[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"layout-categories":3,"layout-countries":36,"layout-hot-news":53,"news-article:african-banks-are-outpacing-global-competitors-as-the-continents-financial-systems-deepen":54,"news-last-updates:71":111,"news-related:71":244,"news-comments:71":303},[4,12,19,25,30],{"id":5,"title":6,"fullTitle":6,"description":7,"icon":8,"alias":9,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},5,"Sustainability","Climate action, conservation, and green initiatives shaping the region's future.",null,"sustainability","",false,{"id":13,"title":14,"fullTitle":15,"description":16,"icon":8,"alias":17,"color":18,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},1,"Cooperation","International Cooperation & Partnerships","Coverage of partnerships, international relations, and collaborative initiatives","cooperation","#669c35",{"id":20,"title":21,"fullTitle":22,"description":23,"icon":8,"alias":24,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},4,"Politics","Politics & Conflict","Diplomatic affairs, regional tensions, and political developments in and around Tanzania.","politics",{"id":26,"title":27,"fullTitle":27,"description":28,"icon":8,"alias":29,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},3,"Business","Trade, investment, and economic cooperation between Tanzania and its neighbors.","business",{"id":31,"title":32,"fullTitle":32,"description":33,"icon":8,"alias":34,"color":35,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},2,"Tech & Innovation","Digital transformation, startups, and tech solutions driving change in East Africa.","tech-and-innovation","#f5ec00",[37,40,43,46,50],{"id":26,"title":38,"alias":39},"Kenya","kenya",{"id":20,"title":41,"alias":42},"Rwanda","rwanda",{"id":5,"title":44,"alias":45},"Uganda","uganda",{"id":47,"title":48,"alias":49},6,"Zambia","zambia",{"id":31,"title":51,"alias":52},"DR Congo","dr-congo",[],{"id":55,"title":56,"alias":57,"publishedAt":58,"description":59,"previewImage":60,"author":61,"sections":64,"tags":87,"relatedTags":100,"categories":101,"countryCategories":103,"relatedPosts":104,"nextArticle":105,"likesCount":76,"isLiked":11,"isCommentsEnabled":109,"commentsCount":76,"views":110,"readingTime":20},71,"African banks are outpacing global competitors as the continent's financial systems deepen","african-banks-are-outpacing-global-competitors-as-the-continents-financial-systems-deepen","15-06-2026 11:30","\u003Cp>African banks are demonstrating some of the highest returns in global finance, as profitability growth spreads across key markets. These gains reflect deepening financial penetration, but increasingly point to the need to translate high returns into long-term efficiency, digital scale, and increased access to credit.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F13\u002F0rfHFe9fIVncGT3tYmnIldLq5xrkEjC45WSTAqmb.webp",[62],{"id":31,"name":63,"avatarPath":8,"about":8},"Rukia Rashid",[65,77],{"id":66,"type":67,"data":71,"order":76},139,{"title":68,"value":69,"shortName":70},"Gallery",7,"GALLERY",{"gallery":72},[73],{"fileId":74,"filePath":75,"title":8},138,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost_section\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F13\u002F1NE6aP4EQISWqS9o9jSIzGwP7IRzzSDkDxVJ8sB1.webp",0,{"id":78,"type":79,"data":82,"order":13},140,{"title":80,"value":13,"shortName":81},"Text editor","TEXT_EDITOR",{"content":83,"additionalAlignment":84},"\u003Cp>African banks are generating higher profits than businesses in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, as the continent's financial systems become more deeply integrated into economic activities. This trend is strengthening Africa's position in global finance and creating a larger pool of capital for lending, payments, business expansion, and financial inclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>According to the latest McKinsey review of the African banking sector, African banks achieved a return on equity (ROE) of 19% in 2024, the highest among all major banking regions in the world. Latin America followed with 16.3%, while the Middle East achieved 13.6%. Europe had a ROE of 10.9%, North America had 10.3%, Asia (excluding China) had 9.3%, and China had 8.7%. The figures show that the African banking sector is becoming one of the most efficient segments of the global financial industry.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>In South Africa, Standard Bank reported a 11% increase in core earnings in 2025, driven by growth in fee income, trading activities, and a decrease in credit losses. Capitec, one of the country's fastest-growing lenders, recorded a 23% increase in annual earnings, driven by an increase in interest income.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>In East Africa, the Kenyan KCB Group reported a 15% increase in pre-tax profits in the first quarter of 2026, while Equity Group saw a 52% increase in pre-tax profits for the entire year of 2025, reflecting steady growth in lending, transaction volumes, and digital financial services. These results indicate that the banking sector remains strong in many markets, despite uneven economic conditions and ongoing currency volatility in some countries. At the continental level, this trend is becoming increasingly evident.