During the fifth "Finance in Common" forum held in Cape Town, Ecofin Agency spoke with Rémy Rioux, CEO of the French Development Agency (AFD). At a time of growing geopolitical tensions, skepticism about multilateralism, and budget cuts in major economies, this summit brought together public development banks from around the world to rethink financing models and strengthen cooperation between...

The Africa-China Centre for Policy & Advisory (ACCPA) hosted an insightful webinar on February 25, analyzing the post-FOCAC landscape. Experts from leading institutions discussed Africa’s evolving position in negotiations with China, the shift toward high-impact investments, and the practical implementation of FOCAC commitments since last September. The event featured Dennis Munene Mwaniki,...

In 2023,  Mali adopted a new Mining Code, which increased the state's stake in mining projects to up to 35%, against 20% before. At a Council of Ministers meeting on February 26, the Malian authorities announced several implementing decrees for this code. These decrees establish five key funds to support the mining industry. One of these is the Local Development Mining Fund, which will...

Africa is warming faster than the rest of the world, the report warns. Despite accounting for just 3.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the continent is likely to bear the heavy price of extreme weather events, with severe consequences for agriculture. Africa is expected to surpass the 1.5°C global warming threshold by 2050, exceeding the most ambitious target set by the Paris Agreement,...

Mining exploration investments in Côte d'Ivoire reached $122 million in 2024, according to S&P. The significant figure reflects investors’ growing interest in recent years; a phenomenon attributable to the country’s untapped gold potential and favorable business environment. On February 26, the Ivoirian Council of Ministers approved four decrees for mining exploration licenses. Three...

The UK maintains vital cooperation with Rwanda across several sectors. According to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the country is set to receive £32.1 million ($40.5 million) in bilateral aid for FY2024-25. The UK has announced the suspension of its bilateral aid to Rwanda and imposed diplomatic sanctions due to Kigali’s alleged support of the M23 rebel group in...

The mobility and fintech platform, operating in Togo, Benin, Gabon, and Cameroon, has attracted new funding following its earlier raises of $5 million in 2021 and $10 million in 2022. Mobility and delivery startup Gozem announced on Feb. 25 it has secured $30 million in Series B funding led by SAS Shipping Agencies Services, a subsidiary of MSC Mediterranean Company, and Al Mada...

South African authorities are working on several strategic measures to promote inclusive digital transformation and reduce inequalities. Authorities in South Africa are exploring ways to make smartphones more affordable for the population. The plan was revealed on Feb. 24 by Communications Minister Solly Malatsi during a meeting with the Global System for Mobile Communications Association...

The institution will highlight the attractive returns from its portfolio, which includes shares of listed companies and a diverse range of bonds. While some companies on the market are already well-known, BRVM leaders will need to address a few concerns. The Regional Stock Exchange (BRVM), which operates in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), is currently in London, UK, as part...

In Q4 2024, the non-oil sector accounted for 95.4% of Nigeria's GDP, with the services sector leading the way. Nigeria’s real GDP grew by 3.84% year-on-year in Q4 2024, up from 3.46% in Q4 2023, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported on February 25. The growth is largely attributed to the non-oil sector, particularly the services sector, which saw a growth of 5.37%,...