First Independent Mena Newspaper
Kenya is seeking a financing of $1.5 billion from the UAE to bolster its public finances, Reuters and Bloomberg reported, citing sources. Kenya has sought to curb its widening fiscal deficit and growing debt servicing by tax hikes which triggered the most violent protests in the country’s history. A delay in reaching a financing deal […]
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has adjusted Egypt’s economic growth projection upward, anticipating a 4% increase in FY2024/2025, indicating a positive recovery trajectory. Growth for FY2023/2024 was revised to 2.7%, with GDP expansion expected to reach 3.2% in 2024 and 4.5% in 2025. Inflationary pressures have moderated, with inflation declining to 25.7% […]
The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) has announced an extension for the circulation and acceptance of the first and second editions of its 50-dinar banknotes, providing relief to both Libyan citizens and financial institutions amid ongoing economic challenges. This move aims to mitigate concerns over the potential disruption caused by the withdrawal of the banknotes. […]
Half of the ten least performing currencies in the World are African, said a Bloomberg report, highlighting the risk facing some of the continent’s devalued currencies due to lack of dollar liquidity. Zambian kwacha, the Angolan kwanza, and the Nigerian naira are in the top 3 most fragile African currencies, according to the report. Zambia’s […]
Morocco’s central bank maintained its benchmark rate at 2.75% amid decreasing inflation. The bank said inflation would decrease to 1.3% this year as a result of falling food prices, the main driver for inflation in the country. Inflation would increase slightly to 2.2% in 2025 as the government negotiates a new wave of price hikes […]
The political deadlock in Libya continues, with the country facing a major crisis following the Libyan Presidential Council’s decision to dismiss Central Bank Governor Al-Siddik al-Kabir over a month ago. The Council’s move to appoint a new Governor and Management Committee has intensified divisions within the country, as this authority lies with Parliament and the […]
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a €15 million loan to Moroccan car equipment supplier, Tuyauto, which produces stamped metal components, exhaust systems, and heat shields. The loan is guaranteed by the EU through the European Fund for Sustainable Development Municipal Infrastructure and Industrial Resilience program to support the company’s environmental […]
Japan has granted Morocco a $180 million loan to support the kingdom’s development policy program aimed at achieving universal health coverage. The loan is destined to accelerate progress toward universal health access, with focus on improving maternal and child healthcare services in rural areas. It also marks a significant boost to Morocco’s efforts to strengthen […]
Sierra Leone has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a 38-month Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement worth about $253 million. The facility would support restoring stability through continued macroeconomic adjustment to address debt vulnerabilities, reduce inflation, and rebuild international reserves; bolster inclusive growth and poverty reduction through structural reforms and targeted social spending; and […]
Over the past decade, the Algerian dinar has experienced a dramatic free-fall in value compared to the Moroccan dirham. In 2014, one dirham was worth ten dinars, but by 2024, this gap has doubled, with one dirham now equivalent to twenty Algerian dinars. This gap is not due to an appreciation of the dirham, which […]