• PayPal will invest $100 million in Africa and the Middle East to back digital commerce.• Funds will go into minority stakes, acquisitions, financing, and technology deployment.• The move follows PayPal’s new hub in Dubai and earlier fintech investments in the region. PayPal announced yesterday plans to invest $100 million in Africa and the Middle East. The company ais to...

• Egypt connected 572,000 new households to the national gas network in 2024/2025.• 47,500 vehicles were converted to compressed natural gas, with 34 new stations opened.• The country is boosting LNG imports and exploration to offset falling domestic Egypt connected 572,000 additional households to the national gas distribution network during FY2024/25, according to data from the Ministry...

• Revolut, valued at about $45 billion, will present its plans in Rabat in October 2025.• The neobank aims to secure a license from Bank Al-Maghrib, after initial talks in June.• Morocco, where five banks hold 76% of assets, could see stronger competition. British digital bank Revolut, valued at about $45 billion, is preparing to enter Morocco’s banking sector. The board is...

• Senegal signed a $10 million partnership with the Gates Foundation to strengthen its digital agenda.• Funds will support universal digital ID, an AI hub for health and agriculture, and a delivery unit.• The initiative is part of the “New Deal technologique” under Senegal Vision 2050. Senegal signed a strategic partnership worth more than $10 million with the Bill Gates...

Job postings requiring AI skills in South Africa jumped 352% between January 2019 and July 2025. The demand for AI roles rose 77% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Gauteng province leads with 58% of AI job offers, ahead of Western Cape (24%) and KwaZulu-Natal (4%). The demand for artificial intelligence (AI) skills in South Africa has increased by...

Government approves decree to roll out index-based crop insurance nationwide. Pilot covered 11,000 farmers in 2024; 2,341 received payouts after losses. Scheme targets rice, cotton and livestock, boosting resilience and access to credit. Benin’s government has approved a decree to expand index-based agricultural insurance across the country, aiming to shield smallholder...

IMF delegation in Nairobi Sept. 25–Oct. 9 to discuss a new support package. Kenya’s debt stood at 63% of GDP in 2024 and is projected to hit 68.3% in 2025. Previous $3.12 billion IMF program expired in April after reform setbacks. An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission began a two-week visit to Kenya on Sept. 25 to discuss a possible financing program requested...

Atlas-Oranto Petroleum obtained four offshore exploration blocks in Liberia, paying a $12 million signature bonus. The company plans seismic surveys and preliminary development studies as part of its exploration program. Liberia is stepping up oil exploration after repeated failures to find commercially viable hydrocarbon reserves. Liberia awarded four offshore oil...

Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) creates sector-wide cybersecurity operations center (BS-SOC). Fraud cases in banks more than doubled in 2024, with losses nearing KES 1.5 billion ($11.6m). All regulated financial institutions must now report cyber incidents under stricter rules. Kenya’s central bank has launched a new cybersecurity operations center for the banking sector, aiming...

Electoral Commission confirms eight presidential candidates, including long-time incumbent Yoweri Museveni. Opposition leader Bobi Wine to challenge Museveni in a tense political climate. Uganda’s economy grew 6.1% in 2024, with oil expected to boost medium-term growth to 10.4%. Uganda’s Electoral Commission has confirmed eight candidates for the January 2026 presidential...