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Yango partners with Yabx and COFINA to launch In-App Digital Lending Services in Cote d’Ivoire

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Yango

The launch of the “Driver Cash Advance” service strengthens driver engagement and enhances financial accessibility for Yango’s community, contributing to an improved experience for all users

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, December 10, 2024/APO Group/ — 

In a significant partnership, Yango in Côte d’Ivoire, part of Yango Group, a global technology company that creates daily services, has teamed up with COFINA, a leading mesofinance institution in the country and Yabx (https://Yabx.co/), an embedded finance platform that builds credit profiles for thin/no file customers to introduce a Driver Cash Advance service. This is a digital loan product that will improve access to credit for many individuals and businesses. Beneficiaries will have instant access to up to XOF 300,000 (USD 500) cash advances and flexible repayment options of over two to eight weeks. This partnership is currently exclusive to Yango’s partners’ drivers, with plans to expand to consumers (riders), food delivery agents and merchants.

Speaking about the partnership’s impact, Mr. Kadotien Soro, the Country Manager of Yango in Côte d’Ivoire, underscored the importance of enabling entrepreneurs and supporting partners’ drivers to access financial assistance to grow their businesses.

‘’We are excited to partner with COFINA and Yabx to support our community. By providing this lending service to our partners’ drivers and users, we empower them to fulfill their dreams and achieve the desired results by investing in their businesses. This is a great opportunity and I entreat all beneficiaries to take advantage of it and be diligent with the utilization of these funds in order to grow’’ he said.

Yango operates in over 30 countries globally including various African countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia, Ghana, Ethiopia, RD Congo, Angola, Mozambique, Cameroon, Senegal and Namibia. With an exponentially growing user base and an industry CAGR of 5.96%- the scale of providing financial inclusion to previously underserved segments will only get wider.

Yango, one of Côte d’Ivoire’s most trusted platforms, handles millions of rides and deliveries each month through its partners. The launch of the “Driver Cash Advance” service strengthens driver engagement and enhances financial accessibility for Yango’s community, contributing to an improved experience for all users. With its broad user base of drivers and riders growing as fast as 25+% year over year, Yango offers drivers a seamless way to manage their cash-flow and handle daily expenses more efficiently.

We believe embedded lending has the potential to transform access to credit in underserved regions and contribute to a more sustainable gig economy across Africa

Yabx, a cutting-edge Lending-as-a-Service (LaaS) platform, uses AI and machine learning algorithms to analyze digital footprints and create detailed financial identities for borrowers without prior access to formal credit. By employing non-traditional methods of credit scoring and building an end-to-end loan journey on the Yango app;  Yabx enables drivers to receive cash advances in real time.  Yabx has successfully developed and implemented a diverse range of financial solutions across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. These offerings include term loans, overdrafts, microloans, handset financing, and more, tailored to drive financial inclusion and empower underserved communities.

Puneet Chopra, Chief Growth Officer at Yabx, commented, “This partnership with Yango represents a key milestone in our mission to deliver financial services tailored to emerging markets. By embedding lending directly within the Yango platform, we are removing barriers to financial access, offering users quick and convenient access to capital. We believe embedded lending has the potential to transform access to credit in underserved regions and contribute to a more sustainable gig economy across Africa.”

The COFINA Group, a leader in mesofinance in West and Central Africa, is dedicated to promoting financial inclusion by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as entrepreneurs in their development. As a partner in this innovative project, COFINA Côte d’Ivoire plays a key role in providing the necessary financing, ensuring Yango drivers have quick and simplified access to credit. With its experience and continental reach, COFINA reaffirms its commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening platform economies and contributing to inclusive economic growth in Côte d’Ivoire and beyond.

