US asset manager, Carlyle Group, has acquired a majority stake in IsoMetrix, an integrated software provider. The transaction, whose financial terms are not disclosed, was carried out via Carlyle Sub-Saharan Africa Fund (CSSAF), Carlyle Group's investment fund for sub-Saharan Africa. IsoMetrix, which is present in the South African market, will become the second company in Carlyle Group's...

The Congolese government is reviewing its national identification database and President Félix Tshisekedi announced the launch of biometric identification system by 2020. This was during the 3-day workshop to validate the 2025 national digital plan, which begins September 3. During the meeting, which brought together Congolese experts in the digital sector, the Head of State made it clear that...

South African telecom group MTN announced the temporary closure of its service centers and stores across Nigeria. The preventive measure comes after the attack on four of its stores on 3 September 2019, as a reprisal for the xenophobic fever that South Africa is once again experiencing. In a press release, MTN Group explains that beyond its commitment to provide uninterrupted services, the...

The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) between Southern and Eastern African countries is expected to be operational by 2020. This was announced this week by Francis Mangeni (pictured), Trade and Customs Head at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Speaking on the sidelines of the sixth annual COMESA Research Forum, the manager indicated that negotiations for the effective...

Economic growth in the Democratic Republic of Congo is expected to slow to 4.3% and 3.9% in 2019 and 2020, respectively. This was announced by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a statement issued this week. The economic decline will be driven by the fall in copper and cobalt prices, two items that boosted the country's economic growth to 5.8% in 2018. This situation will drop mining...

The African Import and Export Bank (Afreximbank) is signing a financing agreement with DRC’s SofiBanque next September 6. Under this agreement, SofiBanque will get a credit line of $10 million but the maturity and interest rate have not been disclosed yet. The amount will be disbursed via Afreximbank Trade Facilitation Program (AFTRAF), a vehicle set up by the multilateral financial...

The President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has announced the appointment of Mrs. Chinelo Anohu, a highly accomplished international corporate lawyer, as head and senior director of the Africa Investment Forum. The appointment of Chinelo, a member of the London Stock Exchange Africa Advisory Board, took effect from 1 Sept 2019. She also served as Director-General...

The president of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has approved the appointment of Mr. Takashi Hanajiri, as head of the Asia external representation office in the Bank’s Tokyo office with effect from 16 August, 2019. Takashi has over 28 years of professional experience covering national fiscal and monetary planning, and international development and business relations,...

The government of Senegal posed restrictions on outgoing calls in the public administration to cut public spending. Restrictions came into effect since September 1st. According to the State Information Office (BIG), which disclosed the information, the subscription of civil servants has been reviewed with mobile operators and “only incoming calls are maintained until September 30 before the...

Some Chinese companies committed to invest $1.4 billion in energy and mining projects in Africa. They expressed their intention during the visit to Beijing of the African Chamber of Energy (CAE), an organization bringing together government actors and companies involved in the development of the African energy sector. Funds will be injected into the electricity and renewable energy, oil and...