Features | - Part 82

Prospects for Regional Economic Integration in Africa

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Africa has over the years, especially since the 1960s, established continental and regional integration bodies and frameworks, that have provided auspices for political and economic milestones. For instance, political decolonisation was achieved in 1994 under the Organisation for African Unity, the African Union was put in place in 2002 and a continental peace and security architecture established 2003, eight regional economic communities were formally recognised in 2006, the COMESA-EAC-SADC…

The Mining Industry’s Generation of Something New

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – A few years after this century’s commodity boom, which was primarily driven by China’s resource-intensive manufacturing and infrastructure sectors, many segments within the global mining industry are facing challenges that have caused severe price declines, increased volatility and lowered utilization levels. To add to this, the current value-chain is being challenged by macroeconomic conditions and increasingly pervasive new technology. As a matter of fact, the digital transformation of mining…

Fintech Platforms Within a Trade Finance Context

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Much has been said about the upcoming “fintech disruption”. About 4 years ago, emerging technology companies identified as “fintechs” were mostly finger-pointed as attempting to create the next wave of competition against established financial institutions (FI’s). At that time, most bankers viewed fintechs as new entrants trying to enter the financial services industry using advanced technologies and innovative business models. Fintechs were perceived as attempting to grab market share…

Guinea-Bissau Assembly Votes to Remove President Jose Mario Vaz

Posted on by The Editorial Team

GUINEA-BISSAU (Capital Markets in Africa) – Guinea-Bissau’s national assembly approved a resolution to remove President Jose Mario Vaz from office and replace him with the head of the legislature, escalating a political feud that’s paralyzed the impoverished West African nation. A majority of 54 out of 102 lawmakers on Thursday voted for Cipriano Cassama to be named as interim president, according to Suzi Barbosa, a lawmaker of the country’s biggest party, known by its acronym PAIGC. Vaz,…

Ivory Coast Sees Return to Anti-Foreigner Rhetoric Ahead of Vote

Posted on by The Editorial Team

ABIDJAN (Capital Markets in Africa) – The leader of Ivory Coast’s second-biggest political party is taking an anti-foreigner stance as campaigning for next year’s presidential elections gears up, sparking concerns of a return to the divisive politics that fueled almost a decade of conflict in the world’s top cocoa grower. Former President Henri Konan Bedie, who first emphasized the difference between “real” Ivorians and migrants in the 1990s, accused President Alassane Ouattara’s administration of favoring members of…

Ailing South African Health Stocks Suffer Under Weak Economy

Posted on by The Editorial Team

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Health-care companies have missed out on the best first-half for South Africa’s stock market since 2007. An index of South African hospital operators and pharmaceutical companies has slumped 21% this year, the worst performance of any Johannesburg sector with more than three members, and lagging behind the 10% gain for the benchmark gauge. Analysts and investors blame the weak local economy, which contracted by the most in a decade in the…

MTN, Vodacom Given Boost by Promise of Long-Delayed Spectrum

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s telecommunications operators were given a boost on Thursday when the country’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, indicated a long-awaited auction of new broadband spectrum could take place within the next month. Vodacom Group Ltd. and MTN Group Ltd., the country’s two biggest mobile-phone providers, have long been demanding the opportunity to bid for new spectrum to extend high-speed internet to new customers and increase data revenue. The constrained nature of the market…

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