Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso — The Burkinabè government has intensified efforts to strengthen data protection laws as part of its ongoing digital transition agenda.   Officials say the move is aimed at ensuring citizens’ personal data is safeguarded amid the rapid adoption of digital services across finance, education, and governance. The Ministry of Digital Transition noted that stronger frameworks are needed to protect against cyber threats, identity theft, and data misuse.   The reforms are also expected to align Burkina Faso with regional and international data protection standards, fostering greater trust in the country’s digital economy.   Experts believe that robust data governance will play a crucial role in attracting investment and boosting confidence in Burkina Faso’s digital transformation journey.

Djibouti City, Djibouti — Djibouti Telecom has announced plans to extend the DARE1 (Djibouti Africa Regional Express 1) subsea cable system to Southern Africa, in a move aimed at boosting regional connectivity and supporting Africa’s digital economy.   The DARE1 cable, which already connects Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya, will now be expanded southward, providing high-capacity broadband infrastructure to more countries across the continent. According to the company, the extension is expected to enhance internet speed, reduce latency, and improve network resilience in Southern Africa.   Industry experts note that the expansion will further position Djibouti as a key digital hub for Africa, strengthening its role in bridging global internet traffic between Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Nairobi, Kenya — Global insurtech firm bolttech has officially expanded into the Kenyan market, marking a strategic move to strengthen its presence in Africa.   The company announced its entry through a partnership with local digital lifestyle brand LOOP, aiming to provide customers with innovative device protection and embedded insurance solutions. This expansion will enable Kenyan consumers to access seamless, tech-driven insurance products directly through LOOP’s platforms.   According to bolttech, the move aligns with its mission to connect people with more ways to protect the things they value most while tapping into Kenya’s growing digital and financial services ecosystem.   Industry stakeholders believe bolttech’s entry will boost competition in Kenya’s insurance sector, drive innovation, and improve access to affordable coverage for millions.

Windhoek, Namibia — Telecoms provider Paratus Group has launched the first-ever private mobile network in Namibia, a milestone move set to transform connectivity in the country’s telecommunications sector.   The network rollout will provide enterprise clients with secure, high-speed, and reliable mobile services, enhancing digital transformation across industries such as mining, logistics, and finance. According to Paratus, the initiative aligns with its vision to bridge connectivity gaps in Africa and offer businesses tailor-made mobile solutions.   Industry experts say the launch marks a major step in Namibia’s telecoms landscape, boosting competition while strengthening the nation’s digital economy.

Johannesburg, South Africa – Telecoms giant MTN, in partnership with ZTE, has announced the successful deployment of the world’s first 5-Band Remote Radio Unit (RRU) in South Africa, marking a significant leap in mobile network innovation.   The groundbreaking technology integrates five different frequency bands into a single unit, improving spectrum efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and lowering operational costs for network operators. This makes it easier to expand coverage and enhance connectivity in both urban and rural areas.   According to MTN, the deployment reflects its commitment to delivering faster, more reliable, and energy-efficient mobile services across Africa. ZTE also hailed the achievement as a milestone that will accelerate 5G adoption and transform South Africa’s digital landscape.   Industry experts say the innovation could set a global benchmark for network modernization, placing South Africa at the forefront of telecoms technology advancement.

Lagos, Nigeria – A leading telecommunications infrastructure company has announced the expansion of its fibre-optic network across West Africa, in a move aimed at improving internet penetration and digital connectivity in the sub-region.   The project, which spans multiple countries, is expected to enhance broadband speed, reliability, and affordability, providing a significant boost to businesses, educational institutions, and households.   According to the company, the expansion aligns with Africa’s push toward digital transformation, supporting innovations in fintech, e-commerce, health tech, and remote learning. The initiative is also projected to create jobs and attract more investment into the ICT sector.   Industry experts say the development will help reduce the digital divide, giving millions of people in underserved areas better access to the internet.

