The Middle East ceasefire has eased market tensions, but African investors should remain cautious. Cliff Bakashaba, Head of Investments at Jubilee Asset Management Limited, explains how geopolitical shocks continue to affect inflation, currencies, interest rates and investment performance across Africa. The article explores why long-term investors, insurers and asset managers must look beyond short-term market relief and focus on resilience, risk management and country-specific investment strategies.
Category: Finance
Finance insights covering banking, fintech, investment, financial services and market developments shaping Africa’s economy.
South Africa Risks Turning BNPL into a Credit-Exclusion Trigger without Fairer Scoring Rules
South Africa risks turning Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) into a credit exclusion trigger if scoring systems fail to properly interpret short-term instalment data. Experts warn that integrating BNPL into traditional credit models could unfairly lower credit scores for responsible borrowers, particularly younger and lower-income consumers. Regulators have paused BNPL data integration as concerns grow over financial inclusion and scoring accuracy.
Orchestrating Europe’s Shift to Instant, Data-Rich Payments
Europe’s payments ecosystem is rapidly evolving with the rise of instant payments, ISO 20022 messaging, and stricter AML and sanctions requirements. Financial institutions, payment service providers, and enterprises must now manage complex transaction flows across multiple payment rails while maintaining real-time compliance and operational resilience. Traderoot’s Unified Integration Platform (UIP) provides a single orchestration layer that unifies payment routing, compliance screening, data enrichment, reconciliation, and exception management. By enabling intelligent payment orchestration across SEPA, RTGS, instant, and cross-border networks, UIP helps organizations accelerate payments, reduce operational complexity, strengthen compliance, and scale confidently in Europe’s increasingly connected payments landscape.
Why Investors Are Looking at African Fintech Again
African fintech is regaining investor attention as the sector matures beyond venture-led growth into sustainable, revenue-generating businesses capable of attracting institutional capital. Recent IPOs by South Africa’s Optasia and Morocco’s Cash Plus, alongside expectations around Airtel Africa’s mobile money business and OPay, signal renewed confidence in African fintech’s long-term potential. With fintech revenues projected to reach $65 billion by 2030, the continent continues to benefit from rising smartphone penetration, mobile money adoption, and a young, urbanising population. Increased merger and acquisition activity, stronger local partnerships, and improved funding momentum in 2026 suggest African fintech is entering a new phase focused on scalability, profitability, and liquidity opportunities for investors.
What People Often Misunderstand About Online Loans in South Africa
Many people misunderstand how online loans work in South Africa, often expecting either a complicated bank-like process or instant, effortless approval. In reality, online lending offers a structured yet convenient experience, typically allowing users to apply within minutes using basic documentation. This article explains the most common misconceptions, how the application process actually works, and why speed and accessibility can sometimes create unrealistic expectations.
Uganda’s Forests Are Proving That Climate Finance Can Work, If The World Is Paying Attention
Uganda’s forests are emerging as a compelling example of how climate finance can deliver measurable results when backed by strong governance, credible data, and long-term policy commitment. Despite decades of deforestation driven by agriculture and energy demand, Uganda has shifted toward a coordinated national approach aligned with its REDD+ Strategy and Paris Agreement commitments. Since 2022, the country has protected approximately 2.5 million hectares through improved forest monitoring, enforcement, and sustainable land-use initiatives. With robust systems for measurement, reporting, and verification, Uganda is well positioned to benefit from emerging mechanisms like the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), which prioritizes performance-based, long-term financing. While challenges remain, Uganda’s experience demonstrates that climate finance can work at scale when transparency, accountability, and community engagement are in place.
What Africa’s Stablecoin Boom Means for its Financial System
Africa’s stablecoin market is experiencing unprecedented growth, reshaping the continent’s financial system. Stablecoins—digital assets pegged to the US dollar—are increasingly used for cross-border payments, remittances, and preserving earnings in volatile currencies. Countries like Nigeria and South Africa lead adoption, with stablecoins accounting for a growing share of cryptocurrency transactions. Integration with mobile money, wallets, and banks is driving mainstream usage, while regulators in Mauritius, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, and South Africa are establishing frameworks for virtual asset service providers. As stablecoins reduce transaction costs, enhance liquidity management, and support trade finance, they are becoming a key component of Africa’s fintech ecosystem and financial inclusion strategies.
The African diaspora: an overlooked financial powerhouse that exceeds international aid
The African diaspora has emerged as a powerful yet underrecognized financial force, sending nearly $100 billion annually to the continent—surpassing both foreign direct investment and official development assistance combined. This steady flow, equivalent to a modern-day “Marshall Plan,” plays a critical role in supporting households and stabilizing economies across Africa. However, most remittances are directed toward basic needs rather than long-term investment, limiting their transformative potential. Despite being highly educated and economically integrated, the diaspora remains largely excluded from structured development strategies. Unlocking this untapped capital through better coordination, policy frameworks, and investment channels could turn diaspora remittances into a major engine for sustainable economic growth in Africa.
How $170 Million in Credit Is Driving Financial Inclusion in Nigeria
M-KOPA has unlocked $170 million in credit in Nigeria, empowering over 1 million customers and accelerating financial inclusion across the country. Through affordable smartphone financing, flexible digital loans, and partnerships with MTN and Airtel, the fintech platform is driving income growth, supporting women’s access to formal credit, and expanding opportunity for everyday earners in Nigeria’s rapidly digitising economy.
2026 ushers in crypto tipping point for African merchants
2026 marks a crypto tipping point for African merchants as stablecoins move rapidly into the mainstream. Sub-Saharan Africa recorded over $205 billion in on-chain value between July 2024 and June 2025, with 52% year-on-year growth, making it the world’s third-fastest growing crypto market. Stablecoins now account for more than 45% of regional crypto volume, driven by cross-border trade, faster settlements, and reduced forex costs. With clearer regulation in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, and growing institutional adoption, companies like Ezeebit believe African merchants are approaching an inflection point where crypto payments shift from “if” to “when.”