The African Export‑Import Bank (Afreximbank) has ended its credit rating relationship with Fitch Ratings, the bank confirmed in a statement from its Cairo headquarters.
The move, effective Friday, January 23, 2026, follows an internal review which concluded that Fitch’s ratings no longer fully reflected Afreximbank’s Establishment Agreement, operational mandate, or role as a multilateral institution supporting trade and development across Africa.
Afreximbank emphasised that the decision does not compromise its financial strength, operational capacity, or transparency.
The bank said its fundamentals remain solid, underpinned by strong shareholder support and legal protections embedded in its Establishment Agreement, ratified by member states.
The bank did not indicate whether it plans to engage another international ratings agency immediately but reaffirmed its commitment to promoting intra‑African and global trade while advancing sustainable economic development.
Headquartered in Cairo, Afreximbank has spent more than three decades providing funding, guarantees, and advisory services to governments, financial institutions, and corporate clients across Africa.
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Fitch had previously assessed the bank’s creditworthiness, offering investors an independent evaluation of its risk profile.
In June 2025, Fitch downgraded Afreximbank’s long-term issuer default rating from ‘BBB’ to ‘BBB‑’ with a negative outlook, citing concerns over risk management and loan quality.
Despite the Fitch downgrade, Afreximbank retains investment-grade ratings from other agencies and continues to execute its mandate to accelerate Africa’s trade, industrialisation, and economic integration.