First Independent Mena Newspaper
In a surprising shift atop Africa’s wealth pyramid, South African business magnate Johann Rupert has claimed the title of the continent’s richest person, surpassing long-time leader Aliko Dangote of Nigeria. This changing of the guard reflects the volatile nature of global markets and regional economies. Rupert, the 74-year-old mastermind behind the world’s largest luxury watchmaker, […]
The United Nations and the US have called for an “urgent” meeting of Libyan political leaders to address the crisis of the Central Bank of Libya (BCL) and the blockade of oil production and exports. The UN Support Mission in Libya expressed “deep concern” over the worsening situation and convened a meeting to seek a […]
The Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Libya, appointed by the Presidential Council, announced on Monday (August 26) evening that it has fully assumed its management duties. The announcement was made through a statement on the bank’s Facebook page. In the statement, the board affirmed its dedication to ensuring a smooth transition and […]
The Egyptian Government has secured an €8 million agreement with the European Union (EU) through the EU Tigara program to enhance trade, industry, and market access. According to the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, the initiative aims to strengthen Egypt’s enterprise growth and trade mechanisms, while boosting the involvement of small and medium-sized Egyptian […]
In a significant shift from decades-long practice, Ghana’s cocoa regulator, Cocobod, has announced it won’t be seeking its usual syndicated loan for the upcoming 2024/25 cocoa season. This marks the first time in over 30 years that the world’s second-largest cocoa producer has opted for self-financing. The decision, revealed by Cocobod’s Chief Executive Joseph Boahen […]
Malawi, grappling with a severe El Niño-induced drought, has received a much-needed financial boost. An insurance payout of $11.2 million has been disbursed to the southern African nation, offering a glimmer of hope in the face of a dire food crisis. This payout comes at a critical time for Malawi, one of the world’s poorest […]
Libya’s central bank has resumed normal operation after it was forced to suspend activities due to a kidnapping of one of its senior officials. Head of the bank’s information technology department, Musaab Muslamm was abducted on Sunday by an “unidentified party,” in Tripoli, while other bank employees received threats of similar kidnappings. The Bank resumed […]
In 2023, banking intermediation was at the heart of Mauritanian banks’ operations, as they leveraged their deposit-taking and lending activities to support growth. According to the Central Bank of Mauritania’s 2023 annual report, this activity accounted for 65.1% of the banking sector’s total consolidated assets. Customer deposits at the 17 banks operating in the country […]
Kenya prepares to re-introduce an amended version of the eco-levy tax that has been at the heart of popular discontent that plunged the country into violent protests this summer. Treasury Secretary John Mbadi told local media that “about 49 measures” were being considered as part of a tax amendment bill. Some of the scrapped taxes […]
The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) said on Sunday August 18 that it had suspended all operations in the country, after one of its employees was “kidnapped” by unidentified individuals. “The Central Bank of Libya condemns the kidnapping of the Director of the Information Technology Department, Musab Musallam, by an unknown person in front of […]