Economic reforms are tempting finance back to Ethiopia and Zambia

August 15, 2024--Pockets of the African continent have found ways of giving new confidence to investors and the World Bank and IMF
As the west has diverted aid to Ukraine and Gaza, Africa faces neglect. A few countries on the continent have panicked and turned to Russia, while the prudent are embracing economic reforms to attract foreign direct investment.

Among the latter, financial markets are most familiar with South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. In each, reform of the real economy is under way but has hit the constraints of patronage politics. The people don't trust their governments with the higher taxes without which the state remains dependent upon rising indebtedness. Meanwhile, unnoticed by the markets, Ethiopia and Zambia are embracing sustainable reforms, in each case big enough to warrant investor interest.

East Africa's regional 20 share index

June 24, 2025-The National Securities Exchange of Somalia (NSES) is joining the Somali Stock Exchange as a member of the East African Securities Exchanges Association (EASEA), which brings together the exchanges of Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia, as well as Burundi when that exchange will be launched.

African Credit Rating Agency to Launch September 2025

June 16, 2025--The African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA), a new privately owned credit rating body, is set to begin operations by September 2025
The agency is backed by private sector stakeholders across Africa, not governments, to ensure independence and credibility