First Independent Mena Newspaper
Despite mounting global economic uncertainties, East Africa remains on a steady growth path, driven by investments in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and digital innovation. According to a recent Deloitte’s 2025 East Africa Economic Outlook, the region is set to be the fastest-growing on the continent, even as high inflation, rising debt, and currency volatility pose significant […]
Africa’s mounting debt burden — now standing at 64.3% of the continent’s GDP — is choking vital investments in health, education, and infrastructure, warns the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Speaking at a recent Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, UNECA executive secretary Claver Gatete painted a sobering picture: out of 144 Sustainable […]
Nigerian naira, Malawian kwacha and Rwandan franc have been named the worst-performing African currencies against the US dollar in 2024, according to a latest report, having faced an array of challenges, from persistent trade imbalances, dwindling foreign reserves, to political instability. Some African nations strengthened their currencies, while others faced worsening exchange rates in 2024. […]
On December 3, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced that Kuwait has agreed to extend a $2 billion deposit for an additional year. Originally set to mature in April 2024, the deposit will now mature in April 2025, according to the CBE’s latest external position report. This decision provides Egypt with crucial financial breathing […]
Maroc Telecom reported a soaring debt to 23 billion dirhams, up 32.1% as a result of the compensation it was asked to pay to its competitor Inwi for violating fair competition rules. In July, a commercial court in Casablanca upheld a first instance verdict that found Maroc Telecom guilty of violating free competition rules and […]
Niger failed to make a debt payment of 13.4 billion CFA francs ($22 million) last week, the West African debt management agency said on Monday (19 February), bringing the total default to $519 million since a coup in July 2023 and its subsequent suspension from regional financial markets. The West African Economic Monetary Union (WAEMU) […]
Ahmed Hachani, Tunisia’s new Prime Minister swore in on Monday July 31 right after his appointment, before President Kais Saied, a few hours the latter fired the country’s first female Premier Najla Bouden. “There are great challenges that we must meet with determination and a strong will to preserve our homeland, our State and civil […]
Ghana, formerly praised for its stability and good governance, is finally getting some breathing room after Ghanian officials announced last week (18 May) that the $3 billion bailout for the West African nations had finally been approved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Ghana has been facing a severe economic crisis since the onset of […]
The economies of East Africa face rather bleak prospects for growth this year because of the increasing risk of debt distress, widening fiscal and current deficits and limited economic diversification plans, according to the latest forecast by the African Development Bank (AfDB). The AfDB forecasts the region’s GDP at 4% this year, before recovering to […]
Ghana is a classic case of emerging economies in Africa and other parts of the world who have been caught in a perfect storm and are struggling to service their foreign currency denominated loans owing to a strengthening US dollar, rising global interest rates and that is made worse by their excessive borrowing. Ghana is […]