Tech development continues to shake up every corner of the global economy. From finance and healthcare to retail and artificial intelligence, big changes are already underway. Research firm CB Insights has laid out some of the key trends that could define the year ahead. Finance: AI takes the lead, crypto keeps growing The financial world is changing fast. AI-powered “cyborg wealth...

e& Egypt has launched its first instant international money transfer service through the e& Cash digital wallet, making it easier and faster for users in Egypt to receive remittances from the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The service allows customers to receive money instantly and securely, without visiting branches or using intermediaries. It is now available to all e& Cash users in Egypt. By...

• President Mnangagwa wants to suspend tariffs on American imports • Move comes as U.S. rolls out new duties affecting over 180 countries • Harare eyes stronger ties with Washington under Donald Trump Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa said last week he plans to ask his government to suspend all import duties on goods coming from the United States. The goal, he...

MTN Group, the South African telecommunications giant, has announced a partnership with UK-based video software provider Synamedia to develop a new streaming platform. This move is part of MTN’s broader strategy to rapidly diversify its business and establish itself as a leading tech company across Africa. The new platform will offer a mix of linear TV and on-demand content, with several...

• Tunisia is exploring private 5G networks to help companies set up high-speed, low-latency connections tailored to their needs.• The government has launched a public consultation on the use of the 3.3–3.4 GHz frequency band, which could power industrial-grade networks.• Military radar use in the region may require coordination and safeguards to avoid signal interference. Tunisian...

• Commercial banks in Kenya earned record profits in 2024 but are still urging the central bank to lower interest rates.• Loan costs remain high for borrowers, with average lending rates above 16%, while credit to the private sector has dropped to a 22-year low.• Talks are underway to revise loan pricing rules, as digital lenders step in to support struggling SMEs. Kenya’s commercial...

• The West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) faces rising liquidity costs despite a stable official interest rate.• Banks across the region are building up reserves to cope with uncertainty and tighter conditions.• As monetary policy tightens, public debt yields show widening risk premiums between member states. Banks in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) are...

• South Africa plans to shift industries towards higher-value production to limit U.S. tariff effects• The U.S. will impose tariffs up to 50% on imports from 185 countries, including South Africa, starting April 9• South Africa aims to negotiate targeted exemptions and diversify export markets South Africa is taking strategic steps to minimize the impact of new U.S. tariffs by shifting...

• New U.S. tariffs of up to 50% hit imports from 185 countries, including 51 in Africa• Key African exports like oil, minerals, and textiles could be severely affected• Experts say the move underscores the urgent need to strengthen intra-African trade The recent U.S. decision to raise import tariffs has sent shockwaves around the globe—and Africa is feeling the heat. On April 2,...

• Burkina Faso saw fewer attacks in 2024, but they were far deadlier, killing more than 1,500 people. • Nearly half of the attacks were carried out by the jihadist group JNIM; ISIS was nearly absent. • The military government has turned to Russia for security help and formed a joint force with Mali and Niger. Burkina Faso has once again been ranked the world’s most...