• Morocco plans to roll out 5G to a quarter of its population by the end of 2025 and reach 70% coverage by 2030• The launch will begin in November 2025, just ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, with a focus on cities and key economic zones• Telecom giants Maroc Telecom and Inwi are teaming up to expand fiber and mobile tower infrastructure under a $475 million investment plan The...

Ghana’s Ewoyaa lithium mine is poised to produce 3.6 million tonnes of spodumene concentrate over 12 years. Half of this output has already been sold to the American firm Piedmont Lithium. The Ghanaian government plans to refine the remaining half locally with the mine owner Atlantic Lithium’s backing. However, a March 2025 study by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) warns...

Gold prices are on track to soar, and African countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast stand to gain, as they rely heavily on this mineral. JP Morgan, in a report released April 22, 2025, predicts gold will average $3,675 an ounce by the last quarter of 2025 and surpass $4,000 by mid-2026. The bank warns this milestone could come even sooner if demand outpaces...

Kodal Minerals produced its first lithium concentrate at the Bougouni mine in Mali in February 2025. The company planned to start exports by the end of the first quarter. Mali’s second lithium operation still lacks the permits it needs to export. Two months after launching the Bougouni mine, Kodal Minerals has not exported any lithium from the site. In an April 17 press release, the company...

• WAEMU's economy is projected to grow by 6.5% in Q2 2025, driven by agriculture and a stable services sector.• Despite the overall growth, the construction sector continues to shrink, with negative contributions to GDP for the third consecutive quarter.• Rising public debt costs, security-related spending, and budget constraints are weighing on investment in large infrastructure...

• Niger saw the highest growth rate in WAEMU in 2024, reaching 8.8%, compared to 2.4% in 2023.• The country's industrial production and oil sector saw a major boost, contributing to the strong performance.• Despite challenges, including floods and sanctions, Niger’s economy is expected to continue growing, with a 7.9% forecast for 2025. Niger posted the highest growth rate in the West...

• The court in Abidjan has ordered the removal of opposition leader Tidjane Thiam from Côte d’Ivoire’s voter list.• The decision questions his eligibility to run in the October 2025 presidential election over a nationality issue.• This ruling deepens political uncertainty in a country already facing divisions ahead of the vote. It is a major setback for the Democratic Party of Côte...

Chinese imports from Africa dropped 9.4% in Q1 2025, totaling $26.69 billion. The decline is attributed to fears over the impact of new protectionist measures targeting "Made in China" goods. Despite this, China's exports to Africa increased by 11.3%, bringing the total trade value to $72.6 billion in Q1 2025. Chinese imports from Africa decreased by 9.4% in the first...

Manzima Holding, controlled by the Diagou family, now owns nearly 69% of NSIA Participations. The shift follows the purchase of shares from the National Bank of Canada, which exits the group. The move is part of a broader strategy to bring NSIA fully back under Ivorian control. Manzima Holding SA, the family investment vehicle of Ivorian businessman Jean Kacou Diagou, has increased its...

IMF lowers 2025 growth forecast for Sub-Saharan Africa from 4.2% to 3.8% Trade tensions and tariff hikes by the United States are dragging down the global economy South Africa and Nigeria among the hardest hit in the region The International Monetary Fund has cut its growth outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa in 2025, citing growing uncertainty and trade disputes between major economies. In its...