In the face of global economic uncertainties and rising financing needs, the WAEMU states continue to turn to the regional public securities market to support their projects. These regular issuances help ensure the liquidity needed for budget management while offering investors returns generally above 7%. The eight countries in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) are once again...

With significant mining, agricultural, and tourism potential, the Sud-Comoé region contributes over $1.7 billion to Côte d'Ivoire's GDP. From September 27 to 29, authorities gathered various partners in Aboisso to boost regional private investments. The "Invest In Sud-Comoé" forum, which ended on September 29, resulted in more than $1.8 billion in investment pledges for Côte...

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a $25 million loan to Seychelles to implement the first phase of the Economic Resilience and Green Recovery Support Programme aimed at economic governance management across the archipelago. The operation, the first in a series of programmes scheduled for 2024, 2025 and 2026, will support efforts by the Seychelles...

Smart city initiatives can stimulate local economies by attracting investments and creating jobs. Improved infrastructures and services can enhance the quality of life, making cities more appealing to businesses and residents alike. Vodacom Business announced on september 26th a collaboration with South Africa local governments, aimed at deploying smart city solutions across the country. This...

New GSMA report highlights importance of standard-power 6 GHz mobile networks for global digital economies as mobile data growth rises High capacity 6 GHz spectrum must be licensed to mobile operators at sufficient, standard power levels to enable the full range of mobile use cases, indoors and outdoors, and provide maximum benefit for global digital economies. 70 per cent of mobile use is...

In a statement shared on its official LinkedIn page, Ivorian financial group NSIA clarified that "no account has been opened in the name or on behalf of the Commander of the Benin Republican Guard within NSIA Banque CI.". This response, signed by Jean Kacou Diagou, president of the group, addresses claims made on September 25 by the prosecutor of Benin’s Court for the Repression of Economic...

Amid these economic opportunities and underlying tax challenges, generative AI is reshaping Africa’s digital landscape, boosting productivity and business performance. A study supported by Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has revealed that generative AI could create an additional $30 billion in value for sub-Saharan African economies. The study highlighted that 58% of adults online...

The mechanism created in 1997 increases the debt payment burden. It is heavily criticized by economists and developing countries. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is preparing to ease the surcharges it imposes on countries that exceed borrowing limits or repayment timeframes, Bloomberg recently, citing sources close to the matter. The IMF currently applies two types of surcharges. One is...

This positive momentum does not hide the challenges Côte d'Ivoire faces. High public spending, especially on infrastructure and security, still strains the budget. The frequent issuance of short-term debt shows active management but also brings refinancing risks in the medium term, particularly if market conditions worsen. Côte d'Ivoire successfully raised CFA148.5 billion (over $251...

With shrinking safety margins, greater exposure to sovereign risks, and declining profitability, the West African banking group is in an increasingly difficult position. Without swift action, either through a capital injection or new external financing, Fitch warns that the likelihood of default is becoming more and more realistic. Fitch Ratings has downgraded Oragroup’s rating once again,...