Crans Montana opening session

South Sudan to produce 350,000 bpd by 2020

South Sudan is planning to increase oil production to 270,000 bpd by the end of 2019, the country’s Minister of Petroleum and Mining, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth said. Speaking on the sidelines of a conference in India last weekend, the minister said South Sudan is working to return to its pre-war production levels of 350,000 bpd […]

West Africa: IFC, Orange Bank Africa ink partnership deal to increase digital lending for Small Businesses

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s arm for the development of the private sector in developing countries, has signed a partnership agreement with Orange Bank Africa (OBA), Orange Group’s digital bank, to “enable the smallest businesses in West Africa to access the financing they need to grow”. As part of the deal signed […]

Tiani’s grip on power weakens as jihadist violence surges in Niger

Less than two years after seizing power, Niger’s junta leader General Abdourahamane Tiani is struggling to contain a growing jihadist insurgency that threatens both his authority and national stability. Despite bold promises to restore security and sovereignty after the 2023 coup, Tiani’s regime faces escalating attacks from al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic […]