Mastercard teams up with SmileID to roll out secure digital identity solutions The deal integrates SmileID’s verification tools into Mastercard’s ecosystem Partnership aims to fight identity fraud and boost digital inclusion across Africa US payments operator Mastercard announced on September 25 a new partnership with SmileID, a pan-African start-up specializing in digital...

Eni sold 30% of its Baleine project stake to Swiss energy trader Vitol Eni keeps 47.25% and Petroci retains 22.75%, with Eni staying operator Baleine field, producing since Dec. 2024, could reach 150,000 bpd at full phase In Côte d’Ivoire, Italian oil and gas group Eni has finalized the sale of a 30% stake in the producing Baleine oil project to Swiss energy trader Vitol,...

UBA’s CFA zone subsidiaries offset naira weakness, delivering a consolidated gain of ₦364bn ($ 243 million) from a 10% depreciation, while the Nigerian parent alone posted a ₦33bn loss. The CFA franc peg to the euro provides rare monetary stability, making Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon key anchors compared with more volatile markets such as Ghana and Kenya. UBA’s risk balance...

The Congolese franc has strengthened 6.7% against the US dollar this month, reaching its strongest level since Jan 2024. Tight fiscal and monetary policies, plus a weaker dollar, support the franc, but risks from deficits and imports remain. Despite lower inflation, exports are down and reserves face pressure, leaving the currency’s stability precarious. The Congolese franc...

APM Terminals and NPA partner on $60 million container freight electrification The plan is part of a $500 million investment to ease congestion in Nigerian ports Onne Port, a hub for oil, gas, and general cargo, will host the project in Rivers State APM Terminals Nigeria and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) announced on September 23 that they have signed a...

Asia Potash plans a $1.6 billion fertilizer production complex in Algeria The project will process phosphate deposits and produce ammonia, urea, and compound fertilizers Algeria holds over 4 billion tons of phosphate reserves as it seeks to diversify beyond oil and gas Chinese group Asia Potash International Investment has expressed interest in building an integrated...

Ghana sealed a $256 million bilateral debt restructuring deal with the UK The agreement unlocks five major infrastructure projects, including key roads Debt ratio fell to 44.9% of GDP in July 2025, down from 61.8% in December 2024 The Ghanaian Ministry of Finance announced this week the country has signed a bilateral debt restructuring deal with the United Kingdom covering...

Kula Gold plans to begin its first drilling campaign at the Wozi niobium project in Malawi in November 2025. The company identified a “strong niobium anomaly” with grades up to 1.08% Nb₂O₅ following mapping and sampling work. Kula intends to secure a rare earth partner to provide technical support while also raising A$2.5 million ($1.6 million) for working...

African finance officials and investors said the continent faces an annual $130 billion funding gap for infrastructure and must better mobilize $4 trillion in underutilized institutional savings. Regional securitization markets have raised CFA1.87 trillion  ($3 billion) since 2016, but this accounts for just 2% of BRVM’s market capitalization. Speakers urged more...

Mauritania launched Tesjil, a fully digital registration platform for the University of Nouakchott, its largest higher education institution. The initiative is part of the National Higher Education Strategy 2030, which allocates 86 million ouguiyas ($2.14 million) to digitalization. Internet penetration in Mauritania remains low at 37.4% in 2023, raising concerns about students’...