In the locality of Bonaberi, close to Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon, along National Road No. 3, Joel Sikam runs Fisco Industries, a company rooted in the manufacturing sector. His daily routine revolves around managing production and processing local raw materials, which entailsnumerous challenges. His perspective reflects that of an industrialist directly experiencing the effects of...

Cameroon’s imports of industrial equipment hit CFA 573.6B in 2024, the highest in six years. Kribi, Edéa, and Douala see new factories, cement units, and SABC’s CFA 200B expansion plan. Surge in imports also tied to EU trade deal cutting industrial equipment tariffs to 0% in 2023. Cameroon imported 573.6 billion CFA francs ($944.4 million) worth of machinery, electrical appliances,...

UN report says $2.2 bln diverted from “Oil for Roads” program 2021–2024 Nearly 90% of planned roads never built as funds vanished to shell firms World Bank warns poverty rate could hit 92% amid inflation and mismanagement South Sudan’s oil revenues continue to vanish to the detriment of its population. A new report from the UN Human Rights Commission revealed that more...

Bill aims to protect depositors and strengthen financial inclusion Microfinance institutions serve 1.58 mln clients with CFA158 bln deposits Mali follows regional trend after similar reforms in Burkina Faso, Benin Mali is preparing a new law to regulate its microfinance sector, according to Souahibou Diaby, an adviser at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. He made the announcement during...

Mobile money is expanding rapidly in Senegal and has become an essential tool for millions of citizens. The government’s decision to introduce a tax on these transactions marks a turning point. While it promises fresh revenue for the state, it also raises concerns about its impact on financial inclusion and the informal economy. During its September 17 session, the National Assembly adopted...

Afreximbank and KCB Group sign $800 mln financing deal for Vipingo SEZ Project targets industrial, agro-processing, logistics and value-added sectors Move aligns with Kenya Vision 2030 plan to expand industrialization and exports Afreximbank and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB Group) signed a $800 million financing agreement on September 17 to support the development of the Vipingo...

Desert Gold will spend $535,000 on its first exploration program in Côte d’Ivoire starting Q4 2025. The program targets the 297 km² Tiegba permit, where the company can earn up to 90% interest. Drilling of 6,000 meters is planned to test anomalies and mineral continuity by mid-2026. Canadian junior Desert Gold will start its first exploration campaign in Côte...

Burkina Faso released two journalists, Adama Bayala and Alain Traoré, after 14 months in detention. Their arrests highlighted growing pressure on media under the military junta ruling since 2022. Burkina Faso fell 19 places in Reporters Without Borders’ press freedom index between 2024 and 2025. Authorities in Burkina Faso freed two prominent journalists after more than a year...

Zijin Gold International, a unit of Zijin Mining, plans to raise $3.2 billion in a Hong Kong listing. The IPO centers on Ghana’s Akyem mine, acquired from Newmont for $1 billion in April. The listing will float 13.3% of the company, with Zijin retaining the majority stake. Zijin Gold International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zijin Mining, will seek to raise $3.2...

Trump announced a consortium including Oracle will buy TikTok’s U.S. arm, addressing Congress’s national security concerns. ByteDance’s stake would fall below 20% under the proposed structure. Final deal hinges on licensing TikTok’s algorithm, with Beijing resisting full transfer. Former U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States and China reached an agreement to...