The African Development Bank received a first place “Gold Stevie” at the 18th Annual International Business Awards virtual event, in recognition of the institution’s digital campaign showcasing its Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative. The International Business Awards honored the Bank in the Best Video – Documentary category during an online...

The World Health Organization reported last September that only 15 African countries had reached the 10% vaccination threshold against Covid-19. A month after, the UN agency estimated that only five countries would reach 40% by the end of 2021. South African telecommunications group MTN says it will make Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for its employees in all markets where it operates. As of...

Several insurance companies in South Africa reported they will charge higher premiums to customers seeking life insurance coverage if they do not provide proof of vaccination.  George Kolbe, Head of Life Insurance Marketing at Momentum, told Moneyweb that his company already requires new customers seeking life coverage to do so. “Old Mutual will consider new customers’ vaccination...

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced Wednesday it has approved the implementation of a three-year program to support Niger. The program will be deployed under an Extended Fund Facility consisting of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) resources worth $275.8 million; $55.2 million (CFA32 billion) of the amount is available immediately. "Niger's economy is expected to rebound in...

After five years of poor performance, the BRVM Composite index, which includes all companies listed on the Abidjan Stock Exchange, is back with a record increase. The improvement was supported by generous dividends and the hope that 2021 will be another rewarding year for investors. The Abidjan Regional Securities Exchange (BRVM) is close to achieving its best performance since 2013, we learned...

With total impunity, Cameroonian-born musician Richard Bona called for civil war in his origin country. This call issued in a video posted on social media once again demonstrates the tolerance of social media platforms, like Facebook, and host countries’ authorities towards some radicalized members of the African diaspora.   Richard Bona, a Cameroonian-born musician living in the...

The Regional Council for Public Savings and Financial Markets (CREPMF), the regulator of the WAEMU regional financial market, received $ 500,000 from the Infrastructure Fund for an Emerging Africa (EAIF). According to available information, this support is expected to help the regulator implement several reforms to mobilize more resources through bond issues on the stock Exchange regional...

In a December 7 statement, the DR Congo government announced it has reached an MoU of over $564 million with the French Development Agency (AFD). Although no further details were provided, this agreement is part of a strategy to strengthen AFD’s investment in the Central African country. The partners also signed two other deals. One of more than $11.2 million for the education sector...

The land issue in South Africa continues to fuel tensions. While the government has stated its ambition to redistribute land to the black population for several years, things do not seem to be moving in this direction. The bill on land expropriation without compensation was rejected by Parliament on December 7. The bill, which provided for an amendment to Article 25 of the Constitution, received...

Côte d'Ivoire has committed since 2018 to further support its startup environment and increase the sector’s contribution to GDP growth. As part of this initiative, the government launched Monday the Startup4Gouv program. The ceremony was presided over by Roger Felix Adom, Minister of Digital Economy, Telecommunications and Innovation, at the House of Business (CGECI) in Abidjan. The goal is...