Debt financing saw a double-digit decline over the past year, mainly due to rising interest rates and the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against African currencies. Despite this drop, debt financing still accounts for nearly a third of the total funds raised. African startups raised $3.2 billion in equity and debt funding in 2024, marking a 7% drop from the previous year, according to a...

Launched five years ago, Finance in Common is a coalition of 530 public development banks worldwide. Its goal is to enhance collaboration among banks of all sizes and from different regions, united by shared development objectives. Each year, the Finance in Common Summit (FICS) brings together the technical work from the year, fosters strategic alignment, showcases tangible progress, and sparks...

Senegal has sought support from the World Bank to digitize its healthcare system. However, without a legal framework, these advancements could end up harming the very people they aim to help. Senegal is taking a significant step toward modernizing its healthcare system with a new bill aimed at regulating e-health services. The announcement was made by Ibrahima Khaliloulah Dia, coordinator of the...

Founded in 2003 by Moncef Belkhayat, Dislog Group continues to grow and plans to go public later this year. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a $25 million equity investment in Dislog Group, a Moroccan distributor of consumer goods and healthcare products. The announcement was made on January 21, following the bank’s approval on January 10,...

Despite a global decline in foreign investment, Africa saw a significant boost last year, largely driven by a single major urban and tourism project in Egypt. Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into Africa surged by 84% in 2024, reaching a record $94 billion, according to a report released on January 20 by the United Nations Trade and Development agency (formerly UNCTAD). The “Global...

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa has surpassed pre-pandemic levels of international tourist arrivals. The continent welcomed 74 million visitors in 2024, a 7% increase from 2019 and 12% higher than in 2023, according to a statement from UN Tourism on January 21. North Africa led the recovery, with international arrivals rising 22% compared to 2019. This strong performance...

The 2024 Global Terrorism Index shows that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger record the highest number of terrorism-related deaths in the region. Over the past 15 years, the Sahel has experienced a 1,266% surge in reported terrorist incidents. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have announced plans to create a joint military force of 5,000 soldiers to tackle armed groups operating in the region. The...

“Galamsey” refers to illegal mining in Ghana. After returning to power in December 2024, President John Mahama has vowed to intensify efforts against this issue. He is already facing a crisis, as seven illegal miners died last weekend during a clash with the army. On the evening of January 18, seven illegal miners were killed in a gunfight with the army near AngloGold Ashanti's Obuasi gold...

As AI continues to shape the digital landscape, its adoption remains uneven across the globe. For African countries in particular, bridging the gap in technical skills is essential to keep pace with this trend and unlock the economic benefits of digital advancements. On January 20, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) announced the creation of...

This is the largest fundraising effort ever carried out by Naked in South Africa. Naked, a fully digital insurance platform based in South Africa, announced on January 21, 2025, that it has secured 700 million rands ($37.8 million) in its Series B funding round. The funding came from a mix of existing investors, including Yellowwoods, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Germany’s...