Understanding the importance of financial markets and its development in Africais an essential issue for the young generation from this continent.The objective of this study is to popularize the mechanisms of financial ratingand stock markets to promote the financing of companies in Africa. The French-speaking African stock exchanges, in particular the BRVM and the BVMAC, are lagging behind their counterparts in South Africa, Nigeria and the Maghreb. The understanding of their operations will help break the barriers that are associated with them rightly or wrongly. This study is intended not only for M or D level students studying finance, but also for any citizen who wants to understand the functioning of financial markets.