The government aims to cut back on cash use and promote digital payments to improve tax collection. However, in a country where cultural habits, limited infrastructure, and high electronic transaction costs slow adoption, success is far from certain. Since January 1, 2025, cash transactions exceeding CFA100,000 (about $159) in Benin are subject to a 1% tax. This policy has stirred...

Many African telecoms operate in cost-sensitive markets where affordability is key. By outsourcing network operations, telecom providers can focus on strategic priorities like digital transformation, expanding services, and improving customer engagement rather than managing complex network operations. e& Egypt and Ericsson have extended their managed services and customer support agreement for...

According to SWISSAID, illegal artisanal and small-scale mining in Mali produced over 300 tons of gold between 2012 and 2022. This not only results in financial losses but also contributes to insecurity and environmental damage. The Malian government plans to launch a "relentless fight against illegal mining" of its mineral resources, primarily gold. This was announced after the Council of...

Namibia is Africa's top uranium producer, delivering 8,283 tonnes from its mines by 2023. Production is expected to rise significantly in 2024 with the reopening of the Langer Heinrich mine by Australia's Paladin Energy. Nambia’s Langer Heinrich mine produced 1.2 million pounds of uranium in the second half of 2024. Paladin Energy, the asset’s owner, disclosed the output on January 22. The...

Senegal has been part of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) since October 2013. A local committee oversees the implementation of the EITI Standard and publishes annual statistics on the extractive sector's economic contributions. At the Council of Ministers meeting on January 22, 2025, Thialy Faye was appointed as the new chairman of Senegal's national EITI committee,...

Africa has one of the fastest-growing mobile telecommunications markets in the world. However, challenges like high infrastructure costs, limited rural coverage, and service affordability persist. Open RAN technology provides an innovative solution by enabling operators to build and maintain networks at a lower cost through flexible and scalable network architectures. Telkom Kenya has signed a...

After more than five years of heated debates and public consultations, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa officially signed the Land Expropriation Without Compensation Act into law on January 23. This legislation, championed by Ramaphosa since his reelection in June, aims to address inequalities rooted in the apartheid era. The new law replaces the 1975 Expropriation Act, which the...

Debt financing saw a double-digit decline over the past year, mainly due to rising interest rates and the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against African currencies. Despite this drop, debt financing still accounts for nearly a third of the total funds raised. African startups raised $3.2 billion in equity and debt funding in 2024, marking a 7% drop from the previous year, according to a...

Launched five years ago, Finance in Common is a coalition of 530 public development banks worldwide. Its goal is to enhance collaboration among banks of all sizes and from different regions, united by shared development objectives. Each year, the Finance in Common Summit (FICS) brings together the technical work from the year, fosters strategic alignment, showcases tangible progress, and sparks...

Senegal has sought support from the World Bank to digitize its healthcare system. However, without a legal framework, these advancements could end up harming the very people they aim to help. Senegal is taking a significant step toward modernizing its healthcare system with a new bill aimed at regulating e-health services. The announcement was made by Ibrahima Khaliloulah Dia, coordinator of the...