Author: Victor Olayiwola

DAKAR, Senegal, March 31, 2026 Following the 150th ordinary meeting of its Board of Directors held on 25 and 26 March in Dakar, under the chairmanship of Mr. Serge EKUE, the WAMU Council of Ministers, at its meeting held on Friday 27 March, formally approved all of the institution’s strategic proposals. This dual approval confirms the Bank’s financial strength and officially launches its new 2026–2030 development cycle. The financial year ended 31 December 2025, reflects the Bank’s growing momentum, with significant growth across all key segments. Indeed, total assets stood at XOF5,363 billion compared to XOF3,893 billion at the end of…

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 31, 2026 The First Group Hospitality and MIDROC Investment Group have signed a master agreement to develop and operate 10 properties across Ethiopia, marking a significant growth of internationally branded hospitality assets in the East African country. The agreement was formalized during the Future Hospitality Summit Africa (www.FutureHospitality.com)  in Nairobi. The portfolio includes independent and Marriott-branded franchised properties in key urban and gateway destinations, including Addis Ababa, Hawassa, Bahir Dar, Jimma, Langano and Danbi. In total, the hotels are expected to deliver approximately 1,140 keys, with openings phased between 2026 and 2031. The agreement aligns with Dubai-headquartered…

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 31, 2026 CityBlue Hotels, a member of The Diar Group, Africa’s fastest-growing local hotel chain, is pleased to announce a deal with Sands of Darakasi Resort Ltd for the development and operation of Oceara Residences by CityBlue, a landmark beachfront hospitality project in Watamu, Kenya. Set on an approximately 6-acre prime beachfront site with over 130 metres of direct ocean frontage, Oceara Residences by CityBlue is envisioned as a premier coastal destination combining resort living with branded residential offerings. The development will comprise of 200+ units, including studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, supported by an extensive range…

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 31, 2026 The Diar Group in partnership with Staroot Real Estate, is pleased to announce a proposed collaboration to develop and operate Diani Residences by CityBlue, a landmark mixed-use residential and hospitality development in Diani Beach. The announcement will be unveiled at the Future Hospitality Summit Africa (www.FutureHospitality.com) taking place in Nairobi on 1 April 2026. Set on approximately five acres, the project is envisioned as a flagship lifestyle destination comprising between 400 and 500 contemporary residential units. The development will feature a thoughtfully curated mix of one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, designed to meet the evolving needs…

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 31, 2026/ –&nbspThe Coca-Cola system in South Africa, comprised of Coca-Cola (http://www.Coca-ColaCompany.com) and its authorized bottlers – Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa and Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages – today announced a planned R17.6 billion investment in South Africa through 2030. The announcement was made by Luis Felipe Avellar, president of The Coca-Cola Company’s Africa operating unit, at the sixth South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) in Johannesburg. The investment will support expanded production capacity, strengthen distribution and accelerate innovation across the Coca-Cola system’s value chain – reinforcing Coca-Cola’s confidence in the South African market and its long-term economic prospects.…

BRUSSELS, Belgium, March 31, 2026 Radisson Hotel Group (www.RadissonHotels.com) has reached a significant milestone in Africa, with more than 100 hotels across the continent in operation and under development. Radisson Blu continues to anchor the legacy footprint. At the same time, the Radisson brand is the fastest riser, supported by a strong conversion engine and a concrete pipeline that continues to translate into openings. Building on this momentum, the Group has signed over 15 new hotels and roughly 2,500 rooms in the last 12 months, including new market entries in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe. Over the past…

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 31, 2026 Wingu Africa (www.Wingu.Africa), the pioneering specialist provider of carrier-neutral, Tier III-standard data centres in East Africa, has announced the launch of the Wingu Cloud Exchange (WCX), a new private cloud platform tailored specifically for East African businesses and now available in Ethiopia. With WCX, Ethiopian organisations can keep their data securely within the country, ensuring compliance with local regulations and protecting sensitive information. For businesses, this enables faster access to services, improved operational efficiency, and reliable support through locally optimised infrastructure. Demos Kyriacou, Deputy CEO, COO and Co-founder of Wingu Africa, said, “WCX is…

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 31, 2026 The industry-wide boycott of the upcoming Africa Energies Summit will continue as the conference organizers Frontier Energy Network refuse to abandon their policy of discrimination. The Mozambique oil industry alongside petroleum ministers from the African Petroleum Producers Organization have already withdrawn from the conference, citing concerns over the treatment of Black professionals and broader local content issues. With Frontier – led by Daniel Davidson – refusing to address the company’s decision to not hire Black professionals and the continued exclusion of Black voices, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) calls on the continued boycott…

CAIRO, Egypt, March 31, 2026 African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) is pleased to announce that it has underwritten US$2.5 billion in the US$4-billion senior syndicated term loan in favour of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE (DPRP). Afreximbank and Access Bank were appointed co-Mandated Lead Arrangers for the five-year facility to consolidate existing financing, optimise its capital structure and align with the refinery’s operational status and long-term growth plan. The transaction marks a major milestone for DPRP, Africa’s largest refinery and petrochemical complex with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. The facility will enhance balance sheet flexibility, strengthen the…

Today at the FHS Nairobi (www.FutureHospitality.com/Africa) the Africa Hospitality Investors Council (AHIC), announced its creation and launch. AHIC will operate as an independent body within the EEA framework, governed by its own dedicated Board but powered by the EEA. AHIC aims to be Africa’s collective voice of capital committed to sustainable hospitality investment, ensuring Africa’s hospitality sector has a visible and credible presence in global investment dialogues. AHIC will contribute a coordinated investor perspective to policy and market dialogue, improving the conditions for long-term investment, strengthening market confidence and supporting sustained economic value creation. AHIC’s mission in the fast-growing African…