• BGFIBank is expanding its institutional presence in African mining finance, with a focus on the DRC and Ivory Coast.
• African banks, including AFG Bank, Ecobank and Coris Bank, are increasing their exposure to mining projects.
• AFG Bank launched a CFA100 billion ($181 million) financing line for mining subcontractors in Mali in October 2025.

BGFIBank aims to support the development of extractive industries across Africa. The Gabonese banking group is participating this week in Mining Indaba, the continent’s largest mining conference, held in Cape Town, South Africa. The group operates in around ten African countries and has developed financing activities for mining-sector players across several jurisdictions.

Although the group has not announced any major transactions, BGFIBank is gradually building its institutional presence among mining stakeholders. The bank is multiplying its anchor points within African mining ecosystems. The strategy combines increased visibility at major industry events with deeper involvement in professional networks.

DRC and Ivory Coast Lead Strategy

In early January 2026, the Professional Association of Mining Companies of Côte d’Ivoire (GPMCI) announced the membership of BGFIBank’s local subsidiary. The move aims to support the growth of Ivory Coast’s mining sector by facilitating access to financing for industry players.

Similarly, BGFIBank RDC regularly participates in DRC Mining Week, the annual gathering of stakeholders in the Congolese mining industry. During the 2025 edition of the event, Isaac Ibuabu, Director of Retail & SME Banking at BGFIBank RDC, highlighted the bank’s expertise in mining projects. He said the bank relies on dedicated human resources tailored to each category of client, whether mining companies or subcontractors.

The group underscored the importance of Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo in its mining ambitions by sending senior executives to Cape Town this week. Francesco de Musso and Kaféhé Silue, Managing Directors of the Ivorian and Congolese subsidiaries, are attending the conference. Alain Fazili Bula, Head of the Corporate Clients Division at BGFIBank RDC, participated in a panel discussion on mining finance and emphasized the importance of partnerships in developing Africa’s mining sector.

African Banks Gain Ground

The involvement of African banking groups in mining finance extends beyond BGFIBank. Institutions such as Ecobank, Coris Bank and AFG Bank now support mining investors in the construction and expansion of mines, as well as smaller service providers supplying large operators.

In Mali, Ivorian lender AFG Bank launched a CFA100 billion ($181 million) financing line in late October 2025 to support subcontractors and suppliers in the mining sector. In Cameroon, stakeholders have called on AFG Bank to mobilize part of the financing required for the construction of Minim Martap, the country’s first bauxite mine.

African banks are increasing their role in mining finance, but they must now demonstrate long-term sustainability and scale. Local and regional lenders must expand the size and durability of their financing operations if they want to compete effectively with international financial groups that continue to dominate Africa’s mining sector.