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>According to McKinsey, African banks' revenues will exceed $100 billion for the first time in 2025, reaching approximately $107 billion. These figures indicate that banking is increasingly becoming one of the sectors driving economic expansion by mobilizing capital, supporting payments, and providing financial services to a growing customer base. The growth trend in the continent's banking sector is primarily evident in its largest economies.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>In Kenya, banks are increasingly using transaction data generated by mobile payment platforms to support lending and customer acquisition. The country's six largest banks reported higher-than-average returns on equity in 2024. Nigeria's banking sector remains profitable despite significant currency reforms and macroeconomic volatility, while Morocco continues to improve the efficiency and quality of digital services in its highly concentrated banking market.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>In addition to the largest economies, countries such as Tanzania and Cote d'Ivoire are experiencing some of the highest growth rates in the banking sector on the continent, indicating that financial deepening is expanding beyond traditional banking centers. This expansion is also changing the role of banks in the African economy.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>According to McKinsey, Africa has become one of the few major regions where financial sector revenues increased as a share of GDP between 2020 and 2024. The continent recorded a growth of 0.4%, while North America, China, and the Middle East experienced declines. These data suggest that banking activities are becoming increasingly integrated into the continent's economic landscape.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>At the same time, banks are becoming less dependent on traditional lending. Commission revenues from payments, cards, insurance, and transaction services grew faster than interest revenues between 2020 and 2024. Payments, in particular, have become one of the fastest-growing business areas as digital finance expands in African markets.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Recent developments show that governments, regulators, and development institutions are trying to capitalize on this momentum. In early June 2026, the African Development Bank announced a $125 million investment in ATIDI (African Trade and Investment Development Insurance) to help unlock institutional capital held by African pension funds, insurers, and sovereign wealth funds. In several markets, regulators are increasing capital requirements and encouraging consolidation to create larger and more resilient banking institutions that can finance economic growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>However, the report also highlights a challenge that could determine whether current performance can be maintained. While African banks are leading the world in terms of profitability growth, they remain less efficient than many global counterparts. The continent's «cost-to-assets» ratio was 2.6% in 2024, double the global average of 1.3%. This ratio has remained relatively unchanged since 2020, despite four years of strong revenue growth. This means that a significant portion of the recent surge in profitability was driven by favorable conditions, including high interest rates and currency revaluation, rather than a significant increase in operational efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"title":85,"value":86},"Align Left","left",[88,92,96],{"id":89,"title":90,"alias":91,"is_current":11},13,"Economy","economy",{"id":93,"title":94,"alias":95,"is_current":11},47,"Regional development","regional-development",{"id":97,"title":98,"alias":99,"is_current":11},30,"Reforms","reforms",[],[102],{"id":26,"title":27,"fullTitle":27,"description":28,"icon":8,"alias":29,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[],[],{"id":106,"title":107,"slug":108},70,"The African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the WHO are launching a joint plan to combat the Ebola virus on the African continent","the-african-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-africa-cdc-and-the-who-are-launching-a-joint-plan-to-combat-the-ebola-virus-on-the-african-continent",true,418,[112,137,162,184,207,227],{"id":113,"title":114,"alias":115,"description":116,"publishedAt":117,"previewImage":118,"views":119,"tags":120,"categories":133,"countryCategories":135,"relatedPosts":-1},82,"The impact of the US-Iran agreement on fuel prices in East Africa","the-impact-of-the-us-iran-agreement-on-fuel-prices-in-east-africa","\u003Cp>The recent peace agreement between the United States and Iran has brought a new wave of optimism to global oil markets, which will directly affect the cost of fuel in Kenya. Here, households and transportation companies face high energy costs.