The Fallout: How the Iran War Is Wreaking Havoc in Africa
The IMF’s April Regional Economic Outlook warns that the Iran war will shave 0.3 percentage points off Sub‑Saharan Africa’s growth, lowering the 2026 forecast to 4.3% and pushing median inflation to about 5%. Currency depreciation, shrinking foreign aid and tighter financial conditions are set to widen current‑account deficits and raise fiscal gaps, while $11 bn of sovereign bonds will need refinancing at higher rates. Gulf investment flows and remittances are also under threat as regional oil production falters. A few oil‑exporting nations, notably Nigeria, may see short‑term gains, but the overall outlook remains bleak.
Ramaphosa to Attend F1 Grand Prix to Lobby for South African Race
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend a Formula One Grand Prix later this year on a working visit, part of a government push to bring Africa its first F1 race since 1993. The bid centers on upgrading the historic...
AFC Plants East Africa Flag with Nairobi Regional Hub
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and the Kenyan government signed a Host Country Agreement to open AFC’s first regional office in Nairobi. The hub places AFC near a fast‑growing, capital‑rich market and leverages Nairobi’s logistics, finance and technology ecosystem. AFC aims...
OECD Data Shows Brutal Drop in Development Assistance
OECD reports a 23.1% plunge in official development assistance (ODA) from 2024 to 2025, dropping to $174.3 bn. Bilateral aid to least‑developed countries fell 25.8%, and the United States alone cut its ODA by 56.9%, driving three‑quarters of the overall decline....
Dangote Prepares $40bn Refinery IPO Across Multiple Exchanges
Aliko Dangote announced a $40 billion multi‑exchange IPO to sell roughly 10% of the Dangote Oil Refinery, the largest industrial project in Nigeria. The proceeds will fund a $40 billion five‑year plan to double refinery capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day, quadruple...
Africa's Finance Ministers Push for a Rewrite of the Rules in Washington
African finance ministers used the 2026 IMF‑World Bank Spring Meetings to press for systemic reforms rather than simply seeking new financing. They highlighted that four‑fifths of African governments now spend more on debt service than on health or education, with...
Unlocking Women's Full Economic Potential
Ecobank is tackling Africa’s $42 bn gender financing gap with its Ellevate programme, which blends collateral‑light lending, mentorship and pan‑African market access. Mobile money and digital services have broadened women’s account ownership, yet women still secure only a fraction of the...
Côte D'Ivoire's Startup Surge Gathers Pace
Côte d'Ivoire is emerging as West Africa’s next startup hub, buoyed by 6‑7% annual GDP growth and a youthful, increasingly connected population. The ecosystem centers on fintech, agritech, e‑commerce, logistics and edtech, with fintech leading due to a large unbanked...
Middle East War Clouds Egyptian Tourism Outlook
Egypt’s tourism sector surged to 19 million visitors in 2023, delivering more than $15 billion and supporting three million jobs. The government targets 30 million arrivals by 2030, but the Middle‑East conflict has triggered up to a 25% decline in hotel occupancy and heightened...
From Aid to Investment: Africa Redraws the Terms of Partnership with Europe
At the Africa‑Europe Finance Ministers' Platform, AUDA‑NEPAD chief Nardos Bekele‑Thomas declared that Africa will no longer accept passive aid but will pursue strategic co‑investment with Europe. She highlighted the EU’s upcoming 2028‑2034 budget, which earmarks roughly $66 billion for Sub‑Saharan Africa,...
EBID and Guinea Seal Strategic Partnership to Drive Economic Transformation
The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) and Guinea signed a memorandum of understanding on April 8, 2026, committing over €310.5 million (≈ $387.9 million) to six priority projects. The initiatives, part of Guinea’s Simandou 2040 plan, target transport, renewable energy, agriculture, land administration...
Can Africa Avoid Asia's Palm Oil Pitfalls?
African nations are seeking to slash palm‑oil imports—about half of current consumption—by expanding domestic production. Smallholders, who grow roughly 70% of the continent’s oil palm, average six tonnes per hectare, far below the 20‑plus tonnes achieved on Asian commercial estates....
Africa's T+1 Transition: Readiness Must Come Before Speed
The global move from T+3 to T+1 settlement is accelerating, with North America and India already on T+1 and Europe slated for October 2027. Shorter cycles cut counterparty risk, boost capital efficiency and align African markets with international investor expectations....
World "Must Brace for Tough Times" Says IMF Chief Georgieva
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that the Middle‑East conflict is already dampening global growth, revising the IMF’s outlook from 3.4% last year to 3.1% by 2026 and flagging a worst‑case drop to 2%. She highlighted soaring energy and...
EBID Sets Ambitious Investment Drive as West Africa Growth Strategy Takes Shape
The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) unveiled a new five‑year Growth, Resilience and Optimisation strategy at its 24th AGM in Accra, aiming to boost investment across West Africa through 2030. The plan prioritises infrastructure, agriculture, energy and digital...