The Rebel Turned Politician Who Wants to Rule Ivory Coast (

The Rebel Turned Politician Who Wants to Rule Ivory Coast (

ABIDJAN (Capital Markets in Africa) – In Ivory Coast, where big-man personalities dominate and switching allegiances is par for the course, Guillaume Soro — former student leader, rebel chief and prime minister — seems a perfect fit to one day lead the world’s biggest cocoa producer. His loyalties have zigzagged over the years, from being a supporter of Laurent Gbagbo, the man who led Ivory Coast into a civil war, to backing Alassane Ouattara, who defeated Gbagbo in elections…

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Seychelles Central Bank to Keep Rate at 5% on Low Inflation Risk

Seychelles Central Bank to Keep Rate at 5% on Low Inflation Risk

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa)- The Central Bank of Seychelles expects to keep its key interest rate unchanged this year as prices are likely to climb at a slow pace on the Indian Ocean archipelago. “The monetary policy rate is expected to remain at 5% in 2020, a rate that would support an interest-rate level conducive to a level of credit to the private sector that boosts economic activity, but does not introduce inflationary pressure,”…

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Nigeria Bourse Urges Brokers to Combine as It Readies Listing

Nigeria Bourse Urges Brokers to Combine as It Readies Listing

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa)- The Nigerian Stock Exchange is urging stockbrokers to buy dormant licenses or combine with other operators rather than apply for new ones as the bourse prepares to go public. Members of the exchange will vote on March 3 to convert from a member-owned mutual organization into a public limited-liability company. The exchange, which has 252 dealing members as well as 166 listed equities and 154 bonds, will change its name to Nigerian…

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Coronavirus Looms Over Africa’s Fragile Health Systems

Coronavirus Looms Over Africa’s Fragile Health Systems

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa)- The rapidly spreading coronavirus has wreaked havoc across much of the developed world, yet not a single case has been confirmed so far in Africa — the continent that’s least equipped to deal with the epidemic. Health officials are still bracing themselves for the worst. Two-way travel between Africa and China, the epicenter of the respiratory illness that’s infected more than 31,000 people since late December, has surged over recent…

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Credit Suisse CEO Thiam Ousted After Losing Boardroom Battle

Credit Suisse CEO Thiam Ousted After Losing Boardroom Battle

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – Tidjane Thiam was ousted as chief executive officer of Credit Suisse Group AG, losing a boardroom showdown with the chairman in the wake of a tabloid scandal that unnerved the Swiss establishment. The 13 directors rebuffed appeals from major shareholders in the U.S. and U.K. to back Thiam and instead closed ranks behind Chairman Urs Rohner, giving him their “unanimous” support, according to a statement Friday. They picked Thomas Gottstein, a 20-year Credit…

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Carney Bequeaths Bailey a Mystery to Solve on U.K. Inflation

Carney Bequeaths Bailey a Mystery to Solve on U.K. Inflation

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – Outgoing Bank of England chief Mark Carney is leaving his successor with a mystery to puzzle over. As Andrew Bailey takes over from the Canadian in March, he’ll find officials at the U.K. central bank closely studying why inflation isn’t as strong as labor costs and import prices would suggest it should be. The matter was so perturbing for policymakers at Carney’s final decision that, even after an in-depth discussion, they pledged to…

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Trump Impeachment Acquittal Leaves Diplomats Bracing for Impact

Trump Impeachment Acquittal Leaves Diplomats Bracing for Impact

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa): President Donald Trump mostly stifled his fury toward the impeachment witnesses who detailed, over hundreds of hours of testimony, the turmoil wrought by his handling of Ukraine policy. Now that he’s been acquitted of two impeachment charges, they’re bracing for payback. It’s not just the witnesses — such as Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a National Security Council analyst — who could face retribution for speaking out. The deeper anxiety among many career national…

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