Author: Pascal Muyumba

Strategic Context of Brazzaville’s Industrial Turn The Republic of Congo’s leadership has long argued that sustainable industrialisation rests on what President Denis Sassou Nguesso has called “the tripod of infrastructure, skills and energy”. In Pointe-Noire, the nation’s Atlantic gateway, that rhetoric is steadily translating into bricks, mortar and, crucially, megawatts. The 10 July signing of a long-term electricity supply agreement between the Ministry of Special Economic Zones and Diversification and the private consortium operating the Pointe-Noire Special Economic Zone (SEZ) therefore lands at a pivotal juncture. The International Monetary Fund’s latest Article IV consultation observed that non-oil growth in Congo…

Strategic Timing of a Turkish Entrant When the executives of Istanbul-based Albayrak Group cut the ceremonial ribbon in Brazzaville this spring, they did more than open a new chapter in the firm’s forty-year history; they inserted Turkey’s corporate flag into the commercial arteries of Central Africa at a moment of cautious economic recovery. The International Monetary Fund estimates that Congo-Brazzaville’s non-oil growth could edge above 4 percent in 2024, provided infrastructure bottlenecks ease. Albayrak’s arrival therefore aligns with a macroeconomic window that Congolese officials have described as “propitious for partners willing to share risk as well as opportunity” (IMF country…

A Strategic Investment in African Digital Infrastructure The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has committed a substantial €370 million in loans to Maroc Telecom, aimed at fortifying the telecommunications landscape in Chad and Mali. This investment aligns with the broader strategic objectives of enhancing mobile connectivity and proliferating high-quality mobile internet across the African continent. The funds will notably facilitate the deployment of advanced 4G services, aiming to introduce faster, more reliable internet access to burgeoning populations and businesses. Enhancing Connectivity: A Priority for Maroc Telecom With over two decades of operational experience in sub-Saharan Africa, Maroc Telecom remains committed to…