The African Development Bank Group has successfully concluded a high-level workshop and policy dialogue aimed at enhancing the Central Africa Republic’s capacity to combat illicit financial flows (IFFs) and improve the governance of resource-backed loans. Held in Bangui from 10-13 June 2025 under the theme “Harnessing Africa’s Wealth: Curbing Illicit Financial Flows for Resilient Growth...

West Africa is Africa's primary cotton production hub. While Benin and Mali remain the undisputed leaders, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso are engaged in a tight competition to secure a lasting hold on third place in the subregion. Côte d’Ivoire’s cotton sector aims to produce 550,000 tons of seed cotton for the upcoming 2025/2026 season. The Professional Association of Cotton Companies...

Hasetins plans to build a 12,000-ton rare earths plant in Nigeria’s Nasarawa State The $400 million investment raises questions over project details and timeline Nigeria pushes to grow mining’s GDP share from less than 1 % to 10 % by 2026 Yesterday, Nigeria announced a $400 million foreign investment deal to develop what could become Africa’s largest rare...

• DR Congo extends cobalt export ban by 3 months.• Prices up 45% since February to $30,200/ton.• Quotas may replace ban in future review. The Democratic Republic of Congo's suspension of cobalt exports, initially set to expire Sunday, June 22, has been extended by an additional three months. The Regulatory Authority for Strategic Mineral Substances Markets (ARECOMS) announced the...

Traffic congestion costs African economies an estimated $314 billion annually, according to a report by the French multinational Alstom. This figure is equivalent to four times Côte d’Ivoire’s Gross Domestic Product or nearly half that of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). While African cities have not yet reached the scale of American or European megacities, they...

• IFC lends $425M to Maroc Telecom for Chad and Mali networks.• Funds target 4G rollout and Mobile Money expansion.• Move backs Africa’s digital drive, boosts regional presence. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group’s private sector arm, announced a partnership with Maroc Telecom on Thursday, June 19. Under this agreement, IFC will provide two loans...

Highligthts : • Nsia to launch securitization deals in Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Guinea, Senegal, Togo• The move aims to unlock more credit for small and medium-sized businesses• Nsia completed a $70 million securitization deal in 2020 and plans to scale up Nsia Banque Côte d’Ivoire plans to roll out a new series of securitization deals this year to support small and...

• Ouattara delayed announcing 2025 candidacy, promises decision soon.• RHDP backs him; opposition calls the run unconstitutional.• A fourth bid may heighten political tensions. On Sunday, June 22, Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara delivered a much-anticipated speech to supporters during the closing of the ruling party RHDP’s congress at the Abidjan Exhibition Park. However, he did not...

Highlights: • Nigeria and Benin agree to deepen bilateral ties as a model for West Africa• The deal aims to ease trade, improve infrastructure, and push regional unity• Leaders warn that ECOWAS faces crisis, call for faster economic integration Nigeria and Benin have signed a new agreement to strengthen their partnership and push for deeper regional integration in West Africa. The deal...

In a West African financial landscape marked by tighter regulation of the fintech sector, digital financial companies must innovate to continue growing. Djamo, founded in Côte d’Ivoire, is a pioneering Francophone fintech. It offers an inclusive solution that connects unbanked populations to essential financial services. The company recently secured $17 million in fundraising, the largest...