Author: The Editorial Staff

Seven months before the 2026 Francophonie Summit, scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2026 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the battle for the leadership of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) has entered its most political phase. Officially, the candidacies were closed on May 15. Now, the games of influence are truly beginning. Three women dominate diplomatic conversations: Louise Mushikiwabo, current Secretary General of the OIF, candidate for a third term supported by Kigali; Juliana Lumumba, personally supported by President Félix Tshisekedi; and Dr Coumba Ba, supported by Nouakchott as an alternative compromise between the two major African blocs. The…

Brazzaville is ready … With 6 days to go before the general meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB), preparations are well underway. During a recent council of ministers, the Minister of Economy, Planning, Statistics and Prospective, Ludovic Ngatsé, reassured on the progress of the work. The meetings will bring together the 61st Annual Meeting of the African Development Bank as well as the 52nd Annual Meeting of the African Development Fund around the theme: “Changing Africa’s development financing on a large scale in a fragmented world.” These Assemblies will be the first led by Sidi Ould Tah since his…

In two decades, Moncef Belkhayat has transformed his small business into a firm with a consolidated turnover of 605 million euros. Anatomy of a cash machine. Exactly twenty-one years ago, Moncef Belkhayat took over an undistinguished small business. Today, H&S Group has a consolidated revenue of 605 million euros. With about twenty assets, nine successive...

Nairobi, May 15, 2026 – On the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit held in Nairobi on May 11 and 12, France, through the French Development Agency (AFD), signed five agreements with the Kenyan government, reaffirming their strategic partnership in the areas of renewable energy, digital connectivity, water management, and education. These agreements, totaling approximately 170 million euros, were concluded during two ceremonies: on May 10 at State House, in the presence of Presidents Emmanuel Macron and William Ruto, and on May 13 at the National Treasury, in the presence of the Minister Delegate in charge of International Partnership, H.E.…

With just 7 days to go until the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group, Brazzaville is preparing to become, for a few days, the epicenter of African economic and financial debates. Rarely has the context been so full of contradictions: Africa is called upon to accelerate its industrial transformation while facing an increase in the cost of capital, growing geopolitical fragmentation, and financing needs estimated at several hundred billion dollars per year. The theme chosen this year — “Mobilizing resources on a large scale for the financing of Africa’s development in a fragmented world” — summarizes the…

By Professor Amath Ndiaye, FASEG-UCAD. According to the 2025 estimates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Central African countries using the Franc CFA occupy the top positions in the regional ranking of nominal GDP per capita. Ranking of the main economies of Central Africa in 2025 according to GDP per capita (USD): Weighted average income: CFA countries vs non-CFA countries By weighting GDP per capita by the population of each country, the following orders of magnitude are obtained: A significant difference The weighted average income of countries using the Franc CFA is approximately 85% higher than that of non-CFA countries…

During the Africa CEO Forum 2026, held in Kigali from May 14 to 15, 2026, the Director General of BRVM, Dr. Edoh Kossi AMENOUNVE, held a working session with His Excellency Abdullah KH ALMUSAIBEEH, President of BADEA, on Thursday, May 14, 2026. Discussions focused on the progress of the preparation of the new SME Support Program led by BRVM and supported by BADEA, aimed at strengthening the capacities of SMEs and developing the Regional Financial Market. On this occasion, BADEA welcomed the progress made in structuring the program and expressed a desire to go beyond this initial phase of collaboration,…

“In a context marked by the rise of private wealth, the sophistication of financial needs, and the emergence of a new generation of African entrepreneurs, Moroccan banks are accelerating their offensive on the private banking segment. Long reserved for a discreet and ultra-wealthy clientele, this market is now becoming a major strategic focus for banking...

“In a context marked by the rise of private wealth, the sophistication of financial needs, and the emergence of a new generation of African entrepreneurs, Moroccan banks are accelerating their offensive on the private banking segment. Long reserved for a discreet and ultra-wealthy clientele, this market is now becoming a major strategic focus for banking...

Beneficiary of the Dongfang Scholarship program at Peking University, Habibou Dia reflects on the lessons learned from his stay in China. Between food sovereignty, industrialization, Sino-African cooperation, and general artificial intelligence (AGI), the Director of Communication at the Senegalese Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Technology provides a strategic analysis of Chinese transformations and the challenges facing global South countries. The Dongfang Scholarship Program is an internationally funded program focused on public policy and leadership. Hosted by Peking University, it is primarily aimed at executives, public officials, researchers, and young leaders from Southern countries. The short-term and highly strategic program…

During the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi (May 11-12, 2026), the ESSEC Business School’s Africa Chair signed a memorandum of understanding with Africa Global Logistics, IBL Group, and Vivo Energy, marking a new milestone in the advancement of this initiative dedicated to African industrialization, local transformation of raw materials, and strengthening the continent’s human capital. Launched in 2024/2025, the ESSEC Africa Chair “Business and Industry” aims to train a new generation of African and international decision-makers through an immersive program combining case studies, industrial visits, and field internships. After a first cohort in Côte d’Ivoire, students traveled to Kenya in…

The Al Omrane Holding continues its financial diversification. The public group has carried out a private bond issue of 900 million dirhams (90 million dollars) with institutional investors, as part of its strategy to optimize resources and support its urban development projects. The operation is part of the group’s financing plan aimed at diversifying its...

Special envoy to Nairobi, Kenya During the Africa Forward Forum held on May 11 and 12, 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, the President of the Republic of Guinea, General Mamadi Doumbouya, called on African nations to fundamentally rethink their position in the global economy. “Africa can no longer be a mere supplier of raw materials to feed the world’s industries,” he declared, to the applause of the audience. A short but meaningful statement. The African continent, rich in immense natural resources such as gold, bauxite, oil, lithium, and cocoa, continues to export these resources in their raw state, leaving the majority…

(Left) Dr. George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Afreximbank, and (right) H.E. Mr. Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). May 14, 2026, Cairo, Egypt… H.E. Mr. Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), and Dr. George Elombi, President of Afreximbank and the Bank’s Board of...

Mehdi Tazi takes over the reins of the CGEM for the 2026-2029 term. Elected this Thursday, May 14 alongside Mohamed Bachiri as vice-president general, the new duo aims to reposition the business leaders as a central player in the economic transformation of the Kingdom. Regionalization, industrial sovereignty, artificial intelligence, administrative simplification, and support for SMEs...

In Kigali, the opening of the 13th edition of the Africa CEO Forum 2026 took on the appearance of a strategic warning. In front of more than 2,800 business leaders, investors, and political officials from 70 countries, Paul Kagame delivered an offensive speech on the limitations of the current African economic model, calling on the...

A few days before the Global Partnerships Conference, scheduled for May 19 and 20, 2026 in London, the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Senegal brought together representatives from governments, the private sector, civil society, and development actors in Dakar on Monday, May 11 to discuss a common ambition: to rethink international cooperation in a world facing increasingly complex economic, climate, and geopolitical crises. Under the theme “Common Challenges, Collective Action”, this international conference will bring together governments, financial institutions, technological leaders, philanthropic organizations, businesses, and international institutions to build a cooperation model more focused on local leadership, sustainable finance,…

Lome, Togo – May 14, 2026. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the parent company of the Ecobank Group, has announced the successful placement of a $450 million Tier 2 eurobond dedicated to financing sustainable agriculture and natural capital in Africa. This issuance, with a maturity of 10.25 years and an early redemption option after 5.25 years,...

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.…