News

Tanzania lifts Treasury bill bid limit tenfold to grow local debt market

The latest adjustment is poised to rebalance the governmentโ€™s domestic debt profileโ€”currently dominated by Treasury bondsโ€”by attracting a broader pool of investors into the short-term market.

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Egyptโ€™s inflation rises to 13.9%, fuelling doubts over central bankโ€™s dovish tiltย 

With inflation trending upward once again and external risks mounting, the CBE may be forced to reconsider its easing cycle and adopt a more cautious stance in the months ahead.

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Oil imports surge push Namibiaโ€™s trade deficit to $148m in March 2025

According to the countryโ€™s statistical bureau, oil imports jumped by nearly $55 million and accounted for 20% of total imports recorded during the reviewed month.

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Kenyaโ€™s second revenue downgrade widens 2025/26 fiscal deficit to $6.8bn

Despite the expansion, the fiscal gap falls within the National Treasuryโ€™s target of 4.5 percent of GDPโ€”an improvement from the deficits recorded in 2023/24 and 2024/25, which stood at 5.3 percent and 5.1 percent of GDP respectively.

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SAโ€™s Absa Group names new chair in major leadership overhaul

Absa Group has announced Rene Van Wyk as its new board chair, succeeding Sello Moloko amid the broader leadership overhaul

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Kenya bets on private sector to drive 2025 growth

Perhaps the most disruptive economic event of 2024 was the wave of anti-government protests triggered by steep tax hikes, which hampered business operations and resulted in multiple deaths.

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Weak demand and output slump push Egyptโ€™s PMI to four-month lowย 

The sector saw its worst performance since the beginning of the year in April, as new orders and output declined at the fastest pace in four months amid fragile demand and rising cost pressures.

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Nigeria targets import cuts with new public procurement policyย 

While the policy is seeks to boost local production, its success largely hinges on the nationโ€™s ability to drastically reduce its reliance on imported raw materials, which could undermine the intended economic benefits.

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Pakistan lender, Bank Al Habib, exits Kenya, eyes faster-growing markets

The bankโ€™s latest move highlights a growing shift among foreign financial institutions in Africa, as many reassess their presence amid evolving regulatory landscapes and changing market dynamics.

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Nigeria court backs apex bank amidst trademark lawsuit over eNaira

Nigeria High Court ruling backs CBN’s right to use eNaira, easing investor concern over Nigeria’s digital currency

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Nigeriaโ€™s central bank rebounds with $23.7m profit after historic loss

While foreign exchange gains drove the rebound, the CBNโ€™s earnings report also revealed a sharp drop in net interest income and surging liabilities, pointing to ongoing financial pressures.ย 

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AfDB backs Nigeriaโ€™s $1tn economy goal with multi-billion dollar programme

Designed to drive economic transformation and inclusive growth, the AfDBโ€™s new strategy will see $2.95 billion invested in Nigeria over four years, with total supportโ€”when combined with co-financing from development partnersโ€”expected to reach $3.2 billion.

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South Africaโ€™s U.S. exports slide 27% as auto tariff bites

While not explicitly linked by the lastest trade data, the fact that Trumpโ€™s 25% auto tariffs took effect in the same month South Africaโ€™s U.S. export earnings declined raises questions about the policyโ€™s early impact on bilateral trade.

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Ethiopiaโ€™s Dashen Bank taps AfDB for $40m trade facility amid FX reform

The agreement allows the local lender issue letters of credit and other trade instruments backed by the AfDBโ€™s full risk coverage

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IMF flags inflation risk as Egypt begins monetary easing

Last month, Egyptโ€™s central bank slashed its benchmark interest rate by 225 basis points to 25% – marking its first cut in nearly five years – after inflation drop sharply to 13.6%.

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How Ethiopiaโ€™s largest state lender unlocked World Bankโ€™s $650m aidย 

After months of negotiations, restructuring, and meeting some of the World Bankโ€™s conditions, the local lender is now poised to receive an initial disbursement covering about 54% of the total approved funding.

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NCBA Tanzaniaโ€™s Q1 profit slides 22.5% despite improved loan book quality

Weighed down by higher costs and softer interest earnings, the bankโ€™s gross earnings dropped to $965,364, from $1.2 million recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year.

