BNP Paribas dismantled the last of its West African retail network across 2021–2022 (window-edge for the first legs, completed into the window): BICIAB (Burkina Faso, 51%) and BICIGUI (Guinea, 55%) sold to Vista Group (Simon Tiemtoré) in July 2021 (financed with a €59m Afreximbank facility); BICIS (Senegal, 54.11%) agreed to the Sunu Group (Pathé Dione) in July 2022; and BICICI (Côte d’Ivoire) drew competitive bids, with an Ivorian state-led consortium (BNI, CGRAE, CNPS and Caisse des Dépôts) reported in pole position at c.
CFA 80bn (~US$130m). Earlier legs (Gabon, Mali, Comoros → Atlantic Financial Group) closed in 2021. Together these exits redrew ownership of WAEMU banking from Paris to Abidjan, Ouagadougou, Dakar and Conakry.
Value: Not disclosed.
Advisers: no firm credits were published for the BNP legs.
Recorded by The Meridian research desk from public announcements, regulatory filings and financial press coverage. Dates and values are as publicly reported.
