Moody’s will become majority shareholder of Egypt-based credit rating agency MERIS. MERIS will keep its local management and brand while tapping Moody’s global expertise. The move follows Moody’s 2024 acquisition of South Africa’s GCR Ratings to strengthen its African footprint. Moody’s Corporation, parent company of Moody’s Ratings, announced on August 25 that it plans...

President Alassane Ouattara, 83, has submitted his bid for a fourth term in October’s vote. Opposition leader Laurent Gbagbo, still barred from the voter roll, was also put forward by his party. The Constitutional Council will decide on the validity of their candidacies before the final list is published. President Alassane Ouattara formally submitted his candidacy for Côte...

Tunisia gets $51M AFD loan to modernize civil protection Project includes AI-powered ops rooms, drones, and rescue units New training school, digitization align with national tech strategy Tunisia will receive a 150 million dinar (about $51 million) loan from the French Development Agency (AFD) to modernize its civil protection system. The project, outlined on a radio...

With support from Huawei, Ethio Telecom is installing panels on cell towers to reduce diesel use by 40%, though the ambitious rollout remains limited in scope. State-owned Ethio Telecom has begun installing solar panels directly onto its cell towers with technical support from Chinese equipment provider Huawei. The initiative comes as the incumbent operator accelerates its network expansion in a...

The agreements, signed during the Emirati president's visit to Luanda, are expected to impact sectors from public finance to military cooperation and port management. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will invest nearly $6.5 billion in the Angolan economy, formalized through 44 legal instruments signed between the two countries, according to a Monday post on the Angolan presidency's Facebook...

Facing critical drug shortages, the government will create a new fund and enact reforms to cut costs and break the influence of intermediaries. Botswana's President Duma Boko announced on Monday the establishment of the "Health First Botswana Partnership Fund," a 5 billion pula ($362 million) fund aimed at addressing a health emergency and improving the supply chain for essential medicines and...

With domestic production expected to double, the government will use strategic reserves to cover the remaining shortfall, a move that may affect regional trade. The Zimbabwean government announced a new ban on maize imports on Monday, citing improved domestic availability of the staple grain. The decision follows favorable rainfall that has boosted this year's harvest, according to Obert Jiri,...

With strategic investments in energy, technology, and infrastructure, the Emirates are anchoring their economic future to the continent’s development. United Arab Emirates' State Minister for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi's visit to Chad on August 15-16, 2025, highlights the evolving economic diplomacy of the UAE in Africa. Once primarily a donor, the Gulf nation is now positioning...

• Air Côte d’Ivoire is expecting to receive its first Airbus A330-900neo on 29 Aug 2025, marking entry into long-haul operations.• Daily Abidjan–Paris flights begin 18 Sept 2025 with a 242-seat, four-class layout, expanding passenger and cargo options.• Aircraft financing secured via a US$76.6m Sukuk from BADEA and BOAD, supporting the airline’s first wide-body fleet expansion. Air...

African startups are adopting remote work to reduce office costs and access scarce tech talent across the continent. Savings are offset by unreliable power, expensive data, and a shortfall of 100,000 cybersecurity specialists. Better broadband and targeted training could transform this cost-saving tactic into a global market competitive advantage. Across Africa, startups are adopting...