“At COFINA, we firmly believe in the power of financial inclusion and digitalization to drive innovation and support players in the digital economy. This partnership with Yango and Yabx represents a significant step forward in offering financing solutions tailored to the needs of Yango drivers. We are proud to play a role in this initiative, which paves the way for a more inclusive and resilient digital economy in Côte d’Ivoire” emphasized Mr. Amed Sié TOURE, Managing Director of COFINA Côte d’Ivoire.

The integration of data-driven lending models and AI technology in the financial sector allows for the rapid expansion of financial services without adding significant risk. This innovation not only enables drivers to access formal loans for the first time but also introduces them to a simplified, streamlined user journey aligned with the driver’s immediate needs. Through this process, individuals and little businesses, constituting the ‘missing middle’ of African ecosystems who are not the core customers of microfinance institutions or traditional banks, can be recognized as credible borrowers with legitimate credit scores.

This service is designed to enhance the financial stability of drivers, allowing them to focus on their work without financial strain. Yabx, Yango, and COFINA are proud to be leading the way in providing inclusive financial solutions and supporting the growth of a sustainable gig economy across Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Yabx.

Energy

Mauritania’s New Energy and Petroleum Minister Confirmed for MSGBC 2026

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Etu Energias

Mohamed Ould Abdel Vetah takes office as Mauritania opens power generation to private investors

DAKAR, Senegal, November 9, 2026/APO Group/ –Mohamed Ould Abdel Vetah, Mauritania’s newly appointed Minister of Energy and Petroleum, has confirmed his participation at MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 in Dakar. Minister Vetah was appointed on October 10 in a new 29-member government, having previously served as Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines from 2016 to 2020. His participation at the upcoming summit offers delegates direct engagement with the official responsible for Mauritania’s gas and power agenda as the country seeks to attract capital across its evolving energy and hydrocarbon sectors

 




  

Minister Vetah joins the event as Mauritania enters a new investment cycle anchored by efforts to scale gas monetization, incentivize exploration and open new opportunities in renewable energy and power development. The country has been an LNG exporter since early 2025, when the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project, developed jointly with Senegal, shipped its first cargo. The project is now operating at full capacity, and gas is also set to anchor domestic power supply, with national utility Somelec and state miner SNIM having signed power purchase agreements with Saudi Arabia’s TAQA and Egypt’s GoGas Holding. The agreements fit within a gas-to-power program tied to the country’s Banda field and targeted for 2028.

 

Mauritania has committed to a fully private power generation model in which independent power producers develop all new plants, with two gas-fired projects in development expected to add a combined 550 MW to the grid. Renewables are scaling in parallel, led by a 220 MW solar-wind plant with 370 MWh of battery storage, developed under a 15-year concession with Somelec and slated to begin commercial production in the final quarter of 2026.

 

Minister Vetah’s career spans Mauritania’s gas sector and regional energy cooperation. During his previous term, Mauritania and Senegal signed the GTA gas sales agreement with bp and Kosmos Energy in 2020, and before entering government he served as General Manager of state gas company SOMAGAZ and as a consultant to TotalEnergies E&P Mauritania. Most recently, he spent nearly four years as High Commissioner of the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River.

 

Regional cooperation has been an early priority for the minister, who was received in Dakar by Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on October 16 and reaffirmed his commitment to cooperation between the two countries. At MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026, Minister Vetah will speak during the event’s Ministerial Dialogue, titled ‘Executing the MSGBC Region’s Energy Strategy’ and the Mauritania National Spotlight.

Organized by Energy Capital & Power, MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 takes place December 1-3 at the Centre International de Conférences Abdou Diouf (CICAD) in Dakar under the High Patronage of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. For more information and registration, visit www.MSGBCOilGasAndPower.com.

 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

 

 




 

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DHL Global Forwarding Appoints Sascha Geiken as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Sub-Saharan Africa

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DHL Global Forwarding and MEDS sign strategic MoU to strengthen logistics and improve access to pharmaceutical products across East Africa

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, November 10, 2026/APO Group/ –DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of DHL Group, has appointed Sascha Geiken as CEO for Sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa, effective. He succeeds Egidio Monteiro and will report to Tobias Maier, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding Middle East and Africa.

