BGFIBank targets Africa’s mining sector at Mining Indaba

At Mining Indaba, Africa’s largest mining sector conference, Gabonese banking group BGFIBank is asserting its ambitions in financing continental extractive industries. Operating in around ten African countries, the bank is expanding initiatives to become a key partner for mining companies, subcontractors and suppliers in a market traditionally dominated by international institutions.

Participation in Mining Indaba, taking place this week in Cape Town, marks another step in BGFIBank’s strategy. Without announcing major transactions at the event, the group is gradually building an institutional presence through professional association memberships and greater visibility at sector gatherings. In early January 2026, its Côte d’Ivoire subsidiary joined the Professional Association of Miners of Côte d’Ivoire (GPMCI), seeking to facilitate financing access for local mining participants.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), BGFIBank regularly participates in DRC Mining Week. At the 2025 edition, Isaac Ibuabu, Director of Retail and SME Banking at BGFIBank DRC, highlighted “the bank’s expertise in mining projects, supported by human resources dedicated to each category of participant, whether mining companies or subcontracting businesses.”

At Mining Indaba, the Ivorian and Congolese subsidiaries’ chief executives, Francesco de Musso and Kaféhé Silue, are present alongside Alain Fazili Bula, head of Corporate Banking at BGFIBank DRC. Bula joined a mining finance panel, stressing “the importance of partnerships in developing Africa’s mining sector.” These contributions illustrate BGFIBank’s intention to target key mining jurisdictions, including the DRC and Côte d’Ivoire, as footholds for expansion.

This movement fits a broader trend among African banks. Institutions such as Ecobank, Coris Bank and AFG Bank increasingly finance extractive industries. In October 2025, for example, AFG Bank launched a CFA franc 100 billion financing line, around $181 million, in Mali for mining subcontractors, and is being approached for Cameroon’s Minim Martap bauxite mine. These initiatives seek to support investors building or expanding mines while assisting smaller participants.

For BGFIBank, growth remains gradual. The group relies on continued involvement in events such as DRC Mining Week and Mining Indaba to consolidate its position. To compete sustainably with international players, however, African banks must demonstrate their ability to increase long-term financing scale.

This momentum reflects Africa’s changing mining landscape, where local institutions seek a growing share of opportunities offered by the continent’s natural resources. Mining Indaba 2026, with thousands of participants, provides an ideal showcase for these emerging ambitions.