Africa is undergoing one of the fastest financial inclusion shifts in the world, driven not by traditional physical banks, but by digital rails such as mobile money, fintech wallets, and low-cost digital payments.

Despite a turbulent global environment, Africa’s financial markets are showing signs of resilience and reform, according to the Africa Financial Markets Index (AFMI). Countries such as Uganda and Rwanda advanced through fintech-friendly regulation and market modernization. At the same time, South Africa, Mauritius, and Nigeria maintained their lead thanks to strong institutional frameworks and deeper capital markets.

Africa holds an estimated US$4 trillion in untapped domestic capital, yet much of it remains locked in low-yield assets rather than fueling transformative investments—what the United Bank for Africa (UBA) describes as a “systematic misallocation” of financial resources.

Stablecoins are digital currencies pegged to stable assets such as the U.S. dollar, a local currency, or commodities, designed to minimize volatility and preserve value. Across sub-Saharan Africa, their use is expanding rapidly, with on-chain transaction volumes up roughly 52% year-on-year.

Africa’s connectivity landscape is undergoing a major transformation as new subsea fibre-optic cables (high-capacity internet cables laid on the ocean floor) expand digital access across the continent. Google plans to build four digital infrastructure hubs in the north, west, east, and south to connect its latest underwater systems, including the Equiano and Umoja cables.

Africa stands at the center of a global supply shift, holding about 30% of the world’s critical mineral reserves, including lithium,...

Africa’s presence in outer space is gaining real momentum. As of mid-2025, 18 African countries have launched 67 satellites, including 11...

Africa is moving to establish greater ownership over how its economies are assessed globally. The African Union has announced plans to...

Africa’s sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) are quietly emerging as strategic engines of economic transformation. With over 15 active funds...

Africa’s food and agriculture sector is undergoing a transformation with enormous potential. The African Development Bank has dubbed...

# Africa's Growing Artificial Intelligence Landscape ## An Overview of AI Development in Africa Africa's artificial intelligence (AI)...

Africa’s rapid urbanization is transforming the continent, offering significant economic opportunities. In 1950, the vast majority of...

Africa’s gaming market has experienced explosive growth, reaching $1.8 billion in 2024 and expanding six times faster than the global...

Burundi is embarking on an ambitious journey to address its rising public debt, which surged by 18% to BIF 6,150.8 billion in 2023. ...

Ethiopia has officially launched its first stock exchange, the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX), marking a significant milestone in...

The African Development Bank has launched the African Green Bank Initiative, a significant step in Africa's climate finance journey....

In a landmark move, at least five African nations are collaborating on what could become the world’s first joint “debt-for-nature” swap,...

Ethiopia launched a major macroeconomic reform on July 29, 2024, signaling a significant shift in the country’s economic policy. The...

Sub-Saharan Africa’s burgeoning population, expected to double to 2 billion by 2050, presents a significant economic opportunity, but it...

The African Development Bank (AfDB) recently announced that it will allocate approximately $2 billion over the next decade to advance...