\u003C\u002Fp>","20-06-2026 15:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F18\u002Fg9CtoAE6hFPI6aoTubSlE3nZkMYJHzPxdpZL11qW.webp",420,[121,124,128,132],{"id":69,"title":122,"alias":123,"is_current":11},"Republic of Kenya","republic-of-kenya",{"id":125,"title":126,"alias":127,"is_current":11},36,"Safety","safety",{"id":129,"title":130,"alias":131,"is_current":11},39,"Mineral resources","mineral-resources",{"id":93,"title":94,"alias":95,"is_current":11},[134],{"id":5,"title":6,"fullTitle":6,"description":7,"icon":8,"alias":9,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[136],{"id":26,"title":38,"alias":39},{"id":138,"title":139,"alias":140,"description":141,"publishedAt":142,"previewImage":143,"views":144,"tags":145,"categories":158,"countryCategories":160,"relatedPosts":-1},81,"DR Congo Geological Survey launches ambitious research program","dr-congo-geological-survey-launches-ambitious-research-program","\u003Cp>Head of the National Geological Survey of the Congo Raul Vasenga Vitima presented large-scale geological projects that are currently funded by the State of the Congo. These initiatives aim to identify new mineral deposits that will help support the global transition to sustainable energy sources while providing jobs for local residents.\u003C\u002Fp>","20-06-2026 11:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F18\u002Ft60pasHscPNnKa6onXxD1xFWjTm91N83ibWWFkw0.webp",456,[146,150,153,154],{"id":147,"title":148,"alias":149,"is_current":11},9,"Democratic Republic of the Congo","democratic-republic-of-the-congo",{"id":13,"title":151,"alias":152,"is_current":11},"Climate Resilience","climate-resilience",{"id":93,"title":94,"alias":95,"is_current":11},{"id":155,"title":156,"alias":157,"is_current":11},27,"Energy industries","energy-industries",[159],{"id":20,"title":21,"fullTitle":22,"description":23,"icon":8,"alias":24,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[161],{"id":31,"title":51,"alias":52},{"id":163,"title":164,"alias":165,"description":166,"publishedAt":167,"previewImage":168,"views":169,"tags":170,"categories":180,"countryCategories":182,"relatedPosts":-1},80,"Rhino Ark demands to stop the construction of an airstrip in the forest","rhino-ark-demands-to-stop-the-construction-of-an-airstrip-in-the-forest","\u003Cp>The Rhino Ark Kenya charitable organization has expressed disagreement with the ongoing construction of an airstrip inside the Upper Imenti Forest Reserve and appealed to the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEMA) to immediately stop all work until all environmental regulations are fully complied with and public discussions are held.\u003C\u002Fp>","19-06-2026 15:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F18\u002FHQrlkymdOFaUAnux4zGpxp026Wtt8gona8h1Nv2D.webp",495,[171,172,176],{"id":69,"title":122,"alias":123,"is_current":11},{"id":173,"title":174,"alias":175,"is_current":11},23,"Infrastructure projects","infrastructure-projects",{"id":177,"title":178,"alias":179,"is_current":11},31,"Environmental policy","environmental-policy",[181],{"id":20,"title":21,"fullTitle":22,"description":23,"icon":8,"alias":24,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[183],{"id":26,"title":38,"alias":39},{"id":185,"title":186,"alias":187,"description":188,"publishedAt":189,"previewImage":190,"views":191,"tags":192,"categories":203,"countryCategories":205,"relatedPosts":-1},79,"Kenya and the UAE are building Africa's digital future","kenya-and-the-uae-are-building-africas-digital-future","\u003Cp>The recently concluded AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya forum, held in Nairobi, brought together over 15,000 participants, which confirmed that the achievements of Kenya and Africa in the field of artificial intelligence and digital technologies are already part of today, and not a distant prospect.\u003C\u002Fp>","19-06-2026 11:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F18\u002Fw6AHwwU3YGy0v7XtmnvBpwSOIvxNkHI5VP7eYiUo.webp",367,[193,194,198,202],{"id":69,"title":122,"alias":123,"is_current":11},{"id":195,"title":196,"alias":197,"is_current":11},35,"Information security","information-security",{"id":199,"title":200,"alias":201,"is_current":11},34,"Digitalization","digitalization",{"id":93,"title":94,"alias":95,"is_current":11},[204],{"id":31,"title":32,"fullTitle":32,"description":33,"icon":8,"alias":34,"color":35,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[206],{"id":26,"title":38,"alias":39},{"id":208,"title":209,"alias":210,"description":211,"publishedAt":212,"previewImage":213,"views":214,"tags":215,"categories":224,"countryCategories":226,"relatedPosts":-1},78,"The global monetary order is entering a period of historical transition","the-global-monetary-order-is-entering-a-period-of-historical-transition","\u003Cp>An imperceptible revolution is taking place at the heart of the global financial system. Countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America are actively working to reduce their dependence on the traditional dollar-based financial structure. This could lead to one of the most significant transformations of the international monetary system since the collapse of the Bretton Woods Agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>","18-06-2026 15:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F18\u002Fb8QAhBmwzGd0mfnwPOB5U5irmzj46kl0n4VquhKF.webp",368,[216,217,218,221],{"id":89,"title":90,"alias":91,"is_current":11},{"id":93,"title":94,"alias":95,"is_current":11},{"id":26,"title":219,"alias":220,"is_current":11},"Investment","investment",{"id":20,"title":222,"alias":223,"is_current":11},"Partners","partners",[225],{"id":13,"title":14,"fullTitle":15,"description":16,"icon":8,"alias":17,"color":18,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[],{"id":228,"title":229,"alias":230,"description":231,"publishedAt":232,"previewImage":233,"views":234,"tags":235,"categories":240,"countryCategories":242,"relatedPosts":-1},77,"NEMA has ordered two facilities in Nairobi to comply with environmental regulations","nema-has-ordered-two-facilities-in-nairobi-to-comply-with-environmental-regulations","\u003Cp>The National Environmental Protection Agency (NEMA) has sent notices of improvement to two facilities in the Nairobi and Kaiole industrial zones following scheduled inspections.