Author: The Editorial Staff

“Sovereign spreads propel Senegal into the category of Venezuela and Lebanon” Senegal is entering a decisive June, notes Oxford Economics in a report dated June 4, 2026. Behind two “modest” international bond maturities lies a much more fundamental question: can the country still convince the markets that it has control over its financial trajectory? On...

Just days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, the trading floors of Wall Street have turned into prediction offices. After Goldman Sachs, several financial institutions and predictive markets have delivered their scenarios. One constant is clear: Africa remains underrated, despite the spectacular progress of Morocco and the consistency of Senegal. According to Goldman...

Gathered on June 3, 2026 in Lomé, the shareholders of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) approved the return of dividends after three years of interruption. The group will distribute $40 million for the 2025 financial year, rewarding historical results marked by a record pre-tax profit of $801 million, up 21%, and revenues of $2.45 billion (+17%)....

Harvest Asset Management announces that it has exceeded the one billion euros mark in assets under management, with over 748 billion CFA francs as of the end of March 2026. This performance confirms its position as a leader in asset management in the CEMAC zone. The growth reflects the increasing confidence placed by institutional investors,...

TotalEnergies Marketing Côte d’Ivoire maintains its shareholder remuneration policy. At the ordinary general meeting held on May 21, 2026, shareholders of the Ivorian subsidiary of the French energy group approved the distribution of a total gross dividend of 10 billion FCFA (18 million dollars) for the 2025 financial year. With 62.96 million shares making up...

Bank credit to the non-financial sector grew by 8.1% in April 2026, up from 6.3% the previous month, according to the recent bulletin of monetary statistics from Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM). The Moroccan banking system continues to show overall strength, supported by a steady increase in credit activity. According to the latest data from Bank Al-Maghrib...

The latest African Economic Outlook 2026 report from the African Development Bank (AfDB) recognizes Morocco as one of the most developed financial markets on the continent. With a market capitalization representing 47.1% of GDP, the Kingdom confirms the depth and maturity of its financial ecosystem, in a African context still marked by illiquid markets and...

The formation of the new Senegalese government led by Ahmadou Al Aminou Lô opens a new political and economic sequence for Senegal. Composed of 30 ministers, this government team marks a phase of strategic reorganization of the executive power, in a context of high social expectations, regional geopolitical shifts, and economic repositioning of the country. One of the most closely watched decisions is the reappointment of Cheikh Diba, former Minister of Finance and Budget in the first government led by Ousmane Sonko. Now heading the Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Planning, Cheikh Diba inherits an expanded portfolio considered central to…

Baraka Kabemba’s appointment at the helm of Gécamines at the beginning of 2026 marks the opening of a new phase in the history of this strategic company for the economy of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a context of high global demand for copper and cobalt, this new governance is entrusted with the mission...

By Locéni Compaoré, Ouagadougou In Burkina Faso, the launch of state-owned companies with mixed participation, majority public participation or entirely owned by the state is widespread, such as the creation of the RPP (Revolution progressiste et populaire) itself, which celebrated its first year of proclamation on April 1, 2026. Today, the state wants to reclaim...

Organized during the BAL Finals week, the event brought together leaders from sports, finance, public policy, technology, and investment to explore how inclusive digital infrastructure can support the next generation of African entrepreneurs and leaders. Kigali, Rwanda, May 29, 2026: Wave Mobile Money reaffirmed its commitment to youth opportunities, digital innovation, and financial inclusion at the BAL Business Brunch in Kigali, a high-level meeting held during the BAL Finals week under the theme “Youth, Innovation, and Financial Inclusion: Building the Next Generation of African Leaders.” The event brought together key players from sports, finance, public policy, technology, and investment for…

Elected on April 12th, the new president of Benin, Romuald Wadagni, continues to assemble his teams. After appointing his government and key members of his cabinet, he has now surrounded himself with the services of Fiacre Vidjingninou at the Marina, the presidential palace, to handle his communication. A journalist and a Ph.D. in military sociology,...

