Economy

Long awaited and announced for a long time, the Dry Port of Parakou has now entered its operational phase. On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, the first container loading operations were launched on this strategic logistics platform, designed to relieve the Autonomous Port of Cotonou and bring port services closer to operators in northern Benin and […]

The Council of Ministers on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, approved a significant reduction in fees applicable to merchant spaces across the country. This financial relief measure will officially take effect at the end of July 2026. It applies to urban and regional markets, as well as the major commercial hubs of Tokpa Yôyô and Tokpa […]

The President of the Republic, Romuald Wadagni, explained the motivations behind the government’s decision to reduce the monthly fees applied in the country’s modern markets. In a post shared on his official Facebook page, the head of state indicated that this measure addresses a recurring concern expressed by traders during the recent electoral campaign. According […]

INStaD has finalized the rebasing of the national accounts of Benin with 2023 as the new reference year, replacing the 2015 base. This statistical operation re-evaluates the 2023 GDP at 14,020.2 billion CFA Francs, representing an increase of 25.2%, reflecting a better consideration of the recent transformations of the Beninese economy. The National Institute of […]

It went almost unnoticed amid the flow of social announcements that dominated discussions in the National Assembly on Friday. However, among the fiscal measures of the revised finance law for 2026 adopted unanimously, one of them could radically change the rules of the game for thousands of Beninese businesses: the taxation of undistributed distributable profits. […]

Ekoué Djro Glokpor has officially taken the lead of the National Directorate of the BCEAO for Togo during the second ordinary session of the National Credit Council held on June 18, 2026, in Lomé. This installation took place in a context marked by contrasting signals from the financial sector, between the progression of banking digitalization, […]

The synergies between the customs administration and port stakeholders are intensifying. The new Director General of Customs of Benin, Mr. Rouf Malehossou, paid a courtesy visit to the Autonomous Port of Cotonou (PAC) this Tuesday, June 16, 2026. This initiative is part of strengthening the partnership between these two pillars of the national economy. This […]

Air France will permanently close its local representation in Bamako on June 30, 2026, nearly three years after suspending its flights to Mali. This decision marks a new step in the retreat of French presence in the country against a backdrop of diplomatic tensions. Air France announced the permanent closure of its local representation in […]

Extractive revenues in Mali reached a record level in 2024, with 978.29 billion FCFA paid into the state budget, accounting for over 40% of public revenues. Driven by gold, this performance reflects Bamako’s desire to capture a larger share of mining value, even though gold production remains exposed to tensions with operators and insecurity. Revenues […]

The modernization of the infrastructure at the Autonomous Port of Cotonou reaches a new strategic milestone. In an official information note dated June 11, 2026, the General Director of the Port, Bart Jozef Johan Van Eenoo, notified the concessionaires, economic operators, and users of the port platform about the exclusive transfer of management and distribution […]

The Beninese Treasury raised 22 billion FCFA in Treasury bonds on the regional UMOA market, exceeding the initially sought amount. The operation, which was significantly oversubscribed with a coverage rate of 234%, confirms investors’ interest in the Beninese signature for short maturities. The Beninese state raised 22 billion FCFA, approximately 33.5 million euros, in Treasury […]

Benin’s merchandise exports saw a significant increase in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 223.96 billion FCFA according to INStaD. This rise, primarily driven by cotton, soy, and oilseeds, contrasts with a continuing large trade deficit, with imports nearly twice the value of exports. Benin’s merchandise exports amounted to 223.96 billion FCFA, approximately 341 million […]

The ban on exporting raw cashew nuts has not yet produced the expected industrial effects in Benin, according to expert Jim Fitzpatrick. Despite the aim to stimulate local processing, a large portion of the harvest continues to leave through neighboring countries, revealing the limitations of a policy still facing smuggling, insufficient funding of factories, and […]

The BRVM has listed four sovereign bond issuances from Senegal totaling 627.91 billion FCFA. Presented as the largest mobilization achieved by a state in the financial market of the UEMOA, this operation takes place amid significant pressure on Senegal’s debt and an increased reliance on regional financing. The Regional Stock Exchange (BRVM) on Wednesday, June […]

Nigeria’s gasoline import bill dropped by 96.15% in the first quarter of 2026, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. Long dependent on refined fuels from abroad despite being a major oil producer, the country is seeing its energy balance transformed by the rise of local refining, particularly from the Dangote refinery. However, […]

The African Development Bank raised €1.25 billion through a seven-year social bond, its first euro issuance of 2026. Driven by strong demand from institutional investors, this operation will finance social projects in African member countries, particularly in infrastructure, health, education, and social inclusion. The African Development Bank (AfDB) raised €1.25 billion in international capital markets […]

The union of agents at the Autonomous Port of Lomé has filed a three-day strike notice, scheduled from June 25 to June 27, 2026, to protest against the non-fulfillment of its social demands. If this action proceeds, it could disrupt the operations of a strategic port for Togo and several landlocked countries in the sub-region. […]

The Beninese customs administration is embarking on a major strategic turning point. Appointed on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in a Council of Ministers by President Romuald Wadagni, Colonel Raouf Malèhossou Aboudou officially took up his duties on Monday, June 8, 2026. The handover ceremony took place at the headquarters of the General Directorate of Customs […]