The Tanzanian telecom regulator regularly assesses the quality of the services provided by mobile network operators. Those assessments allow it to identify deficiencies and instruct operators on problems to fix to provide better services to the subscribers.  In Tanzania, telecom operators are ordered to improve the quality of their voice, data, and SMS services. The instruction was given by...

According to the National Institute of Statistics, the overall debt of modern companies is nearly 7 times their equity, while profit margins are quite narrow. The situation is risky but it is also an opportunity for the financial sector.  In Cameroon, companies whose tax returns were reviewed by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) face insolvency risks. In its recently published 2021...

In Mozambique, Islamist insurgents are concentrated in a strategic area mainly for the exploitation of huge natural gas reserves, killing thousands of people, and disrupting development projects.   The Southern African Development Community (SADC) announced, Wednesday (July 13), an extension of the mandate of its regional intervention force SAMIM deployed in Mozambique to fight the...

In preparation for its digital transformation, Uganda recently completed its regional telecom infrastructure program. It now wants to boost access to the services.  In Uganda, MPs urged Wednesday (July 13), telecom operators active in the local market to offer cheaper voice and data packages to consumers. According to the MPs, doing so will boost ICT penetration.  In the same vein,...

Moove Africa, a mobility fintech startup operating in six Sub-Saharan African markets, is raising more funds to expand further on the continent. The transaction is the first it ever concluded with an African bank.  Mobility fintech Moove Africa announced, Thursday (July 14), that it secured more than US$200 million in equity and debt financing since the launch of its activities in...

The World Bank estimates that in Madagascar, 1.7 million children (or 40%) under five are stunted. The rate is one of the highest in the world due primarily to chronic malnutrition.   The Malagasy government will benefit from two funding packages totaling US$85 million from the World Bank to enhance a nutrition program being implemented in the country. The funding packages were...

In November 2021, Telkom signed an agreement with Ericsson and NEC XON to expand its 4G network in Kenya. The company, which aims to become an integrated telecom operator, made its broadband network coverage one of its top priorities to compete with market leader Safaricom. Telecom operator Telkom Kenya announces the completion of the first phase of its 4G/LTE network expansion project. The...

Agri fintechs are companies that offer tech solutions to allow financial institutions and rural actors access to financial information, offer or receive loans, manage farms, or trade farm products. In 2021, those startups operating in Africa secured a US$75 million investment. The amount was the lowest globally but, it is up from the amounts the continent raised in 2019 and 2020.  African...

Since late 2021, Benin‘s northern regions have become the regular target of terrorist attacks. The situation prompted authorities to strengthen cooperation with other countries more experienced in the fight against terrorist groups.  Benin recently signed a military cooperation agreement with its neighbor, Niger. The agreement was announced, Tuesday, July 13, by Defence Minister Fortunet...

Publish What You Fund, the global campaign for aid and development transparency, has named the African Development Bank the most transparent organization in the world. The Bank’s Sovereign Portfolio now ranks first out of 50 global development institutions in Publish What You Fund’s 2022 Aid Transparency Index, released today with a top score of 98.5. African Development Bank Group...