A credit rating helps determine what a country pays to borrow. With the African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) launching in Mauritius in early October, Africa has an opportunity to help reshape how that risk is assessed. When droughts, floods or cyclones strike, their financial costs are reflected in a country’s credit profile. What is rarely recognised, however, is the work governments have already undertaken to reduce those risks. Investments in flood protection, early-warning systems and resilient water infrastructure typically receive little credit in sovereign ratings.

L’Union africaine s’apprête à bousculer les règles de la finance mondiale. Le 7 octobre 2026, le continent lancera officiellement à Maurice sa propre agence de notation financière, l’Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA). africa24tv.com/afrique-lua-p…

Credit where credit is due? Africa builds new financial channels to challenge the ‘Africa premium’: A continental rating agency, deeper domestic markets and new payment rails are widening Africa's financing options — but the test is… dlvr.it/TVf4CB Follow for news

12 days to go! Local context matters. Understanding market structures, regional trade and flows, and local realities helps build a fuller and more accurate picture of an economy. Africa’s realities. Africa’s perspective. Africa’s credit rating agency. #AfCRA #AfricaWeWant

Namibia backs African credit rating agency piped.video/cKAaEp85rPA?si=zhBu… #AfCRA

Discussions on strengthening Africa’s financial independence and improving governance for development with President of Seychelles Dr Patrick Herminie on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. statehouse.gov.sc/news/7273/…

13 days to go! What does “risk” really mean in a credit rating? From financial strength to governance and institutional credibility, the full picture matters. Unpack the fundamentals behind credit ratings and the #AfCRA approach. #AfCRA #APRM #CreditRatings #Africa

Review of Afreximbank’s Credit Rating Upgrades by JCR, GCR and CCXI piped.video/bH9PYOddZUI?si=zB1U… via @YouTube

The vision, the leadership, the dedication – they’ve left a legacy that will not only be remembered at #Afreximbank, but across the continent and the diaspora. At #AAM2025, delegates from across the continent shared heartfelt words of gratitude for outgoing Afreximbank President, Professor Benedict Oramah. From championing the Africa Credit Rating Agency to supporting creation of Afro Champion institutions like Lilium Capital, his leadership has transformed the African finance ecosystem. One delegate recalled how Afreximbank’s capital has grown significantly under his leadership - a testament to his steadfast vision and commitment. For many, this isn’t farewell, it’s a new beginning. As Simon Tiemtore put it, “You will be freer to unleash more of that vision to help us Africans do what we need to do, to take back our continent.” 👏🏾 A job well done. A legacy built. A future inspired. #GlobalAfrica #BuildingTheFuture #Leadership #AfricaForward

Read | African multilaterals must be given preferred creditor status if they are to fulfil their mandate of boosting economies. african.business/2025/06/qui… @afreximbank @_AfricanUnion @Prof_Mish

At #AAM2025, the message was unequivocal: Africa will not trade its financial sovereignty. In a commanding plenary session, leaders tackled a pivotal question: How can African institutions remain resilient amid tightening global finance and shifting geopolitics — and why must Preferred Creditor Status (PCS) hold? PCS is not a courtesy. It is a legal, structural, and strategic imperative. It sits at the heart of Africa’s financial architecture ensuring our institutions can raise affordable, long-term capital to deliver real impact across the continent. Key takeaways echoed with clarity and urgency: PCS guarantees certainty; making African-led finance viable and effective. Undermining it weakens the entire development ecosystem. It is backed by law; a treaty-based right, not subject to perception or preference. Challenging it is a direct affront to African legal sovereignty. Bias was exposed — Afreximbank’s downgrade, despite PCS protections, is a clear example of systemic blind spots in global credit assessments. African institutions are rising not as recipients, but as competitors. And that rise is disrupting outdated hierarchies in global finance. Real impact was shown like the Standard Gauge Railway in Tanzania, financed by Afreximbank when others turned away. That is what serving Africa looks like. Resilience goes deeper it’s not just about capital; it’s about robust governance, sound policy coordination, and legal integrity. Africa is not asking for recognition. It is asserting it. PCS must stand: not for prestige, but for the right to develop on our terms. #AfricaFinance #PreferredCreditorStatus #FinancialSovereignty #Afreximbank #InstitutionalResilience #PanAfricanLeadership #LegalFrameworks #CreditRatings #DevelopmentInstitutions #MacroeconomicPolicy #AAM2025

Plenary Session 6 at #AAM2025 explored: “Shaping Our Collective Financial Destiny” Panelists from top African financial institutions discussed how multilateral collaboration is key to the continent’s growth and resilience. #Afreximbank #GlobalAfrica #AAMFIs #AfricanFinance #BuildingTheFuture

Last week, Zambia and Ghana reclassified Afreximbank from a preferred creditor to a commercial lender. This changes the terms of Afreximbank's loans to these countries, removing its priority repayment status over other lenders. Read theconversation.com/ghana-an…

Eurobond Trap - Fact #3: Political Pressure and Poor Timing of Bond Issuance African governments often issue debt for political reasons rather than strategic timing, leading to rushed or poorly prepared market entries. This typically occurs when global debt costs rise, during election cycles, or amid financial strain from declining reserves.

Eurobond Trap - Fact 2: African Sovereigns Rarely Engage Investors Beyond Bond Issuances Advanced economies regularly engage investors through briefings, roadshows, and timely reports. Most African governments do not interact with bondholders in the secondary market or monitor bond performance post-issuance. This disengagement creates a feedback loop where poor market intelligence leads to high coupons on new issuances. African governments’ communication is often ad hoc and limited to new bond issuance periods, hindering investors’ ability to form informed, long-term views and resulting in a default risk premium in pricing. @LennonMonyae @APRMorg @APRM_MarieRose @Thivhunets

📚Check out our latest publication on Africa's Sovereign Credit Rating Review! It compares how ratings are applied in Africa versus other regions and offers recommendations for improving credit ratings to Credit Rating Agencies and @_AfricanUnion member states. Download here:aprm.au.int/en/documents/202…

📢 Media Alert: 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥. Join us this afternoon at 14Hrs (GMT) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a press briefing ahead of our Sovereign Credit Ratings Methodology Transparency Workshop. We will update the public on the findings of our Technical Support Mission on credit rating to Ghana and progress on the establishment of the Africa Credit Rating Agency. Representatives from APRM, @ECA_OFFICIAL , @GhanaMFA , and members of the media will attend. Stay tuned for updates! #AfCRA