopover at Dakar airport. The transfer took place in the presence of the Senegalese Chief of Staff, General Mbaye Cissé, and General Pascal Ianni, commander of…

By Pierre-Samuel Guedj, sustainability expert, economic diplomacy and government relations, President of Affectio Mutandi & of the RSE & ODD commission of CIAN Long confined to defending commercial interests and seeking foreign direct investments, economic diplomacy in Africa is undergoing a paradigm shift. At a time when climate, social, and governance issues are becoming decisive in global economic decision-making, sustainability, ESG criteria (environment, social, governance), and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are emerging as the new languages of power and geopolitical credibility. Sustainability and sovereignty: the ongoing transformation Far from being a passing trend, sustainability has become a matter of sovereignty…

London, July 21, 2025 – The Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), a fund of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) managed by Ninety One, announced a $40 million investment in Axian Telecom’s five-year $600 million bond issuance. This contribution is part of a $160 million anchor investment made alongside the International Finance Corporation (IFC), British International Investment (BII), DEG (Germany), and Proparco (France). The issuance attracted strong interest from investors, with demand exceeding $1.3 billion, resulting in an oversubscription rate of 2. This financing is intended to support Axian Telecom’s investments in its subsidiaries operating in Madagascar, Senegal,…

By Master Ibrahima DIAWARALawyer, Registered at the Bar of Senegal on 06.02.1987. Holding a Master’s degree in Business Law. The initial finance law of 2025, in its various provisions, abolished articles 700 to 705 of the General Tax Code. This discreet manner of proceeding could suggest a desire to strengthen fiscal arbitrariness against the taxpayer.Indeed, these suppressions seem to be driven by the idea of ​​strengthening the powers of the tax administration by placing it beyond the scope of any external control that could create a contradictory mechanism for controlling and verifying its exorbitant powers.The tax administration, which, by law, has the…

Thunderclap in the Guinean bauxite sector. The Société des Bauxites de Guinée (SBG), a subsidiary of the sprawling conglomerate Monaco Resources Group – now renamed Sonel Investment – has lost its mining license. This decision, which occurred in mid-June against a backdrop of civil and criminal disputes, coincides, by pure chance or geopolitical synchrony, with the Principality of Monaco being blacklisted by the European Union, following the tightening of the FATF on money laundering. Based on the Rock, Sonel Investment presents itself as a global player, firmly anchored in natural resources, energy, logistics, and agri-business, with a turnover exceeding one…

Côte d’Ivoire continues to dominate the regional financial market. On July 17, 2025, the Ivorian Public Treasury successfully raised 96.25 billion XOF, equivalent to 173.25 million dollars, on the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) financial market, following a simultaneous issuance of Treasury bills and bonds. The operation initially targeted a volume of 87.5 billion XOF, but investor confidence was demonstrated by an oversubscription of 149.9%, with 131.16 billion XOF in proposals. The Treasury accepted 73.38% of the offers, favoring Treasury assimilable bonds (OAT) with maturities of 3, 5, and 7 years, offering attractive gross yields ranging from 7.41%…

The majority of prices of the main raw materials exported by the countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) were on an upward trend on the international markets in May 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) based in...

For the fiscal year 2024, the African Soft Drink and Refreshment Company (Solibra) will allocate a gross total dividend of 20.082 billion CFA francs (36.148 million dollars) to its shareholders on July 29, 2025, announced the leaders of this company based in Abidjan. Based on the 16,460,840 shares that make up the company’s share capital,...

Banque Atlantique Togo, a subsidiary of the pan-African group Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP), was named “Best Partner” of the African Guarantee Fund and Economic Cooperation (FAGACE) for the 2024-2025 period, during the regional closing ceremony held on May 16th in Lomé. This distinction highlights the effectiveness of the strategic partnership between Banque Atlantique and FAGACE, serving financial inclusion and structured financing of Togolese companies. The trophy, accompanied by a Certificate of Excellence, was presented to Mr. Abdoulatiphe DERMANE, Director of Operations of Banque Atlantique Togo, representing the General Manager, in the presence of Mr. Basile TCHAKOUNTE, Secretary General of FAGACE,…

Brussels is stepping up its pressure on Algiers. The European Union has officially launched arbitration proceedings against Algeria due to a set of trade and investment restrictions deemed contrary to the EU-Algeria Association Agreement in force since 2005. This decision, announced yesterday, marks a turning point in an escalating standoff, as Brussels seeks to restore the rights of its exporters and businesses operating in Algeria, increasingly penalized by a hostile environment. Since 2021, the Algerian authorities have implemented a series of measures that, according to the EU, violate the spirit and letter of the agreement. Specifically targeted are: a system…

Azule Energy has confirmed Angola’s first major offshore natural gas discovery after drilling the Gajajeira-01 well in the lower Congo basin. According to information from the Angolan Ministry of Hydrocarbons, the discovered well contains over 1,000 billion cubic feet of gas and 100 million barrels of condensate. This colossal discovery could boost Angola’s ambitions to develop its LNG industry and attract new investors. Located approximately 60 km off the coast, this field demonstrates the diversification of Angola’s energy sector beyond oil and could strengthen its economy for years to come.

Tanzania aims to increase its trade with India to $10 billion, as part of a renewed commitment to strengthen economic relations between the two countries. Speaking on July 15, 2025 in Dar es Salaam at the Tanzania-India Business Forum, Deputy Minister of Trade Exaud Kigahe stated that his government was planning a series of comprehensive...

