With intra-regional trade stalled at less than 12% of total commerce, the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) is stepping up its financing for critical areas like infrastructure, industrialization, and trade. The goal is to intensify efforts that make regional economic integration a concrete reality. On April 3, 2025, the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has...

Countries sign MOUs on skills development and carbon credit cooperation Bilateral trade hit $138M in 2024; new programs to deepen partnerships Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced during a visit to Ethiopia this week that his country will open an embassy there, its first in East Africa and third on the continent after Egypt and South Africa. I have the...

Burkina Faso plans fund to support senior entrepreneurship and economic activity Proposed support includes micro-loans, rural projects, and technical assistance Government also reviewing pensions, healthcare access, and senior representation Burkina Faso is considering creating a dedicated fund to support senior entrepreneurship, Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean-Emmanuel...

In 2024, Benin’s authorities announced a coming ban on imports of frozen chicken and table eggs, saying the move aims to boost and better organize local production over the long term. The measure is part of a broader strategy to diversify agriculture and develop new growth sectors beyond cotton. Speaking at the Choiseul Africa Business Forum, Sarah Agbantou, a research officer at the Ministry...

Pit Baccardi, co-founder of the Salon des Industries Musicales d’Afrique Francophone (SIMA) and a Cameroonian native, was in Cotonou for the second edition of the event, which was held on November 13 and 14, 2025. Ecofin Agency had a brief opportunity to chat with the French rap legend, who agreed to share his thoughts on various topics, such as the mission of SIMA and his current career...

Deal includes 28M Santa Fe shares; completion expected by February 2026 Kokoseb project targets 146,000 oz/year over 11 years, pending feasibility study Australian miner WIA Gold said on Wednesday it has struck a binding agreement to sell its gold permits in Côte d’Ivoire to Santa Fe Minerals, a move that will allow the company to focus its investment on the Kokoseb gold project in...

Aksa Enerji to build 119 MW power plant in Burkina Faso’s capital 20-year electricity sales deal signed with national utility Sonabel Project aims to boost energy security amid rising demand and urbanization Turkey's Aksa Enerji announced a project on Tuesday to build a 119 MW fuel oil power plant in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. The company also announced the signing of...

Tanzania to begin Bagamoyo deep-sea port construction in December Port to be 20x larger than Dar es Salaam, with 28 planned berths Project aims to boost Tanzania’s role in East Africa’s trade network Construction of the deep-sea port in Bagamoyo in eastern Tanzania will officially begin in December, according to statements by the chief government spokesperson reported by local media...

Senegal revises 2021 GDP up 13.5% by changing base year Informal, previously uncounted sectors now included in national accounts Public debt-to-GDP ratio drops from 90.8% to 80% after rebasing Senegal's national statistics agency has revised its gross domestic product (GDP) upwards by 13.5% by switching the base year for national accounts to 2021 from 2014, it said on Tuesday. The...

Soldiers announce suspension of institutions and closure of borders President Embaló says he was arrested and denounces a coup Events unfold as the country awaits first presidential election results Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau declared Wednesday that they had taken power from President Umaro Sissoco Embaló in a statement read on national television. Hours earlier, before the statement was...