Tokyo, Japan – Asian stock markets opened mixed on Friday as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of a highly anticipated policy speech by a key global central bank leader.   While Japan’s Nikkei recorded modest gains, markets in China and South Korea traded lower, reflecting investor uncertainty over the direction of global monetary policy. Analysts note that expectations surrounding potential signals on interest rates and economic stimulus have kept trading sentiment subdued.   The speech, expected later today, is seen as a crucial indicator for global markets navigating inflation concerns, sluggish growth, and ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Johannesburg, South Africa – August 16, 2025: MTN Group has announced a leadership reshuffle that will see MTN South Africa CEO, Charles Molapisi, transition to a new role focused on technology and innovation within the wider group. The move is part of MTN’s strategy to strengthen its digital and technology capabilities across its African markets. Molapisi, who has led MTN South Africa since January 2022, will now serve as Group Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO). During his tenure, he spearheaded several digital transformation initiatives, expanded 5G rollout, and improved the company’s market share in South Africa’s competitive telecom sector. MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita praised Molapisi’s leadership, noting that his “deep technical expertise and proven track record in leading innovation will be instrumental in driving MTN’s Ambition 2025 strategy.” An interim CEO for MTN South Africa will be announced in the coming weeks as the company begins the process of appointing a permanent successor. This reshuffle comes as MTN seeks to consolidate its position as Africa’s leading digital operator while navigating challenges such as regulatory pressures, inflationary costs, and evolving consumer demands.  

Toyota has announced plans to enter South Africa’s electric vehicle (EV) market in 2026, with the launch of three battery-powered models. This move marks a significant step in the Japanese automaker’s strategy to expand its presence in Africa’s emerging EV sector. The announcement was made by Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) President and CEO, Andrew Kirby, who revealed that the company will introduce a range of EVs tailored to local market needs and infrastructure readiness. The models will be part of Toyota’s broader plan to diversify its mobility solutions and support South Africa’s transition to cleaner energy vehicles. While details of the specific models have not been disclosed, industry observers expect a combination of passenger cars and SUVs designed to suit South Africa’s diverse terrain and driving conditions. Toyota also emphasized the importance of hybrid technology as a bridge to full electrification, given the country’s current charging infrastructure challenges. Kirby highlighted that Toyota will work closely with government stakeholders, charging network providers, and the private sector to promote EV adoption and ensure the vehicles meet the expectations of South African consumers. South Africa’s EV market, although still in its early stages, is poised for growth as more manufacturers commit to launching models in the coming years. Toyota’s entry is expected to intensify competition and offer consumers more choices in the clean mobility space.

