• TDB, TDF, and World Bank launch ASCENT to provide energy to 3 million people• Burn and Ignite Power sign first deals to deploy clean cooking and solar systems• Off-grid, simple technologies seen as key to reaching rural African communities Achieving universal access to energy remains one of Africa’s biggest challenges. Large infrastructure projects often struggle to reach remote areas,...

• Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio elected ECOWAS Chair• Warns of democratic, economic challenges.• Pledges focus on reform, security, unity. Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio was elected the new Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday, June 22, 2025. He succeeds Nigeria's President Bola...

While sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is gaining momentum globally, Africa is lagging behind. Prohibitive costs, a lack of infrastructure, and a reliance on European standards threaten to leave the continent sidelined in aviation's green transition. Will sustainable flight, too, become a privilege reserved for the Global North? As international air transport aims to accelerate its shift to...

• Google unveils Veo 3, its latest AI tool for ultra-realistic video generation• Experts warn deepfakes could destabilize Africa's democracies and markets• African Union urges stronger investment in AI oversight and detection tools Since 2020, Africa has been keeping a close watch on the rapid rise of artificial intelligence innovations. First came AI models generating realistic text,...

• Nsia Banque to launch securitizations in 5 West African countries to fund SMEs• Securitization frees credit by converting receivables into securities• Moves follow successful CFA40B deal and rising regional use Nsia Banque, the Ivorian banking arm, will carry out structured securitization deals this year in Ivory Coast, Benin, Guinea, Senegal, and Togo. The goal is to unlock more funds...

• IMF approves Burkina Faso’s third ECF review, unlocking $32.8M; total aid nears $131M• Growth hit 5% in 2024, seen slowing to 4.2% in 2025; insecurity hurts mining• Program on track despite missed targets; reforms advance, deficit narrows to 5.8% On June 20, 2025, the IMF Executive Board approved the third review of Burkina Faso’s program under the Extended Credit Facility...

Oasis Capital sold its 16.12% stake in Mansa Bank Côte d’Ivoire The exit marks the second divestment by Oasis Africa Fund I Mansa Bank’s largest shareholder remains Mansa Financial Group with 37.5% Oasis Capital Ghana announced on June 20 that it has sold its entire stake in Mansa Bank Côte d’Ivoire. The identity of the buyer and the financial details of the transaction...

Mali deployed UNICEF’s CPIMS+/Primero platform to manage child protection cases The move follows a May 2025 agreement between the government and UNICEF The system provides secure, centralized data on abuse, neglect, and violence cases The Malian government has launched CPIMS+/Primero, a digital system designed by UNICEF to manage child protection cases across the country. The...

Sonko signed industry, housing, and transport deals in China on June 22. He urged Chinese investment; 2023 FDI hit CFA665B. China-Senegal trade hit $1.5B in 2023. On Sunday, June 22, 2025, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko presided over a Sino-Senegalese economic forum in Hangzhou, China. The forum resulted in the signing of several agreements and memoranda of...

Namibia signed an MoU with U.S. firm NANO Nuclear to boost uranium processing. The deal adds the U.S. to Namibia’s talks with China and Russia on nuclear cooperation. No formal nuclear agreements yet, but Namibia aims to build its first plant. Namibia's Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S.-based NANO Nuclear Energy on Friday, June...