The 'tuna bond' scandal, donor suspensions, a sharp rise in inflation rates and slower economic growth have made for a difficult operating environment for Mozambique's banks in the past couple of years. However, Peter Wise discovers a sector where optimism very much prevails. 

Mozambique is slowly advancing towards financial stability following a period of scandal and currency depreciation. Now it must find the money, and the partners, to help it exploit its abundant gas reserves, writes Peter Wise.

Africa’s Tripartite Free Trade Area would reduce regional tariffs and create a pan-African single market, to aid development and cash in on a growing middle class in the continent. But with member countries often belonging to multiple economic areas, progress is both complex and slow, as Kit Gillet reports.

For the past two years, Mauritius’s central bank has fostered measures to fortify the country's banking sector, which accounts for 12% of its GDP. While reforms are paying off, challenges such as offshore business risk persist and need to be managed, as central bank governor Rameswurlall Basant Roi tells James King.

Careful cost management and diversification have yielded solid profits for Mauritius’s banks. And with the government now focusing on SMEs, many banks are now developing their services for this sector while also expanding their footprint abroad. James King reports.

The Stock Exchange of Mauritius is aiming to attract outside interest by launching a new index that lists international companies, and will soon host the first African Development Bank exchange-traded fund, CEO Sunil Benimadhu tells James King.

Despite its major business partner India renegotiating a tax agreement, and mutterings of tax haven status, Mauritius has thrived as a regional financial centre. Now it is positioning itself as the southern hemisphere’s IFC of preference. James King reports.

Political unrest, high public debt and a drop in tourism have hit Egypt’s fortunes in recent years. But as a successful $4bn debt-raising deal has shown, investor appetite is recovering. Edward Russell-Walling spoke to the team from joint lead manager Citi.

African M&A was down in 2016 from the previous year as foreign investors stayed away, with only Egypt enjoying notable activity. However, economic headwinds are likely to drive consolidation, especially among smaller regional banks, in 2017. James King reports.

Josė Filomeno dos Santos, chairman of Angola’s sovereign wealth fund, outlines how it is reducing the country’s dependence on oil in favour of infrastructure, agriculture and timber. James King reports.