 




  

Sascha Geiken previously served as Vice President Ocean Freight for Middle East and Africa at DHL Global Forwarding. He brings more than 30 years of experience in freight forwarding, having started his career in the industry in 1995. Before joining DHL Global Forwarding, he held senior leadership positions in the Middle East, including managing director roles covering several markets in the region.

Sascha knows our business and he knows this region

During his time leading Ocean Freight across Middle East and Africa, Sascha Geiken has gained extensive experience managing freight flows across a diverse and complex region. His current remit includes global trade, ocean freight trends and services, rates, capacity and trade-lane development, as well as sustainable transport. He has also worked closely on the changing trade flows connecting Africa with Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Tobias Maier, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding Middle East and Africa, said: “Sascha knows our business and he knows this region. He has spent many years working across complex markets and understands what it takes to turn growing trade flows into reliable solutions for our customers. Sub-Saharan Africa is an important growth market for us, but it is also a market where strong local execution really matters. I am very pleased to have Sascha take on this responsibility, and I am confident he will continue to move our business forward together with our teams across the region.”

On his appointment, Sascha Geiken said: “I’m very happy to take on this new role. Having worked across Middle East and Africa for many years, I know both the opportunity in Sub-Saharan Africa and the realities of moving goods across the region. Trade is growing, but our customers need more than capacity. They need reliability across the entire supply chain, from the international leg through customs and inland transport to final delivery. I look forward to working with our teams across the region and building on what is already a very strong foundation.”

The appointment comes as DHL continues to invest in the long-term growth of its business in Africa. In 2025, DHL Group announced an investment of more than €300 million in Sub-Saharan Africa to expand infrastructure and services across DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Supply Chain.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of DHL.

 

 




 

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CEM & Converge Africa bring CX and digital commerce leaders together in Sandton

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Two connected event experiences will bring senior customer experience, retail, ecommerce, marketing, technology and transformation leaders together on 10–11 November 2026, with the CEM Africa Awards taking place on the evening of 10 November

Together, the programmes give senior leaders practical insight they can take back into the business

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, November 9, 2026/APO Group/ –CEM Johannesburg Edition returns to the NH Hotel in Sandton on 10–11 November 2026, alongside Converge Africa Johannesburg on 10 November, creating a concentrated meeting point for leaders shaping customer experience and digital commerce across Africa.

 




  

Across the combined programme, delegates will move between practical workshops, peer-led panels, curated networking and business matchmaking focused on the issues now influencing customer and commercial performance: AI and automation, trust, behavioural insight, journey design, retail media, unified commerce, fulfilment, loyalty, retention and measurable business outcomes.

The co-location gives attendees access to two complementary communities. CEM Johannesburg Edition focuses on customer experience strategy, service, technology and transformation, while Converge Africa Johannesburg brings a sharper retail and digital commerce lens to how customers discover, buy, receive, return and remain loyal.

Programme highlights:

  • The Trust Problem: Can Customers Trust an Experience They Can’t See?
  • Designing for How Customers Feel
  • Authenticity in AI: From Conversation to Completion Without Losing the Human Touch
  • The Customer Doesn’t See Your Org Chart: Why Marketing & CX Must Collaborate
  • From Contact Centre to Experience Centre: The Human + AI Workforce
  • Retail Is Being Rewritten: The New Rules of How Consumers Discover, Shop & Belong
  • Retail Media: Turning Customer Attention Into a New Revenue Stream
  • Unified Commerce: One Customer, One Stock Pool, One Connected Experience
  • Black Friday From Discovery to Doorstep: Can Retail Deliver on the Customer Promise?
  • AI That Actually Works: From Retail Hype to Measurable Results
  • Loyalty, Retention & the Post-Purchase Experience: From Transaction to Lifetime Value

Day two of CEM Johannesburg Edition continues the discussion with sessions examining how Africa’s best brands turn CX into trust, loyalty and growth, the changing future customer, experience intelligence, and how WhatsApp can move beyond conversation to completed customer outcomes.