” My continent is a question mark on the world map.” This masterful formula by Tchicaya U Tam’si, a monument of Negro-African literature in French, resonated with particular intensity in the packed hall of the Kintélé Congress Palace. Evoked by the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, and then reiterated by the Congolese Prime Minister, it gave these 2026 annual Assemblies a scope that far exceeds the institutional framework. It sums up the African paradox: that of a continent abundantly endowed with resources, but still insufficiently in control of their economic transformation for the benefit…

The Senegalese capital is preparing to become, from 24 to 26 2026, the hub of debates on regional economy with the holding of the International Forum of Economic Press of West Africa (FIPE-UEMOA). Placed under the high patronage of the President of the UEMOA Commission, this event aims to bring together media, public decision-makers, financial institutions, investors, and private sector actors around a common goal: to reflect on the paths to sustainable economic transformation of West Africa. The chosen theme, “Innovating for the economic future of West Africa,” sets the tone for a meeting presented as strategic for the sub-region.…

Togolese journalist Loïc Lawson was elected on May 29, 2026, as President of the International Union of Francophone Press (UPF), following an elective General Assembly held remotely. This designation marks an important turning point for the organization, one of the oldest structures bringing together French-speaking media professionals, and also represents a historic first for Togo. According to the results reported after the vote, Loïc Lawson emerged victorious with 28 votes, against Guinean Ibrahima Koné, who received 8. He thus succeeds Moroccan Meriem Oudghiri for a three-year term (2026-2029), leading an organization called to reinvent itself in a context marked by…

The second  edition of the National Energy Forum (NEF), opened on May 20, 2026 at the Palais des Congrès in Nouakchott, highlighted the advances and vulnerabilities of Mauritania’s energy strategy. Under the theme of energy sovereignty and extractive potential, the meeting brought together public decision-makers, experts, and investors around a shared observation: Mauritania now has a modern regulatory framework and major geological assets, but still faces a critical deficit in infrastructure, financing, and execution capacities. On the institutional level, speakers emphasized the progress made in recent years, including the adoption of the green hydrogen code – presented as a first…

The African stock market duel is now playing out at the top between Lagos and Accra. With a growth of 69.96% since the beginning of the year, Nigeria’s NGX-Industrial index narrowly leads Ghana’s GSE-Composite, which is up by 69.59%. Behind this neck-and-neck race, the NGX-All Share confirms the depth of the Nigerian market with +45.05%,...

Moody’s rating agency has lowered the outlook attached to Mali’s sovereign rating from stable to negative, while confirming its rating at Caa2, signaling a deterioration in the country’s credit prospects in a context of persistent budgetary weaknesses and tighter financing margins. This decision reflects the growing concerns of the agency about Bamako’s ability to stabilize...

Former President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Akinwumi Adesina has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Diamonds for Development Fund, announced on Friday, May 29, 2026, by the government of Botswana and mining group De Beers. Established jointly by the Botswana government and De Beers, this investment vehicle aims...

In the margins of the Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Brazzaville, Financial Afrik interviewed Gerardine Mukeshimana, Vice President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). A recognized figure in agricultural and rural development in Africa, Gerardine Mukeshimana is known for her high-level technical expertise, fueled by solid field experience, a deep understanding of agricultural financing issues, and a vast network with multilateral development banks and international climate funds. Before joining IFAD in August 2023, Gerardine made a lasting impact on the African agricultural landscape by serving for nearly a decade as the Minister of Agriculture…

Brazzaville closes on May 29 a sequence that is expected to mark a milestone in the recent history of African development financing. Over five days, the 61st Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group will have offered much more than a statutory meeting: they will have laid the foundations for a new continental financial narrative, at a pivotal moment for both the pan-African institution and the Congo, engaged in its transformation trajectory through the Congo 2060 vision and its National Integrated Development Plan. At the end of the meetings, the Congolese Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Board…

