The Nigerian reinsurer will open a new regional office in Abidjan. This representation designed to cover Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Togo, Benin and Mauritania will be operating under the authority of the Douala office (Cameroon), with Hervé Allou as general manager. The new entity will be operational as of January 31, 2012. Continental Re has been granted a B+ rating (good) for its financial soundness and a bbb- for its credit rating by A.M. Best agency.