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FX breaches and AML lapses: The top 7 Nigerian banks fined $10.7 million in 2024

The latest figure shows a staggering rise of over 6,000% in penalties compared to last year. The seven banks racked up fines for a range of infractions, from breaches in the forex market to lapses in anti-money laundering regulations

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Namibiaโ€™s foreign reserves hit $3.3bn but debt concerns persist

During the review period, domestic borrowing increased the central governmentโ€™s total debt stock by 10.2%, while external debt played a key role in boosting the countryโ€™s foreign reserves

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Namibian banks park $1.9bn in liquid assets amid fiscal funding surge

The sector’s strong performance was also reflected in its balance sheets as total assets rose by 7.1%โ€”drivenย largely by growth in short-term securities and net loans and advances.

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In bid to boost investor participation and enhancing pricing efficiency, the Bank of Tanzania has raisedย the maximum bid amount under the non-competitive window from $18,600 to approximately $186,000 per auction.


Egyptโ€™s urban inflation rate rose for a second month in a row in April, climbing to 13.9% from 13.6% in March, according to new data released on Saturday by the state statistics agency, CAPMAS.

 


A surge in petroleum imports worsened Namibiaโ€™s trade balance in March, lifting its trade deficit by $38.4 million to $148 million.


Kenya has once again slashed its revenue projections for the fiscal year that starts July 1, pushing the expected fiscal deficit to $6.8 billion or 4.5% of gross domestic product (GDP), according to the latest figures from the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework.


Rene Van Wyk appointed Absa Group Chair as part of sweeping leadership overhaul to restore stability and investor confidence


Kenyaโ€™s economy expanded by just 4.2 percent in 2024, the slowest pace since the pandemic-induced contraction of 2020, pushingย the government to place private sector growth at the centre of its 2025 recovery plan

 


Egyptโ€™s non-oil private sector plungedย deeper into contraction territory in April, as weaker demand led to a reduction in output, purchasing and hiring.


Nigeriaโ€™s federal government has barred public agencies from procuring foreign goods or services where local alternatives are available as part of its efforts to reduce import dependency and boost domestic production.


Pakistanโ€™s Bank Al Habib Limited (BAHL) has disclosed plans to close its Representative Office in Kenya by May 15, 2025 as part of its broader objective to consolidate its international operations and focus on higher-growth markets.


The Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to stop the CBN from using the name eNaira, ruling that halting its use could harm the economy and public trust.


The Nigerian central bankโ€™s financial statements for the year ended December 2024 show a rebound to N38.8bn profit after a record loss of N1.15 trillion in 2023 โ€”buoyed by strong forex revaluation gains.


The AfDB has pledgedย $3.2bn in support to Nigeria under a new five-year strategy aimed at bridging infrastructure gaps, boosting green growth, and creating jobs for women and youth.


South Africaโ€™s exports to the United States slumpedย by 27% in March to $634.3 million, down from $874.7 million in February, coinciding with Washingtonโ€™s imposition of a 25% tariff on imported vehicles.

 


Ethiopiaโ€™s Dashen Bank secured a $40 million trade finance guarantee from the African Development Bank to boost access to hard currency amid foreign exchange reforms.


The IMF has urgedย Egypt to proceed cautiously with interest rate cuts, warning that premature easing could reignite inflation, especially as global trade tensions add uncertainty to the countryโ€™s fragile economic recovery.


After meeting some of the World Bank’s conditions, the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) is set to receive more than half of a $650 million performance-based financial package from the multilateral lender next week.

 


NCBA Bank Tanzania reported a 22.5% drop in profit for the first quarter of 2025, despite recording a significant improvement in asset quality and modest balance sheet growth.

 

 


Seven of Nigeriaโ€™s largest banks were slapped with a combined $10.7 million in fines by three key financial regulators in 2024, representing a staggering 6,000% rise from the $179,000 in penalties imposed the previous year for various infractions.

 


Namibia’s foreign reserves rose to $3.3 billion by December 2024, driven by strong SACU receipts and external borrowing. While import cover improved to 4.2 months, the countryโ€™s debt stock surged to $8.6 billion, exceeding regional thresholds and raising fiscal concerns.


Namibia’s banking liquidity showed resilience in 2024 as the sector’s assets surged by 20.2% to $1.9 billion, up from $1.4 billion in the previous year.