Al-Qaeda Affiliate Seen Posing Increasing Risk in East Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya, Capital Markets in Africa: East Africa faces a rising threat from al-Qaeda’s Somalia-based affiliate after it established a presence in five other countries in the region, according to a report from a multi-national bloc. Al-Shabaab, which is being targeted both by U.S. drones and an African military force, has expanded to Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda since 2010, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development said Monday. The militants have staged fatal attacks in Kenya, killing dozens of…

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IMF Steps Deeper Into Middle East Cauldron With Loan to Egypt

IMF Steps Deeper Into Middle East Cauldron With Loan to Egypt

CAIRO, Egypt, Capital Markets in Africa: The International Monetary Fund is stepping up lending in a region where economic reformers haven’t exactly had the most success. Hoping to restore the confidence of foreign investors, Egypt announced an initial agreement Thursday to borrow $12 billion over three years from the IMF, joining Iraq, Tunisia and Jordan in taking money from the Washington-based fund. Egypt’s program is likely to see the government of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi move toward a…

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IMF Plans to Help Egypt Secure Remaining Money for Loan Deal

CAIRO, Egypt, Capital Markets in Africa: The International Monetary Fund said it will help Egypt plug the remaining financing gap for its economic program before the fund’s executive board approves a $12 billion loan deal with the Arab country. The government is targeting $21 billion over three years to revive growth and ease a crippling foreign-exchange shortage. In addition to the IMF loan, funds will come from the World Bank, the bond market, and bilateral accords. “All…

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South Africa’s Rand Gains Offer South Africa’s Kganyago ‘Cushion’ on Rates

South Africa’s Rand Gains Offer South Africa’s Kganyago ‘Cushion’ on Rates

South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa: The recent strength of South Africa’s rand is providing a cushion for the country’s policy makers and shouldn’t lead to complacency in tackling inflation, Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago said. “The risks to the inflation outlook has to do with possible future weakness in the currency,” Kganyago told reporters at a central bank event in Pretoria on Thursday. “The fact that the currency has strengthened has not taken that way, it has…

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Zambians Await Presidential Vote Results After Frenzied Campaign

Zambians Await Presidential Vote Results After Frenzied Campaign

LUSAKA, Zambia, Capital Markets in Africa: Ballot counting in Zambia was under way Friday after voting ended in a hotly contested election that pitted President Edgar Lungu against his main challenger, Hakainde Hichilema, for the second time in 19 months. Less than 28,000 votes separated the two men when they contested a snap poll in January last year, after President Michael Sata died in office. While Lungu’s administration has improved the country’s road system and built new clinics and schools, a growth…

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SBM of Mauritius Looks to New Hires to Sustain Earnings Growth

SBM of Mauritius Looks to New Hires to Sustain Earnings Growth

Mauritius, Capital Markets in Africa: SBM Holdings Ltd., the second-biggest company by market value in Mauritius, plans to reshuffle its top management and make new hires to sustain earnings growth that saw first-half profit more than double. “With further appointments at strategic posts in the coming months, in line with the implementation of our modernization and diversification plan, SBM is poised to generate new sources of income which will impact even more favorably on our…

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Soutth Africa’s Rand Heads for Fourth Week of Gains as Johannesburg Stocks Rise

Soutth Africa’s Rand Heads for Fourth Week of Gains as Johannesburg Stocks Rise

Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa: The rand strengthened for a fourth week against the dollar as investors seeking higher yields piled into South African bonds and stocks and data showed the continent’s biggest economy may avoid a recession this year. The rand was also set for a fourth weekly advance against Britain’s pound, the longest stretch since the four weeks to April 10, and poised for the biggest gain against sterling since the…

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