From July 16 to 30, 2025, the cotton-cashew-shea Council is launching a vast operation to identify the actors in the shea sector across the main production areas of the country. This campaign targets sellers, exporters, and buyers involved in the value chain, with the aim of mapping out this strategic sector clearly. The operation will cover several key localities, including Bondoukou, Agnibilékrou, Bouna, Korhogo, Boundiali, Odienné, Daloa, Bouaké, Touba, Ferkessédougou, Dimbokro, Séguéla, Mankono, Zuénoula, and Katiola. The choice of these regions is based on their importance in the national shea production and their potential for structuring. Through this initiative, the…

The Japanese rating agency, Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR), has assigned a long-term credit rating of A+ to the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), the pan-African multilateral bank specializing in infrastructure financing. The outlook was deemed stable, confirming the financial strength and increasing reliability of the institution. “This rating confirms the financial strength and growing credibility...

The Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy has taken a major step in the fight against illegal gold mining by officially handing over 30 surveillance drones to regional and departmental mining and geology authorities on July 11, 2025. This ceremony, held in Yamoussoukro, demonstrates the authorities’ commitment to modernizing control measures in the field, with...

Since the official announcement of the current Cameroonian Head of State, Paul Biya, running for the presidential election on October 12, 2025, in financial circles, there is an expectation of a surge in concerns from financial rating agencies regarding “the risk of instability linked to the absence of a clear succession plan”. Indeed, for the...

Fundi Tshazibana, President of the Prudential Authority (PA) and Deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), announced that the recent sanctions imposed on several large local and international banks are not related to South Africa’s efforts to be removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, on which the country has been listed since 2023. “These sanctions reflect a natural strengthening of our supervisory system, and are not a response to external pressure related to the FATF,” she said. The regulator recently imposed fines on several banks for non-compliance with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FIC…

The Regional Stock Exchange (BRVM) hosted, on Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Abidjan, the ceremony of the simultaneous first listing of four bond issues from the State of Senegal. An exceptional operation presided over by the Director General of the BRVM, Edoh Kossi Amenounvé, which marks a milestone in the history of the regional financial market with a total amount raised of 405 billion CFA francs. “I am delighted with this historic operation which is the result of a collective effort and above all the symbol of an Africa whose capital markets are deepening year after year,” said Edoh Kossi…

The Ivorian Bank Society (SIB), a subsidiary of the Moroccan banking group Attijariwafa Bank, will pay its shareholders on July 31, 2025, for the 2024 fiscal year, a gross total dividend of 18.750 billion CFA francs (33.750 million dollars), announced the leaders of this banking institution based in Abidjan. Based on the 50 million shares...

According to the 2024 annual public debt management report, released in July 2025 by the Congolese Amortization Fund (CCA), from 2020 to 2024, the Congo’s public debt stock has been on the rise. This volume increased from 6,596.13 billion CFA francs (11.7 billion USD) in 2020 to 8,535.77 billion CFA francs (15 billion USD) in...

From government sources, in 2025, transfers to municipalities and regions in Cameroon reach 303.5 billion CFA francs (around $540 million), an increase of 3.6% year-on-year. In 2024, this fund amounted to 292.5 billion CFA francs (520 million USD). This general endowment for decentralization (DGD) is allocated 63% to municipalities, while the remaining 37% goes to...

The President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, received Simon Tiemtoré, CEO of Vista Bank, for an audience on July 14, 2025, to discuss economic cooperation prospects. The meeting was part of a dynamic to support the “Senegal 2050” vision, through significant investments in the financial sectors. The head of Vista Group reaffirmed his willingness to...

Between January and May 2025, Chad exported 1,045 tons of Arabic gum to the United States, an increase of 81% year-on-year. This makes this country in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) the top African supplier to the United States and the second globally after France for this commodity. This information is provided...

In a significant decision for governance and budget discipline, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has ordered, in a statement released on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, the immediate removal of fuel allowances and any fuel allocations for individuals appointed to political positions. This measure is part of a series of initiatives aimed at drastically reducing public...

Dakar, July 16th 2025 – The State of Senegal has just achieved a new milestone on the regional financial market with the closing, on July 8th, 2025, of its second Public Offering (APE) of the year. Result: 364 billion FCFA raised, against an initial target of 300 billion, representing an impressive coverage rate of 121.3%. At the heart of this success, CGF BOURSE, lead manager of the operation, confirms its strategic role in mobilizing national savings for development. A transformative operation led by a leading actor Designed in a demanding economic context, this operation was structured by CGF BOURSE, in…

The annual overall result of the companies listed on the Tunis Stock Exchange (BVMT) in 2024 recorded a 13.3% increase compared to the 2023 exercise, according to a report established by the leaders of this Exchange based on the financial statements published by 64 out of the 74 listed companies. This result stood at 3.101...

By Mohamed Souleymane As one of the five African heads of state invited to lunch on Wednesday, July 9 at the White House, President Mohamed Cheikh Ould Ghazouani referred to Mauritania as a “small country” due to its population (5 million inhabitants) and its economy, despite being the second largest African exporter of iron for the past 6 decades. This description caught the attention of Mohamed Souleymane, a free thinker and lover of literature. In full. It was from the island of Tidra in Mauritania that the Almoravids, later known as al murabitune, raised armies to conquer the north and…

EDITORIAL MANAGER (page 2) SPECIAL REPORT (pages 6 to 13) Development banks: engines of coordinated African growth ECONOMIC POLICY (page 14) EVENT (pages 16 to 19) HOSPITALITY (pages 20 to 21) CLIMATE FINANCE (page 22) PREMIUM PUBLICATION Download.