Equity capital markets underwriting fees in Sub-Saharan Africa fell 66% in the first half of 2025 to US$5.5 million, the lowest since records began in 2000. Overall investment banking fees in the region dropped 4% year-on-year to US$169.3 million, their weakest first-half since 2012, with debt and syndicated lending offsetting sharp declines in M&A and equity. South Africa remained...

Burkina Faso ends Target Malaria, a GMO mosquito project funded by the Gates Foundation. The government cites biosafety risks, low impact, and scientific sovereignty in halting the program. The fight against malaria continues with vaccines, drug prevention, and mosquito net distribution nationwide. Burkina Faso has announced the termination of the Target Malaria project, a...

Mauritania, Toyota Tsusho plan renewable-powered desalination plant Project aims to produce 50,000 m³ water daily Nouadhibou emerging as energy, water, and industry hub The Mauritanian Ministry of Hydraulics and Toyota Tsusho signed a memorandum of understanding last week to build a renewable energy-powered desalination plant. The agreement reflects the city of Nouadhibou’s...

DRC plans $1.5B Eurobond for infrastructure, connectivity Public debt at 18.49% of GDP, below regional average Success depends on transparency, project monitoring, investor confidence The Democratic Republic of Congo is preparing to issue a $1.5 billion Eurobond to finance priority infrastructure and improve national connectivity. The process, announced by Minister of...

Japan grants Kenya ¥25 bln ($169m) samurai loan for autos and electricity Deal signed at TICAD-9 aims to cut power losses and boost EV production Nairobi shifts debt strategy toward lowering borrowing costs over short-term risks Japan will provide Kenya with a ¥25 billion ($169.42 million) samurai credit facility to support the auto industry and improve electricity supply, Kenyan...

Facing increasingly costly and volatile Eurobonds, West African states are turning to their regional financial markets for funding. Senegal is a prime example; since the beginning of the year, it has raised over 2.7 trillion CFA francs ($4.8 billion) on the financial market, with more than 700 billion CFA francs coming from the BRVM, the regional stock exchange's syndication segment. This push...

CMOC and Glencore post 78,773 tons in first half of 2025, up 15% year-on-year Cobalt is being stockpiled in the DRC as exports remain blocked since February Output tied to copper and nickel mining, limiting producers’ control on volumes Chinese group CMOC and Swiss miner Glencore, which together account for about 70% of cobalt exports from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), produced...

The internet has become a key driver of digital transformation and a crucial force for global economic and social development. To guarantee its quality and accessibility, a central challenge is ensuring the availability of high-performing infrastructure. The Nigerien government inaugurated an Internet Exchange Point (IXP) in the capital, Niamey, on Tuesday, August 19. The new infrastructure is...

Russia proposes cooperation on protecting Morocco’s energy systems EU NIS2 directive sets strict cybersecurity standards with heavy penalties Rabat must balance security choices with power exports to Spain and Europe Morocco is facing a delicate choice between a Russian offer of cybersecurity cooperation and compliance with European rules that apply to critical sectors such as...

Africa's beer output hit record 160.5 Mhl in 2024 Angola's production surged 35%, fastest globally Africa led global growth as worldwide output declined African beer production reached a new record of 160.5 million hectoliters (Mhl) in 2024, according to the latest report published by analytics firm BarthHaas in July. The continent saw a year-on-year growth of 6.7%, outpacing...