European Investment Bank to provide $34 million in new funding to support Tunisia’s water infrastructure Main project includes new water treatment plant and pipeline upgrades to meet growing demand Tunisia steps up climate adaptation as food inflation rises and water scarcity worsens The European Investment Bank (EIB) will lend Tunisia a total of €30 million ($34...

Nigerian startup secures $20 million Series A to grow in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire Backers include Norfund, Timon Capital, Ventures Platform, and Flour Mills of Nigeria Company reached profitability in 2024 and processed over $808.7 million in transactions OmniRetail, a Nigerian startup helping informal retailers digitize their supply chains, has raised $20...

Global uranium demand will rise 28% from 2023 to 2030, according to the World Nuclear Association. Several uranium projects were recently launched all over the world, and especially in Africa, to meet this demand. African uranium developers await better market conditions before making final investment decisions (FID). Bannerman Energy, in its April 24 quarterly report, said current nuclear fuel...

Facing a prolonged slump in diamond demand and declining prices, De Beers has trimmed its 2025 production forecast to between 20 and 23 million carats, down from an initial range of 30 to 33 million carats.  According to its quarterly report published on April 24, De Beers’ consolidated diamond sales in Q1 2025 totaled $520 million, down 44% compared to $925 million in...

The world’s seabed holds mineral resources valued at $100 trillion. Interest in these critical minerals—cobalt, nickel, and rare earths—has surged recently, yet exploitation remains limited. On April 24, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to fast-track seabed mining permits in US waters. Though focused on national territory, the move could ignite a global scramble...

Togo and Burkina Faso agree to end roaming charges for incoming calls starting May 30 Several bilateral and tripartite deals already cut mobile costs by up to 90% ECOWAS push for region-wide free roaming still faces technical and regulatory hurdles Togo and Burkina Faso have signed a new agreement to eliminate roaming charges for incoming calls between the two countries starting May...

• Sub-Saharan African countries are set to pay about $20 billion in interest on public external debt in 2025.• Interest payments will account for 3.4% of the region’s combined GDP between 2025 and 2027.• Twenty countries spent more on debt payments than on health and education combined in 2024. Sub-Saharan Africa will pay around $20 billion in interest on public and publicly...

The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) secured $8.3 billion in investments for 272 projects between 2022 and March 2025, with significant contributions to industries like renewable energy and pharmaceuticals. The zone's strategic location, modern infrastructure, and commitment to digital services have made it a key hub for international investment, creating over 40,000 jobs. The SCZone...

BCEAO’s gold assets jumped 38% in 2024 to CFA2530 billion ($4.37 billion) Over 90% of the reserves are held abroad, mostly at the Banque de France Critics question the centralization of West Africa’s gold reserves in Europe In 2024, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) saw the value of its gold reserves climb past CFA2530 billion ($4.37 billion), up from CFA1831...

Despite some positive surprises, Sub-Saharan Africa faces less vigorous growth forecasts, with necessary reforms in a global environment marked by shifting priorities among world leaders: Amadou Nicolas Racine Sy, economist and advisor to the director of the Africa Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where he has worked for over 24 years, shares his insights on the revised...