A Digital Leap for West Africa’s Financial Markets.

Thursday 24th July 2025

By inAfrika Reporter

The launch of the DIGIAPE platform by the Central Depository/Settlement Bank is a landmark for West Africa’s financial ecosystem. Backed by the African Development Bank through a $400,000 grant, DIGIAPE introduces automation to the regional financial market, streamlining public offerings and improving the transparency and efficiency of securities allocation.

The platform allows real-time allocation of securities, promising a faster, more transparent, and competitive environment. By reducing settlement times and enhancing reliability, DIGIAPE not only increases investor confidence but also supports the digitization of capital markets a critical step for future growth.

At the launch, Ivorian Minister for Digital Transition and Digitization Ibrahim Kalil Konaté praised the initiative as a milestone. African Development Bank Director Ahmed Attout emphasized the Bank’s sustained commitment to regional financial sector development. The Bank has invested over two billion euros in the West African Economic and Monetary Union since 2014.

DIGIAPE addresses challenges in the region’s primary market. As Akane Zoukpo Sanankoua of the Bank highlighted, the platform embodies how the Capital Markets Development Trust Fund adapts to the continent’s evolving needs. With support from European partners, the fund ensures African markets stay globally competitive.

Birahim Diouf, Director General of the Central Depository/Settlement Bank, stressed that technology is now central to financial market transformation. He described DIGIAPE as a solution for improving inclusion, securing transactions, and increasing transparency in financial services.

DIGIAPE will serve as a bridge between the public and financial institutions, enabling faster decisions and unlocking access to broader investor participation, both local and international. This initiative is part of a larger vision to deepen financial inclusion across the region.