West Africa

Shipping company MSC suspends Mali service over fuel and security concerns

MSC, a Swiss transport company, has announced that it will no longer accept bookings for Mali because of security concerns and a fuel shortage caused by a blockade imposed on the country by militants linked to al Qaeda. The Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin's (JNIM's) two-month-old blockade of fuel on the landlocked West African nation has almost paralysed Bamako's capital. The group attacked fuel tankers trying to reach Bamako. This was a blow to the military-led regime and raised fears that the jihadists could try to establish their rule. MSC posted a statement on its website Thursday stating that road transport
Transport Infrastructure

CMA CGM abandons plans to stop Mali shipments due to safety and fuel concerns
CMA CGM suspends Mali shipments due to safety concerns and fuel shortage

CMA CGM announced that it had suspended all cargo shipments from Mali. The French group also said road transport was experiencing difficulties due to safety issues and fuel shortages. Early in September, the al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin announced a ban on fuel imports into this landlocked West African nation. Since then, the group has attacked convoys that were trying to enter the country and reach Bamako. CMA CGM India's website said Wednesday that road shipments from Mali have been suspended until further notice. The group issued a statement saying that it would not accept new bookings of
Transport Infrastructure

As of October 19, the arrivals of cocoa from Ivory Coast in 2025/26 are down by 31.6%.
Sources say that high prices and poor quality are causing Ivory Coast cocoa sales to be slowed down.

Cocoa sales in Ivory Coast halted at the beginning of the 2025/26 harvest season due to a record farmgate prices and low-quality stocks, according to industry sources. On October 1, the top cocoa producer in the world raised its guaranteed price by state to 5,05 CFA francs per kilogram. This was a level that traders said was unusually high. Sources said that the increase in exporters' costs has led them to stop providing funds to buyers for purchases. A Lebanese customer based at the port of San Pedro in the southwest said, "This year no funding was provided as it
West Africa

Ivory Coast President Ouattara hopes to ride the economic boom into a fourth term

Alassane Ouattara had a long road to become president of the Ivory Coast. It included two elections where he was disqualified and a brutal civil war in 2010-11, sparked by his predecessor refusing to leave office. Since he assumed the top position in 2011, he has won landslide elections in 2015 and 2020. The 83-year old former international banker hopes that he can repeat the feat for the third time and possibly the final one when West Africa's largest cocoa producer votes on October 25, 2010. Ouattara’s supporters claim that his victory at the polls reflects the satisfaction of voters
Sources say that CNPC continues to keep oil flowing in Niger despite ongoing negotiations to resolve disputes.

Transport Infrastructure

As Commonwealth promises stall, coastal surges sweep away Nigerian coastal communities

In June, a tsunami swept through Apakin village, one of Lagos’ last indigenous coastal communities. It washed away fishing nets, boats and graves. The rising seas are destroying the livelihoods and homes of 3,000 people in the village of Apakin. Abimbola iyowun, the local chief, said that despite the support of Commonwealth leaders, the worsening ocean waves have left this centuries-old community powerless. Residents fear their ancestral land will soon be lost in the sea. We only have two graves from my father's family left. We've tried to move them but haven't been able to find a place to do...

Transport Infrastructure

Exporters' association reports that Ivory Coast cocoa fell 31.2% in July compared to the same period last year.

The Ivory Coast cocoa grinding fell 31.2% on an annual basis in July, to 39,301 metric tonnes, according to data released by the exporters' association GEPEX. Grinders cited poor bean quality and low quantities of the mid-crop. From the beginning of the season 2024/25 in October to the end of July, the total grind of cocoa beans was 515,055 tonnes, a 4% decrease from the same period the previous season. The director of a San Pedro-based international grinding company said that the "quality of the beans" was the main reason for the dramatic drop in July's grinding this year. They...

Transport Infrastructure

African Development Bank will lead efforts to raise $7.8 billion for new Ethiopian Airport

The African Development Bank said it will lead the charge in raising $7.8 billion to build a new Ethiopian airport. The airport, when completed in 2029 will be the largest on the continent and have a capacity of 100 million passengers per year. The African Development Bank said late Thursday that the appointment of its lead arranger was a reflection of its role as a catalyst in the advancement and development strategic infrastructure on the continent, and its demonstrated leadership in structuring complicated transactions. State-owned Ethiopian Airlines has signed an agreement to design the four-runway Airport near Bishoftu. This is...

Transport Infrastructure

Lawyer for Greek owner of cocaine-loaded ship seized in 2023 says that he denies the charges

His lawyer stated on Friday that the former Greek owner of a cargo vessel, which was seized by Spain 2023 after it was found to have carried more than four tonnes of cocaine and coffee beans from Latin America into Europe, denied any connection to drugs. The Spanish authorities found cocaine worth approximately $200 million aboard the Blume vessel, which was then Greek-operated and Togo-flagged, when they intercepted it in January 2023 off the Canary Islands. This was one of Spain's largest cocaine hauls for that year. The crew was arrested and Blume, the ship that had left Brazil to...

