With this grant, the EU reiterates its commitment to supporting Côte d'Ivoire's development, further strengthening their strategic partnership. Over the past decade, bilateral trade grew to €9.2 billion in 2023, according to EU data. The European Union (EU) has announced a new investment of €153 million ($161.87 million) in Côte d'Ivoire between 2025 and 2027. This announcement...

Air transport in West Africa faces significant challenges. High ticket prices, outdated airport infrastructure, and weak regional integration have kept the sector underdeveloped. However, local political and economic leaders are increasingly focused on improving aviation, recognizing its key role in economic development. Since December 2022, intra-African air connectivity has returned to...

Benin’s public debt is mostly external, totaling $7.8 billion, while domestic debt is $3.13 billion. These represent 37.7% and 15.2% of the country’s GDP, according to the CAGD. As of September 2024, Benin's public debt has reached CFA6,843.84 billion (about $11 billion), representing 52.8% of the country's GDP, according to the latest report by the national sinking fund...

Following the suspension of uranium production in October 2024, Orano decided in November to cut back on specific expenses related to its mining operations in Niger. This decision, rejected by the government, came after the company could not export its uranium for several months. Authorities in Niger have taken operational control of Orano's local subsidiary, Somaïr. The French company...

Perseus Mining acquired the Nyanzaga gold project this year, potentially its fourth gold mine in Africa. Though it delayed to secure the necessary approvals, the company intends to start gold production by early 2027. Perseus Mining announced on December 5, 2024, that the final investment decision (FID) for the Nyanzaga gold mine has been postponed to January 2025. FID was expected for the end...

Following an 8% rise in 2023, gold prices have surged by approximately 30% since the start of 2024. While certain gold producers are capitalizing on this trend, companies such as Galiano are constrained by contracts that require them to sell their output at pre-established prices, which can be lower than current market rates. Galiano Gold announced on December 4 that it terminated its gold...

The transition to 5.5G is expected to deliver tenfold speed improvements. It aligns with global trends where enhanced connectivity enables advancements in fields like AI, telemedicine, and smart cities. South African mobile network operator Rain has unveiled an ambitious product roadmap for 2025, aligning with the rollout of 5.5G technology, which promises to revolutionize mobile connectivity....

The BCEAO said it will keep taking the necessary steps to maintain monetary and financial stability in WAEMU while also supporting economic growth. Although there were no rate hikes this year, the cost of resources for banks has increased significantly. The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) has decided to keep its key interest rates unchanged following the Monetary Policy Committee...

U.S. monetary policy in 2022 boosted the dollar, making it more costly for developing countries to repay debts in foreign currencies. As a result, debt for IDA-eligible countries increased by 18%, reaching $1.1 trillion in 2023. In 2023, developing countries paid $1.4 trillion in external debt servicing, increasing economic pressure and limiting investments in critical social sectors....

In September 2024, Senegal's total exports surged by 85.2%, driven primarily by increased sales of gold, petroleum products, and titanium, according to the National Agency for Statistics. Senegal’s trade gap narrowed to CFA121.6 billion (about $195.3 million) in September 2024, compared to CFA411.8 billion (about $663 million) in the same period last year—a significant 70%...