In a context marked by a chronic deficit in development financing in Africa, the New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD) aims to deeply transform the continent’s financial ecosystem. Didier Acouetey, senior advisor to the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), in charge of the private sector and NAFAD, spoke on May 28 with Financial Afrik on the sidelines of the AfDB Annual Meetings. He discusses the ambitions of this initiative, the challenges of SME financing, and the mobilization of African resources for development. What makes NAFAD a turning point for the continent? NAFAD is a unique initiative because,…

Brazzaville, May 29, 2026 The fourth day of the Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank in Brazzaville confirmed the strategic direction set for this 2026 edition: to accelerate the mobilization of African resources to finance the continent’s development in a global context marked by the decline of public aid, geopolitical tensions, and the rise of economic resilience requirements. The AfDB has published its Annual Development Effectiveness Review (ADER) for 2026, a flagship document that measures the concrete impact of its interventions on the continent. Under the theme “Mobilizing resources on a large scale for Africa’s development financing,” this publication…

The DIDEX 20 is the benchmark stock index designed by Financial Afrik to track the evolution of the 20 largest listed capitalizations in Africa. A true barometer of the performance of African stock markets, it aggregates the most representative values of the continent, from the main African stock exchanges, including Johannesburg (JSE), Lagos (NGX), Casablanca (BVC), Nairobi (NSE), and the BRVM. Its purpose is twofold: to offer a consolidated view of African stock market dynamics and to provide investors, analysts, and decision-makers with a simple tool to measure the financial health of large listed companies on the continent. The importance…

The African Development Bank (AfDB) annual meetings continue in Brazzaville today, with several events on the agenda for day 4. AGENDA FOR THE DAY Thursday, May 28, 2026 08:00 – 09:00 Catalytic approach for Africa’s transformation: aviation and health 📍 Hilton Tours Jumelles Hotel 09:00 – 16:00 Inaugural Integrate Africa Forum “Made in Africa, Trade in Africa” 📍 Cuvette Ouest Tent A highlight of the third day, this forum will bring together public decision-makers, financial institutions, and technical partners to discuss commercial and industrial integration strategies. 12:30 – 13:30 High-level AWLN Dialogue: “Shaping capital, leading Africa” 📍 Nkieni-Alima Tent 12:30…

The international bond market is sending a worrying signal to Dakar. According to a note from JPMorgan reported by Reuters on May 26, current prices of Senegalese bonds due in 2033 now include the assumption of a sovereign debt restructuring, with a nominal discount of 15%, a maturity extension of five years, and a reduction...

The Professional Association of Brokerage Firms (APSB) is betting on continuity. At its meeting on May 19, 2026, its board of directors renewed the mandate of the executive board led by Amine Maamri for two more years. This decision comes in a context of gradual revival of the Moroccan capital market and increasing challenges related...

The Moroccan group TGCC is starting the year 2026 on a positive trajectory. In the first quarter, the construction specialist recorded an operating income of 2.08 billion dirhams, up 12.5%. This performance was achieved in a context marked by heavy rainfall that disrupted the pace of several construction sites. The TGCC group confirms its resilience....

Morocco has become the first industrial economy in Africa, surpassing South Africa, according to the 2025 edition of the Africa Industrialization Index (AII), presented in Brazzaville on the sidelines of the African Development Bank’s Annual Meetings. This ranking, which covers 54 countries over the period 2010-2024, marks a turning point in the continent’s industrial hierarchy....

The construction materials giant officially changes its identity. Gathered at the General Assembly on May 22, 2026, the shareholders of Holcim Morocco approved the transition from LafargeHolcim Morocco to Holcim Morocco. Beyond a simple rebranding, this evolution reflects the strategic alignment of the Moroccan subsidiary with the international Holcim group and supports the new ambitions of the construction sector in Morocco. A new chapter begins for Holcim Morocco. The group’s shareholders officially approved the change of corporate name from LafargeHolcim Morocco to Holcim Morocco. This decision, adopted at the mixed General Assembly on May 22, 2026, is part of a…