Finance

The New Guard
South Africa, Morocco, Sudan

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

South AfricaJaco-Louis du Plessis, soldier turned business diplomacy consultant

MoroccoAsmaa Chakir Alaoui, queen of the pros on two wheels

SudanHozaifa Elsiddig, art against arms

Tanzania
State-owned Tanzania Commercial Bank targets major Chinese projects

The former postal bank, owned by the government, made a strategic U-turn two years ago. TCB aims to meet the profitability targets set by President Suluhu, whose ambition is to turn Tanzania into a middle-income country.

Nigeria
JP Morgan aims to expand into merchant banking

The US bank wants to transform its representative office in Lagos into a fully-fledged business branch, marking a further step in its CEO's strategy to strengthen its presence on the African continent.

Kenya, Nigeria
Nigerian reinsurer Continental Re gears up for its return to the stock market

The reinsurance company, headed since 2021 by Lawrence Mutsunge Nazare, is seeking to raise new capital to strengthen its activities on the continent. Its ambitions extend beyond its home country, where it left the Nigerian Stock Exchange five years ago.

Gabon
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema launches a vast reprofiling of public debt

The transitional president is preparing an exchange of debt securities to postpone this year's financial deadlines. The operation, worth more than FCFA 1,000bn, must be completed before the 12 April presidential election.

Ivory Coast
Visa strengthens its presence in Abidjan

The US payment solutions company Visa is planning a major expansion of its office in Abidjan with the aim of extending its activities to other countries on the continent.

South Africa
Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala's AfDB presidency campaign under the radar

South Africa's Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala is still hoping to chair the African Development Bank, despite her country's official support for her Zambian rival, economist Samuel Munzele Maimbo.

Somalia
Mogadishu prepares for the return of its development bank

First established in 1968 and then abandoned, the Somali Development and Reconstruction Bank was revitalised in 2024 and will be making its first investments this year. The authorities are currently seeking to attract international funds.

DRC
Kinshasa seeks to firm up ambitious Plan Nkita 2035

Despite his second term being overshadowed by the conflict in the east, President Tshisekedi and his government are elaborating a plan to transform the country's economy over the next decade. One of the aims is to ensure that the future Kinshasa Mercantile Exchange lives up to its full potential.

Africa
Consultancy takes part in AfDB presidency recruitment process

Hannah Ryder, managing director of Development Reimagined, is due to meet the figures vying to take over the reins of the African Development Bank.

Palace Intrigues
Ousmane Sonko, Tony Elumelu, Alassane Ouattara

Intrigues big and small... Every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

SenegalSonko's wife Anna Diamanka pays incognito visit to Paris

NigeriaUBA boss Tony Elumelu's evening at Palais Garnier cancelled

Ivory CoastAlassane Ouattara's private trip to France