Strengthening ties between African research institutions and industry is emerging as a key driver for cross-border innovation and faster growth in intra-Africa trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Policy experts and ecosystem leaders say deeper collaboration can help turn lab breakthroughs into market-ready products that scale across borders, reduce import dependence, and create high-value jobs. Why it matters AfCFTA opportunity: With a single market covering 1.4 billion people, coordinated R&D and commercialization pipelines can accelerate product standardization and regional approvals, cutting time-to-market for African-built solutions. From pilots to scale: Stronger tech-transfer offices, co-funded R&D with industry, and shared testing facilities can move prototypes from universities into factories and supply chains serving multiple African countries. SME competitiveness: Practical collaboration on design, testing, and certification lowers compliance hurdles for small manufacturers and agri-processors seeking to sell across borders. What’s changing Joint innovation hubs: Universities and private firms are expanding multi-country innovation hubs focused on sectors like agritech, clean energy, healthtech, logistics, and fintech areas primed for rapid regional adoption. Standards & IP pathways: New pathways to align standards, mutual recognition of certifications, and simplified IP licensing models are helping researchers and companies co-develop products for multi-market deployment. Demand-led research: Industry roadmaps are increasingly guiding academic projects, ensuring research outputs match market needs especially in cold-chain, digital payments, cross-border logistics, and climate-smart agriculture. What stakeholders are pushing Co-funded challenge grants: Blended finance to back university–industry teams solving clearly defined, cross-border problems (e.g., seed varieties, low-cost diagnostics, or solar mini-grid components). Regulatory sandboxes: Pan-African sandboxes and testbeds that allow startups to trial products under shared rules, speeding approvals across multiple jurisdictions. Talent mobility: Short fellowships rotating researchers into companies (and engineers into labs) to align incentives and speed commercialization. Shared infrastructure: Regional prototyping labs, GMP/ISO-compliant facilities, and accredited testing centers that reduce duplication and lower costs for certification. Data & IP commons: Secure data-sharing frameworks and fair, transparent IP models to enable co-creation while protecting value for inventors and investors. Sectors to watch Agritech & food systems: Cross-border seed certification, precision irrigation, and post-harvest tech to reduce losses and boost intra-Africa food trade. Healthtech & manufacturing: Local production of diagnostics and essential devices leveraging university research and continent-wide procurement. Logistics & trade facilitation: Interoperable e-customs, digital IDs, and track-and-trace tools co-developed by labs and logistics firms. Energy & climate: Distributed energy hardware, storage, and carbon-smart materials validated in shared testbeds and scaled via regional supply chains. The bottom line Aligning research strengths with industry demand backed by harmonized standards, smart regulation, and co-investment can turn Africa’s scientific output into continent-wide products and services, unlocking new value chains and deepening intra-Africa trade.

African startups raised a record-breaking $550 million in July 2025  the highest monthly total in over two years  driven largely by debt financing in the clean energy sector. According to industry data, 61 startups across 15 countries secured funding rounds of at least $100,000. The “Big Four” markets  Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa accounted for 41 of these deals, with Libya recording its first-ever $100K+ startup funding round. The surge was dominated by Kenya-based energy companies, with d.light securing $300 million through receivables financing, and Sun King raising $156 million via a debt securitization facility the largest solar-backed debt facility in Sub-Saharan Africa outside South Africa. Together, these two companies accounted for 83% of the total raised. Debt financing drove the month’s success, contributing $493 million (89%) of the total, while equity funding stood at $58 million, marking one of the lowest monthly equity totals in 2025. Despite this, Africa’s equity funding for 2025 has already surpassed $1 billion, reaching the milestone earlier than in 2024. The standout equity deal in July was Rwazi’s $12 million Series A.  So far in 2025, African startups have raised about $1.975 billion, leaving the ecosystem just $25 million shy of the $2 billion mark for the year. Industry analysts say the shift towards debt financing reflects investor interest in asset-backed, revenue-generating models, particularly in sectors like renewable energy. The funding spread across 15 nations also signals a growing diversification of Africa’s startup ecosystem.

Nairobi, Kenya —  Kenya has taken a historic stride in climate action with the launch of the continent’s first REDD+ Registry, a cutting-edge digital platform designed to track, verify, and manage emissions reductions generated through forest conservation efforts. The initiative was launched in Nairobi, marking a milestone in forest governance and climate transparency. Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change & Forestry, Dr. Deborah Barasa, described the registry as more than a technical achievement calling it a bold affirmation of Kenya’s commitment to environmental integrity and inclusive development. The system's launch coincided with the release of the REDD+ Nesting Guidelines, which enable the integration of local, community-level conservation projects into the national carbon accounting system. Developed in collaboration with Conservation International and supported by the UK’s PACT programme, this registry will initially be hosted abroad for two years while Kenya builds local infrastructure to manage it independently. This initiative places Kenya among just a handful of countries worldwide and the first in Africa to deploy a formal national REDD+ emissions tracking platform. It positions the nation at the leading edge of climate finance and carbon market transparency. At the launch event, British High Commissioner Neil Wigan praised the venture as a potent symbol of Kenya–UK strategic climate cooperation and a model of effective, people-centered conservation.