IMF cuts WAEMU 2025 growth forecast to 5.9% Strong demand, services, and construction support regional activity Senegal downgraded sharply; Benin now fastest-growing at 7.0% The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, cut its growth forecast for the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) to 5.9% from 6.3%, according to its regional outlook. The...

Senegal pilots e-procurement platform to boost transparency Reform targets fraud reduction, faster tenders, and savings Full rollout set for January 2026 under digital strategy Senegal’s Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARCOP) on Tuesday launched the pilot phase of its new electronic public procurement platform, APPEL (Achats Publics en Procédures Électroniques), as...

Nigeria forms group to explore stablecoin regulation Goal: boost fintech while ensuring monetary stability Stablecoins now 40% of Nigeria's crypto market After creating a regulatory framework for crypto assets, Nigeria’s government is turning its attention to stablecoins — digital tokens pegged to real-world currencies and seen as a more stable alternative to traditional...

Tunisia mandates e-invoicing for dine-in businesses Reform targets tax fairness, transparency, and digital modernization Rollout begins 2025, fully applies by 2028 Tunisia’s Finance Ministry has made electronic invoicing mandatory for certain restaurants and dine-in establishments, under a decree published in the official gazette on Tuesday, October 14. The reform is part of the...

The 2026 budget earmarks 140 billion dirhams, up 18% year-on-year. Funds will complete new university hospitals and expand preschool access. The move follows public calls for more investment in basic services. Morocco will allocate 140 billion dirhams ($15 billion) to the health and education sectors in the 2026 fiscal year, an 18% increase from the previous year. The announcement...

The Cobalt Institute forecasts 4% growth in 2025 and 6% in 2026. DR Congo’s export quotas aim to lift prices after a global glut. Battery makers warn that high prices could speed up substitution. Global demand for cobalt is expected to rise by 4% in 2025 and by 6% in 2026, according to the Cobalt Institute. The forecast comes as the market faces the impact of supply restrictions...

The $16 million loan will finance the third phase of the integrated rice project. The program targets modernizing irrigated rice farming in southern Chad. Rice output rose 55% in 2024, but imports still cover domestic demand. The Chadian government has obtained a $16 million loan from the OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) to support the country’s rice...

Kenya launches first phase of Konza Technopolis smart city project Features smart roads, data center, and vacuum waste system Aims to boost GDP, create skilled jobs, and drive tech growth The Kenyan government activated the first phase of its Konza Technopolis smart city project in mid-October. The development, dubbed "Silicon Savannah," is intended to become a regional hub for research,...

Agreement sets quotas, zones, and ecosystem protection measures Russia eyes 80,000-ton catch; Morocco earned $1.7B from fish exports Morocco and Russia signed a new four-year maritime fisheries cooperation agreement in Moscow on Friday, October 17. The signing took place on the sidelines of the 8th Joint Intergovernmental Commission, which was co-chaired by Moroccan Foreign Minister...

Congo finalizing Digital Strategy 2030 for tech-driven growth Plan targets 4G/5G rollout, e-services, and digital skills training Strategy follows progress under 2025 plan, despite key shortfalls  The Republic of Congo is finalizing the implementation of its Digital Strategy 2030, a roadmap designed to accelerate the nation's digital transformation. Léon Juste Ibombo, Minister of...