Brief (458)
On Thursday, June 20, Benin officially adhered to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, signed in Budapest, Hungary, in 2001. The goal is to strengthen its legal framework to enhance its cyberspace and combat cybercrime more effectively.
The Zambian government has begun developing an artificial intelligence (AI) framework, Minister of Science and Technology, Felix Mutati announced on June 27. To this end, the government is collaborating with the Tony Blair Institute to develop an AI strategy.
With this announcement, Zambia joins a select group of African nations that are embracing AI technology.
Bamboo, the Nigerian investment app that allows users to invest in US stocks, has expanded its operations to South Africa.
Bamboo’s entry into South Africa aims to capitalize on the country’s growing interest in international investments and digital financial services. The company’s expansion is expected to boost the African fintech sector and contribute to economic development.
On Sunday, June 23, the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACI) launched a digital platform for investors. Accessible via https://invest.gov.dz, the platform aims to facilitate communication and establish connections between Algerian and foreign businesspeople. It also seeks to simplify foreign investors' access to the Algerian market, particularly by streamlining the visa application and acquisition process, bypassing traditional steps.
Egyptian fintech startup Connect Money announced on Tuesday, June 25th, that it successfully raised $8 million in a funding round. The funds will be used to develop an integrated financing platform.
On Monday, June 24, Chadian Minister of Communications, Digital Economy, and Administrative Digitalization, Boukar Michel, met with Wang Xining, the Chinese Ambassador to Chad. The discussions covered various topics, focusing primarily on strengthening Sino-Chadian cooperation.
During the talks, Boukar Michel assured the ambassador of his Ministry’s commitment to working synergistically to meet the expectations of the Chadian population in the areas of digital economy and communications.
On Friday, June 21, Rose Pola Pricemou, Guinea's Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and the Digital Economy, met with His Excellency Huang Wei, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Guinea. The meeting provided an opportunity for both parties to discuss potential collaborations and partnerships in the digital sector aimed at advancing Guinea's development.
During her visit to Madagascar, Jennifer Bachus, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, met with a Malagasy delegation led by Tahina Razafindramalo, Minister of Digital Development, Posts, and Telecommunications, on Thursday, June 20. The primary objective of this meeting was to promote a safe and secure cyberspace, enhance Madagascar's digital resilience, and support local initiatives for digital transformation.
Burundian Minister of Communication, Information Technologies, and Media, Léocadie Ndacayisaba, formally launched the operations of the Société de Télédiffusion Numérique du Burundi (STNB) in collaboration with China on Saturday, June 15. The institution will oversee the future national digital terrestrial television platform.
The transition to digital television, according to the Minister of Communication, aims to promote development across all sectors in the country.
Guinean Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, Rose Pola Pricemou, met with the Spanish Ambassador to Guinea, Angel Antonio Carrascal Gutierrez, on Wednesday, June 19. The meeting aimed to explore new opportunities for collaboration between the two countries in the areas of postal services, telecommunications, and the digital economy
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Chad's Minister of Communications, Digital Economy, and Digitalization of Administration, Boukar Michel, held a meeting on Tuesday, June 18, with a delegation of American, Canadian, and Turkish investors. The delegation was accompanied by Kitoko Gata Ngoulou, Chad's ambassador to the United States. The discussions focused on the digital economy and the digitization of key sectors within the country. Boukar Michel emphasized that such partnerships would address the telecommunications needs of the population, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in advancing Chad's digital infrastructure and services.
EtriLabs, a Beninese startup incubator with a presence in Benin and Senegal, announced on Thursday, June 13, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the selection of six startups operating in educational technologies for the inaugural cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship. The program aims to accelerate 36 edtech startups over a period of three years.
The selected startups—Irawo, Sewema, Logeco, Blemama, Tama, and Esseyi—will benefit from an eight-month acceleration program, mentorship, expert advice, and non-equity funding of $75,000.
On Friday, June 14, the Minister of Digital Economy and New Information Technologies, General Bonjean Frédérik Mbanza, met with a delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Gabon. Led by its Resident Representative, Francis James, the UNDP delegation presented the University Pods (UNIPODS) incubator program to the minister. This initiative is established within major public universities across Africa.
Madagascar plans to extend its surveillance camera project beyond the capital, Antananarivo, to other major cities in the country. The initiative was discussed during a meeting between Tahina Razafindramalo, Madagascar’s Minister of Digital Development, Posts, and Telecommunications, and Ji Ping, the Chinese Ambassador to Madagascar, held on Thursday, June 13, at the ministry’s headquarters in Antananarivo. Originally, the project included the installation of 1,200 surveillance cameras in the Malagasy capital.