Last week, Fitch Ratings confirmed the long-term “B” credit rating from the ECOWAS Investment and Development Bank (BIDC).

L'agence de notation Fitch Ratings warned of the potential challenges associated with announced withdrawal of some member countries, those of the new Alliance of Sahel States (AES) of ECOWAS. Fitch says that around half of the BIDC's loans are granted to sovereigns, none of whom were in default, was decisive in improving the average rating of the loan portfolio. The agency also mentioned in its report that “the average rating of the loan portfolio was” B-” at the end of 2023, unchanged compared to 2022. Around half of the loans are granted to sovereigns, all performing well at the end of 2023. The status of preferred creditor of the BIDC on its sovereign exposures leads to a further improvement in the average credit rating of the loan portfolio to “B