Confirmed voices from across CX, retail and digital commerce

The programme brings together senior practitioners, consultants and technology leaders from across the customer and commerce ecosystem. Confirmed speakers and workshop leaders include:

  • Gedeon Rossouw – Head of Client Care (Principal/Director), Absa
  • Tatiana Ndlovu – Executive Head: Marketing, Nedbank Africa Regions
  • Julia Ahlfeldt – Customer Experience Strategist and Business Advisor, Julia Ahlfeldt CX
  • Debi Potgieter – CEO & Founder, XMwize Solutions
  • Joven Pillay – EMEA Customer Consulting Leader, KPMG South Africa
  • Christopher Baird – Head of Ecommerce (Southern Hemisphere), G-STAR
  • Adrian Naidoo – Senior HOD: Commercial, Retail Media, Data & Innovation, Boxer Superstores
  • Keanu Batista – Head of E-Commerce South Africa, Pernod Ricard
  • Kieara Hyman – Head of Commerce & Retail, Publicis
  • Kerry Ho-Van Rensburg – Head of Digital Marketing Operations, Pick n Pay
  • Nneka Keshi – Country Director & Africa Lead, Canva
  • Yudhvir Ranchod – Marketing Director, Peach Payments
  • Prathna Singh – Global Retail and South Africa Lead, Intent HQ

Sponsors and programme partners

CEM Johannesburg Edition sponsors:

  • Gold sponsors 1Stream, Cisco, KPMG and Microsoft
  • Silver sponsors Clickatell, QuestionPro, NPLUS, SingleInterface and Zoom
  • Innovation Sponsor XMwize Solutions
  • CX Report Sponsor Rogerwilco
  • Workshop Sponsor Smoke

Converge Africa Johannesburg programme partners: The Courier Guy features as a Diamond Sponsor and workshop partner, with DigiCommerce and Instore24 leading dedicated programme sessions focused on unified commerce and converting digital discovery into measurable in-store growth.

CEM Africa Awards to recognise Africa’s CX leaders

The CEM Africa Awards will take place on the evening of 10 November 2026 at the NH Hotel, Sandton. The 2026 awards programme has attracted 97 entries and 31 finalists, with eight awards spanning four pillars of customer excellence: People, Innovation, Transformation and Government.

Award categories include: CX Leader of the Year; Breaking Barriers in CX; Rising Star in CX; Best Overall CX Solution; Best Use of AI; Best Enterprise Contact Centre Platform; Best Customer Experience Team of the Year; Best Digital Transformation in Public Services; and Best Citizen Experience Initiative.

Among the 2026 finalists publicly announced are Rowland Ndegwa of Jubilee Insurance in the Rising Star in CX category, while LAW FOR ALL, MTN Nigeria, Equity Holdings Group and Clientèle are among the finalists for Best Customer Experience Team of the Year.

“Johannesburg brings together two communities that increasingly need to solve the same customer problem from different angles. CEM Johannesburg Edition looks at the experience, service and transformation agenda, while Converge Africa examines the commercial and operational realities of modern retail and ecommerce. Together, the programmes give senior leaders practical insight they can take back into the business.”

Terry Southam – Director Retail Portfolio

Event information

CEM Johannesburg Edition: 10–11 November 2026 | NH Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg — View details / book (https://apo-opa.co/48Jo1UK)

CEM Johannesburg Edition live programme: View the full  agenda — View details / book (https://apo-opa.co/4ix4v3N)

Converge Africa Johannesburg: 10 November 2026 | NH Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg — View details / book (https://apo-opa.co/4j6LLrS)

CEM Africa Awards: 10 November 2026 | NH Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg — View details / book (https://apo-opa.co/4zdIJqO)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

 

 




 

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