Transport Infrastructure

Three Greeks arrested over ship loaded with cocaine seized by Spain 2023

Three people with knowledge of the investigation confirmed on Thursday that Greece had arrested three individuals linked to a cargo vessel seized in 2023 by Spanish authorities near the Canary Islands for transporting more than 4.5 tonnes of cocaine from Latin America into Europe. Blume (a Togo-flagged vessel operated by Greece) had arrived from Brazil with a cargo of 200 tonnes, which was far less than its capacity. This raised suspicions. The Spanish authorities seized the drugs, worth hundreds of millions, and arrested the entire crew on January 18, 2023. They then took the ship to Santa Cruz, Tenerife, where...

Transport Infrastructure

Nigeria secures $747-million Deutsche Bank-led syndicated loan for coastal highway

The Nigerian Finance Ministry announced on Thursday that the country has received a $747-million syndicated loan led by Deutsche Bank to fund the construction of the 700-km (435 miles) first phase of the planned coastal highway project. Mohammad Manga, spokesperson for the Finance Ministry, said that the loan was the first of this size in Nigeria. The syndicate includes First Abu Dhabi Bank as the global coordinator, African Export-Import Bank (AEIB), Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEO), ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (ECOWAS Bank) and Zenith Bank. Manga reported that the first section of the highway to be financed with...

Transport Infrastructure

Cocoa grinders cut their purchases in Ivory Coast by 20 percent as margins contract

Sources from the industry said that cocoa grinders have cut their purchases of cocoa beans by 20% in Ivory Coast since January due to shrinking margins caused by a surge in global prices. Exporters and grinders have told us that the drop in cocoa production has also affected processing volumes. This has increased competition between exporters, processors and blenders. Five Ivory Coast grinders and eight Ivory Coast exporters claim that the beans of the current mid-crop are lower quality with less fat and butter, which prevents factories from operating at full capacity. The processors now only buy what they need...

Transport Infrastructure

Cocoa grinders cut their purchases in Ivory Coast by 20 percent as margins contract

Ivory Coast targets 50% cocoa production locally within two years

The head of the national regulator announced that Ivory Coast will increase its domestic cocoa production to 50% within two years. This is up from the current 42%, he said. Yves Brahima Kone, the managing director of Ivory Coast’s Coffee and Cocoa Council, said that cocoa processing was essential to boost local industry and support economic growth. Kone, who spoke at the opening of the Abidjan plant in Abidjan, the commercial capital of Ivory Coast's country, said that the Ivory Coast has invested to boost the domestic industry. He said that five plants will be completed and operational in two...

Ivory Coast cocoa imports are below exporter expectations, says regulator

Yves Brahima Kone said that cocoa arrivals in ports of Ivory Coast, the top producer, reached 1,540 million metric tonnes at the end May. This compares to exporters' estimated 1.624 millions tons for the same time period. Exporters reported that last month the quality of cocoa was low and buyers refused to buy more beans, resulting in low volume. Six exporters said that although some trucks carrying poor-quality cocoa were returned by exporters, their beans were still recorded in the records. This explains the 5% discrepancy between the figures supplied by the regulator and those of exporters. This is a...

Panama removes more than 650 vessels from its registry amid sanctions and stricter rules

Panama's Maritime Authority said that it has removed more than 650 ships from its registry since 2019, as part of a campaign to comply with U.S. sanction and enforce stricter regulations for the vessels it flags. The authority said that since last year, 214 ships have been removed from Panama's register, which is among the largest in the world with over 8,500 vessels. Once removed from the registry, ships cannot sail under Panamanian flag. Panama has responded to criticism from non-governmental group United Against Nuclear Iran. UANI, which said last week that Panama had taken insufficient action against sanction violations...

Poor bean quality is a problem for weekly cocoa deliveries in Ivory Coast

Exporters estimate that cocoa arrivals in ports of Ivory Coast, the top producer, had reached 1,582 million metric tonnes by May 18 compared to 1.437 millions tons a year ago. The weekly arrivals in the two major ports of the country between May 12 and 18 were down sharply compared to the same period the previous season. This drop was attributed by buyers to the fact that they rejected more beans due poor quality. Between May 12 and 18, approximately 7,000 tons of bean were delivered to Abidjan and 15,000 to San Pedro, for a total 22,000 tons. This is...

Ivory Coast Port Operator to invest in inland logistic

Africa Global Logistics, the company that operates Ivory Coast’s main port plans to invest more than 60 million euros ($67million) in inland logistic over the next five year to enhance its position as a gateway and transport hub for landlocked West African countries. Regional Director Asta Rosa Cisse said that the company intends to develop dry warehouses with cooling facilities and establish operational hubs throughout Ivory Coast. Africa Global Logistics, which operates Abidjan, the main port of Ivory Coast - the world's largest cocoa and cashew producers - also handles shipments from and to landlocked neighbours Burkina Faso, and Mali....

Passenger Transportation Services

Mali files ICJ complaint against Algeria for downing drone near border

The Mali Ministry of Territorial Administration announced on Thursday that the transitional government of Mali has filed a complaint against Algeria before the International Court of Justice accusing it of aggression after its neighbour shot down a Malian reconnaissance drone. Mali claimed that Algeria intentionally shot down its drone near Tinzaouaten, in Mali's Kidal Region, during the night between March 31 and April 1, near their shared desert frontier. The statement said: "This blatant attack, which the Malian government strongly condemns and was intended to hinder the neutralisation by the Malian Armed and Security Forces of armed terrorists, is the...