(Ecofin Agency)   The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the European Commission have launched a broadband mapping project to identify connectivity gaps in Africa. The initiative, covering 11 countries, has a €15 million ($16.2 million) budget over four years. While it aims to boost broadband access, it remains limited in scope, with no confirmation...

The West African Development Bank (BOAD) is providing $82.5 million to Niger to stabilize Sonibank, a key public bank facing financial distress. Sonibank has been struggling with liquidity issues and non-compliance with regional banking regulations. The bailout comes amid broader instability in Niger’s banking sector, worsened by the political crisis and economic...

The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) is imposing a 0.5% tax on imports from outside the bloc to finance its activities. Customs authorities in each country will collect the funds, with exemptions for humanitarian aid, diplomatic goods, and intra-bloc trade. The move comes as the three nations continue adjusting their trade ties after leaving ECOWAS in early 2025. The Alliance of Sahel States...

Smart Africa is working with 10 African countries to align e-commerce and digital payment policies. A workshop was held in Brazzaville to kickstart the harmonization process. The $1.7 million initiative aims to boost cross-border trade and digital transformation in Africa. A new effort is underway to bring African countries together around a common approach to e-commerce and digital...

– Government outlines major investments in roads, health, education, and agriculture – Oil sector, renewable energy, and mining get key funding to drive economic transformation – External funding remains tight after World Bank freeze linked to anti-LGBTQ law Uganda has rolled out an $11.1 billion (40,700 billion shillings) budget plan for FY2025-26. The proposal, officially...

Senegal launches a $247 million bond issue on the regional market as access to international financing narrows. The IMF has suspended its $1.8 billion program after uncovering $7 billion in hidden debt. With rising debt levels and downgraded credit ratings, the new government faces major financial challenges. Senegal has launched a new bond issue on the regional market to...

Allied Gold operates the Bonikro and Agbaou gold mines in Côte d'Ivoire and the Sadiola mine in Mali. The company is currently listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada. Allied Gold has announced plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). During its annual results on Thursday, March 27, the company confirmed it is in advanced discussions with the NYSE. The ticker symbol "AAUC"...

Rio Tinto is active in Guinea, South Africa, and Madagascar. In the first, it develops the Simandou iron deposit. In the other two, it extracts mineral sands. In 2023, the company paid $117 million in taxes to African countries. In 2024, Rio Tinto, the world's second-largest mining company by market capitalization, paid over $150 million in taxes and royalties to six African countries....

Between 2010 and 2022, West Africa emerged as the world’s fastest-growing gold production region, fueled by untapped reserves and increasing interest from global investors, particularly from Canada, China, and Australia. On Tuesday, March 25, Sanu Gold announced it had raised C$12 million ($8.4 million) through a share placement to fund exploration on its gold licenses in Guinea. The Lundin...

Paladin Energy has revised its uranium production target at Namibia's Langer Heinrich mine to 3 to 3.6 million pounds for the current fiscal year. However, new operational challenges have emerged, raising doubts about the mine's ability to meet these projections. Paladin Energy announced on March 26 that operations at Namibia's Langer Heinrich uranium mine have resumed after heavy rains...