Nigeria’s banking reforms set new standard for SSA peers
Nigeria is outpacing its sub-Saharan African (SSA) peers in banking sector recapitalization, according to Fitch Ratings. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) triggered this recapitalization drive by raising the minimum paid-in capital tenfold for international-license banks to $348 million and eightfold for national-license banks to $139 million, requiring fresh equity rather than retained earnings. This aggressive approach, […]
Bankers push to bring Africa’s foreign reserves home
African regulators and bankers are calling for a rethink of how the continent manages its $400 billion in foreign exchange reserves, much of which sits in Western banks, US Treasuries, and Eurozone debt instruments. At the Africa Financial Summit in Rabat, speakers urged governments to place a portion of these reserves with credible African institutions to strengthen […]
Africa’s energy sector poised for 2026 M&A boom
A major wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is expected to surge in 2026, fundamentally reshaping Africa’s oil and gas landscape. This dynamic activity is being fueled by global companies strategically divesting mature assets, creating significant opportunities for ambitious African independents to expand their portfolios. Major deals in Nigeria, including Shell’s divestment to Renaissance and Eni’s […]
Ecobank bets big on Africa’s agriculture sector
Ecobank is setting its sights on Africa’s vast but underfunded agriculture sector after reporting its fastest revenue growth in a decade. The Pan-African lender’s earnings surged 18% year-on-year to $1.8 billion in the first nine months of 2025, driven largely by a 43% jump in corporate and investment banking. To build on this performance, the bank is […]
Africa has a right to fair development finance
A quiet but crucial battle is unfolding in global finance over the preferred creditor status of Africa’s development banks—a designation that ensures they’re repaid first during crises, supporting their ability to lend affordably. Institutions like Afreximbank and the Trade and Development Bank now face skepticism from global players such as the IMF, Paris Club, and JP Morgan, […]
South Africa’s financial reserves climb in October
South Africa’s foreign reserves climbed sharply in October, signaling improved external stability and a stronger financial cushion for the economy. According to central bank data released recently, net reserves rose to $69.36 billion, up from $67.87 billion in September. Gross reserves also increased to $71.55 billion, reflecting robust inflows and a favorable balance-of-payments position. However, the central […]
Kenya: New Cybercrime Amendments Threaten Online Expression
Authorities Should Repeal Provisions that Undermine Free Speech Kenya’s newly enacted Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendments) Act, 2025, risks criminalizing legitimate online speech and its overbroad provisions should be repealed, Human Rights Watch said today. The amendment was passed by Parliament and assented to by President William Ruto on October 15. The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act […]