\u003C\u002Fp>","18-06-2026 11:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F15\u002FK9mhn1OWAnjWprBfQ6a58KFipjDVgnV1Pu5XHf0O.webp",431,[236,237,238,239],{"id":177,"title":178,"alias":179,"is_current":11},{"id":173,"title":174,"alias":175,"is_current":11},{"id":93,"title":94,"alias":95,"is_current":11},{"id":89,"title":90,"alias":91,"is_current":11},[241],{"id":5,"title":6,"fullTitle":6,"description":7,"icon":8,"alias":9,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[243],{"id":26,"title":38,"alias":39},[245,265,281],{"id":246,"title":247,"alias":248,"description":249,"publishedAt":250,"previewImage":251,"views":252,"tags":253,"categories":261,"countryCategories":263,"relatedPosts":-1},73,"In Kenya, contracts are being terminated and contractors are being blacklisted for delaying the implementation of water projects by 45.5 billion kenyan shillings","in-kenya-contracts-are-being-terminated-and-contractors-are-being-blacklisted-for-delaying-the-implementation-of-water-projects-by-455-billion-kenyan-shillings","\u003Cp>Members of the Kenyan Parliament have ordered the government to terminate contracts and blacklist contractors responsible for delaying the implementation of a multi-billion-dollar water and sanitation program that covers dozens of cities across the country.\u003C\u002Fp>","15-06-2026 15:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F13\u002FqL0PJS7y9uRttQdclIMoRwVSWkTWcemUMKtYT8eY.webp",419,[254,255,259,260],{"id":69,"title":122,"alias":123,"is_current":11},{"id":256,"title":257,"alias":258,"is_current":11},18,"Environment","environment",{"id":89,"title":90,"alias":91,"is_current":11},{"id":93,"title":94,"alias":95,"is_current":11},[262],{"id":5,"title":6,"fullTitle":6,"description":7,"icon":8,"alias":9,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[264],{"id":26,"title":38,"alias":39},{"id":106,"title":107,"alias":108,"description":266,"publishedAt":267,"previewImage":268,"views":269,"tags":270,"categories":278,"countryCategories":280,"relatedPosts":-1},"\u003Cp>The African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched a joint preparedness and response plan for the African continent in response to the ongoing Ebola virus disease (Bunyabugyo strain) outbreak. The plan aims to mobilize $518 million to support African countries and their partners in preparedness, rapid detection, and response to the epidemic.\u003C\u002Fp>","14-06-2026 15:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F13\u002F7TyK6jQ8o0TQVSyLeTS7DEkphPbRFVVDSjnBwCkh.webp",425,[271,275,276,277],{"id":272,"title":273,"alias":274,"is_current":11},33,"Healthcare","healthcare",{"id":93,"title":94,"alias":95,"is_current":11},{"id":97,"title":98,"alias":99,"is_current":11},{"id":20,"title":222,"alias":223,"is_current":11},[279],{"id":20,"title":21,"fullTitle":22,"description":23,"icon":8,"alias":24,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[],{"id":282,"title":283,"alias":284,"description":285,"publishedAt":286,"previewImage":287,"views":288,"tags":289,"categories":299,"countryCategories":302,"relatedPosts":-1},17,"Lessons for Zanzibar: Implementing investor-friendly reforms using the examples of Rwanda and Mauritius","lessons-for-zanzibar-implementing-investor-friendly-reforms-using-the-examples-of-rwanda-and-mauritius","\u003Cp>The investment landscape of Zanzibar has undergone significant changes over the past five years. The archipelago, which has long been famous for its cultural heritage and pristine beaches, is now becoming an important player in the global economy. According to the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority, by the beginning of 2026, the total volume of registered investments in 1,351 projects exceeded $14.4 billion (approximately 37.4 trillion shillings).\u003C\u002Fp>","15-05-2026 17:45","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F05\u002F15\u002FxzXWeG11yUeZKKPPTWtFKyVJJYDZvrR8aZUMSSDo.webp",487,[290,291,292,295],{"id":26,"title":219,"alias":220,"is_current":11},{"id":89,"title":90,"alias":91,"is_current":11},{"id":5,"title":293,"alias":294,"is_current":11},"Projects","projects",{"id":296,"title":297,"alias":298,"is_current":11},10,"Republic of Rwanda","republic-of-rwanda",[300,301],{"id":13,"title":14,"fullTitle":15,"description":16,"icon":8,"alias":17,"color":18,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},{"id":26,"title":27,"fullTitle":27,"description":28,"icon":8,"alias":29,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[],[]]