Despite significant progress, Africa still has a financial inclusion gap, especially for women. AXIAN Telecom’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs in Madagascar and improving financial literacy for women-led businesses will help close this gap. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $160 million senior corporate loan to AXIAN Telecom, aimed at expanding digital...

In the coming years, intra-African trade, especially through the AfCFTA, could boost factoring by making inter-business transactions easier. Currently, the factoring market is still largely controlled by South Africa. Verdant Capital has made a $2 million mezzanine investment in UsPlus, a South African company that helps small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) with working capital...

The humanitarian situation in the DRC is worsening as fighting intensifies in the eastern part of the country. Already critical after decades of conflict, security has deteriorated further with the new offensive by M23 rebels. The European Commission announced Tuesday a €60 million humanitarian aid package for displaced people in and around Goma. Fighting between the Armed Forces of...

On Monday, January 20, Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek launched its new AI-powered chatbot, R1. Within days, R1 climbed to the top of the most downloaded free apps on the U.S. App Store, overtaking OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This breakthrough has reignited discussions about the ongoing tech rivalry between the U.S. and China while also raising questions about its impact on Africa, where...

The African Guarantee Fund (AGF) announced yesterday a new $5 billion local currency guarantee mechanism aimed at boosting financing for energy access projects across Africa. The announcement was made during the "Mission 300" African Energy Summit in Tanzania, which brought together African heads of state, donors, and key energy sector players. Led by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and...

By late 2024, the AES had already committed to maintaining free movement with ECOWAS. Following their official withdrawal on January 29, 2025, all eyes are now on how relations between the two blocs will unfold. Investors are closely watching the situation, as key discussions are expected to outline the future of their cooperation. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced...

The report highlights that Africa's entrepreneurial landscape is mainly made up of small, informal businesses, which face structurally low productivity levels and limited access to capital. Micro-businesses and self-employed entrepreneurs most of whom operate in the informal sector account for 84% of total jobs across Africa, according to a World Bank report published on January 13. Titled...

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries in an increasingly digital world, its impact on cybersecurity—a key pillar of the fourth industrial revolution—is raising growing concerns. In its "Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025" report released in January, the World Economic Forum (WEF) revealed that nearly 47% of businesses worldwide see the rise of AI-powered cybercrime as...

The Cyber Africa Forum (CAF), a leading platform dedicated to analyzing digital and cybersecurity issues in Africa, announces its fifth edition to be held in Cotonou, Benin, on June 24 and 25, 2025. Organized with the support of Benin's Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Digital and Digitalization, this event will bring together top regional authorities, CEOs of leading...

West Africa has major gold producers like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ghana. Togo, which borders these countries, is a key transit point for traders exporting gold worth hundreds of millions of dollars, mainly to the United Arab Emirates. Togo's low royalty rates attract gold from Burkina Faso, allowing it to pass through Togo for international sale. The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative...