• S&P raises Kenya’s sovereign rating from B- to B with a stable outlook• $900m Eurobond buyback and stronger reserves reduce liquidity risks• Economy expected to grow 5.6% in 2025, above official forecasts Standard & Poor’s (S&P) upgraded Kenya’s long-term sovereign credit rating from B- to B, assigning a stable outlook in a statement released on August 22. The agency said the...

Governor André Wameso told Bloomberg he will prioritise restoring credibility to the Congolese franc and reversing decades of dollarisation during his term. The Central Bank of Congo sold fifty million United States dollars on 18 August 2025 to calm foreign exchange markets and signal a shift from passive management. An IMF 2024 consultation found that approximately eighty-five to ninety...

The disarmament and demobilisation programme launched in August 2025 is projected to cost between 50 and 100 million dollars, a heavy burden for the Central African Republic. Economic forecasts hinge on sustained calm; the IMF expects growth to rise from 1.9 percent in 2024 to 3 percent in 2025 if violence stays low. The presidential, legislative and local elections scheduled for 28 December...

South Africa chose eleven private freight rail operators from twenty-five applicants to break Transnet's monopoly. New entrants may add twenty million tonnes yearly and attract one hundred billion rand of private investment within ten years. First private trains are expected in the second half of 2026 after final contracts and safety certificates are secured. South Africa picked 11 private...

The Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB) has reached a new milestone in academic recognition at the African level. According to the 2025 edition of the Top University Rank (TUR), produced by Research Analytics International, the Yamoussoukro-based institution now sits at 27th place on the continent, up from 36th last year. It also maintains its position as the...

Burundi’s decision to pilot renminbi settlement for Chinese imports is a neat headline and a helpful starting point for a wider African debate. Bujumbura has allowed a small cohort of importers to pay suppliers in yuan, a targeted fix for chronic FX tightness and costly dollar conversions. The impulse is understandable: a thin reserve cushion and a long struggle with currency pressures make any...

The cabinet has approved preparations for a debut USD 1.5B Eurobond before June 2026 to fund key infrastructure projects. Investors await details on timing and arrangers. Citi and Standard Bank could be leading contenders for the issuance. While the bond’s coupon will be key, successful issuance may boost the DRC’s market credibility. Fueled by one of the strongest macroeconomic...

ISACA and INGRYD Academy launch program to train 10,000 Nigerians in tech by 2030 Each year 2,000 students will get training, ISACA certifications, membership and mentorship Initiative aims to cut youth unemployment and close Nigeria’s digital skills gap Global professional association ISACA and pan-African tech training institute INGRYD Academy announced on Monday, August 18, a...

Botswana signs $12 billion investment agreement with Qatar’s Al Mansour Holdings Deal spans infrastructure, energy, mining, agriculture, tourism, cybersecurity and defense Aims to diversify economy and cut heavy reliance on diamond revenues Botswana has signed a $12 billion investment deal with Al Mansour Holdings, a private conglomerate from Qatar, to accelerate national...

Government sets 2025/26 wheat output target at 6,000 tonnes, more than double last year’s harvest. Production area rose tenfold in 2024/25 to 1,342 hectares, with a 5,000-hectare seed program launched. Burkina Faso still imports 193,000 tonnes annually, showing how far it must go to cut dependence. Since 2023, Burkina Faso has been among the few West African countries pursuing a...