West Africa

West African economies, CFA franc, commodities, and reforms.

Markets

Fintech vs Banks: Ollo Africa’s Regional License Tests BCEAO’s Bet on Innovation

Ollo Africa, now Togo’s first fintech with a BCEAO regional banking license, can scale from 8M to over 150M customers across WAEMU. The move raises investor hopes for a valuation leap, but execution risks—credit, liquidity, and compliance—will determine if this is a breakout or a cautionary tale.

Markets

The 90-Day Problem: Will ETI’s Expo Shrink DSO and Move Tickers?

Ecobank’s Design & Build Expo matters only if ETI (NGX\:ETI) turns optics into credit: receivables to cut DSO >90 days, 5–10% SME leasing, and a \$50–100m green window. Publish guarantees, LCY lines, a 6–12-month pipeline, and KPIs—or it’s PR, not spread-tightening deal flow.

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