AfrexInsure, the wholly-owned Specialty Insurance Subsidiary of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has announced the appointment of Lesley Ndlovu as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 2026, replacing Jonas Mushosho. The appointment comes at a critical inflection point for AfrexInsure as it advances its mission to provide tailored specialty insurance solutions for trade and trade-related investments. As the organization builds momentum in its development, strong executive leadership is essential to guide governance, regulatory compliance, innovation, risk management, and market positioning. Lesley Ndlovu, a Zimbabwean national, brings to AfrexInsure a distinguished career spanning some of the world’s leading insurance institutions, including AXA…
Author: Montage Africa
By Rédaction Africanews The French army has begun training several African forces on environmental protection issues in Gabon, as part of a programme organised by the Academy for the Protection of the Environment and Natural Resources (APERN). The exercises form part of the reorganisation of France’s military posture in Africa, which is now increasingly focused on support and capacity-building, following Paris’s decision to dismantle its permanent military bases in the region. Over several days, participants take part in field exercises and workshops designed to tackle challenges such as illegal gold mining, deforestation, and the protection of sensitive ecosystems. The exercise…
Africa’s fintech sector is growing rapidly, with revenues projected to reach nearly $47 billion by 2028. But unless regulatory fragmentation across the continent is addressed, many of its most promising companies will struggle to scale beyond national markets. By Jean-Marie Kananura, Chief Investment Officer, Kigali International Financial Centre Africa’s fintech sector is entering a defining decade. Fintech revenues could grow from roughly $10 billion in 2023 to $47 billion by 2028, yet nearly 300 million adults remain unbanked, highlighting both the scale of the opportunity and the urgency of getting the regulatory environment right. For investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, the message…
A Belgian court has ruled that a former diplomat can stand trial in connection with the killing in 1961 of Patrice Lumumba, Congo’s first prime minister. Etienne Davignon, now 93, is accused of involvement in the unlawful detention and transfer of Lumumba and of his degrading treatment. Davignon was a trainee diplomat at the time and went on to become a vice-president of the European Commission. He is the only surviving member of the 10 Belgians accused in a criminal case brought by Lumumba’s family in 2011. The independence hero was executed by a firing squad and his body was…
By Dominic Wabwireh with other agencies Tens of thousands of Congolese refugees are enduring dire conditions at Burundi’s Busuma camp after fleeing renewed fighting in eastern DRC, with many lacking food, shelter, and information about separated family members. Esperance Sakina Hatari arrived in December 2025 from South Kivu’s Mutarule village. “We left with nothing. We came with our children, that’s all,” she told reporters. “Some of us have no food, no shelter and no blankets. We sleep on the ground, and the children are dying of cold and hunger.” Her husband remains in Congo—one of countless families separated during the…
By Rédaction Africanews and AP Mozambique’s military is under scrutiny after troops reportedly opened fire on fishermen in the country’s conflict-hit north, killing at least 13 people. The incident happened over the weekend off the coast of Mocímboa da Praia in Cabo Delgado province, an area where security forces are battling an Islamic State-linked insurgency. Local sources say navy forces targeted fishing boats early Sunday, leaving more than a dozen dead and several others injured. Witnesses describe panic at sea, with boats hit by gunfire as fishermen tried to flee. So far, there’s been no official comment from the government…
By Rédaction Africanews with AFP Suspected jihadists have attacked a village in Burkina Faso, killing at least 12 civilians, including nine members of a volunteer force supporting the army, according to local and security sources on Tuesday. The West African country, led by a military junta since a 2022 coup, has faced more than a decade of deadly violence carried out by jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group. A series of attacks targeting the army and civilian volunteer fighters (VDP) took place over the weekend in several parts of the country, a security source said. In…
By Bernard Vilakazi, Sector Specialist for Transport and Logistics at Absa Business Banking For the 2026 fiscal year, the South African government has placed transport at the centre of its recovery strategy. In his recent Budget Speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced a raft of public-sector infrastructure spending set to exceed R1 trillion, much of it directed at transport and logistics, which he described as the “foundation upon which long-term economic growth, improved service delivery and job creation are built”. Recent data indicates that over the past year, Transnet sustained improved operational performance, driven by increased rail volumes and progress in…
A Chinese man and his Kenyan associate have been charged with illegally dealing in wildlife species after they were caught trying to smuggle more than 2,000 live queen garden ants out of Kenya. Zhang Kequn was arrested at the international airport in the capital Nairobi last week after authorities discovered the large consignment of ants in his luggage –each of them either stashed in a test tube or wrapped in tissue. On Tuesday, a court in Nairobi heard that Zhang bought the ants from Charles Mwangi at 10,000 Kenyan shillings ($77; £58) for every 100 of them. Kenyan authorities have been…
Running from 7 – 9 April 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, the exhibition will showcase solutions across digital, power, transport, smart cities, waste and water infrastructure Nigeria Infrastructure Summit to convene public and private sector leaders, sharing strategic insights as the Infra360 programme provides technical knowledge West Africa Infrastructure Expo, organized by dmg events, is gearing up for its inaugural edition from 7 – 9 April 2026 at Landmark Centre in Lagos, bringing together stakeholders involved in planning, financing and delivering infrastructure projects across Nigeria and the wider West African market. The event, co-located with HVACR Nigeria, comes at a time…