Brief (218)
On April 2, Mauritania’s Minister for Digital Transformation, Innovation, and Modernisation of the Administration, Mohamed Abdallah Ould Louly, met with Leila Peters Yahya, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Mauritania. The meeting, held in Nouakchott, centered on exploring opportunities to enhance cooperation, particularly in digitization.
Triply, a Kenyan startup that assists travel agencies in payment collection, operation automation, and providing customers with access to financial services, has been included in the Winter 2024 cohort of the California-based accelerator, Y Combinator. The announcement was made on April 1 by the American firm through various communication channels, including social networks and its online platform.
Nigerian fintech firm Thepeer announced its closure in a statement released on April 1. “Our unique service had its challenges, the first being compliance issues [...]. Faced with these challenges, we needed to make a key decision either to do a hard pivot, an M&A, or return capital to investors. After carefully weighing our options, we decided that returning the remaining capital to investors was the best decision,” the start-up explained.
Founded in 2021, Thepeer has raised approximately $2.3 million, according to Crunchbase, to develop its technology and accelerate its growth.
Digital Lab, a Libyan initiative fostering innovation and digital transformation, unveiled an innovation mapping platform in Tripoli on Monday. The platform aims to link innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors nationwide.
Abdelbaset Albaor, Chairman of the General Information Authority, said the platform “reflects the collaborative efforts of the General Information Authority, Libyan institutions, and [...] international partners.”
“It showcases the major initiatives underway, laying the foundations for a thriving and innovative digital ecosystem to take root in Libya,” he added.
The inaugural Algerian Digital Summit is set to take place from April 23 to 25, 2024, at the Moufdi Zakaria Cultural Center in Algiers. The event, announced on March 20, is born from the consolidation of the Digital African Summit and ICT Maghreb.
Tunisian authorities announced on Monday, March 25, the official adoption of online birth certificates for administrative procedures related to the Ministry of the Interior’s services. This provision extends to Tunisians living abroad, who can now use these online birth certificates for applications or renewals of national identity cards and passports.
On March 20, the Egyptian Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Space Administration (CASC) signed a protocol agreement in Cairo for the operation of the EgyptSat-2 satellite. The agreement includes provisions for CASC's support in the peaceful utilization of space and the promotion of sustainable development in Egypt.
On March 21 in Porto-Novo, Louis Vlavonou, the President of Benin's National Assembly, met with Ouanilo Medegan Fagla, the Director General of the Centre national d'investigations numériques (CNIN). Fagla noted the dynamic nature of the National Assembly and the urgent need for digitization. In response to the clear intent of the President of the National Assembly, Fagla expressed CNIN's readiness to support the digital transformation underway at the national assembly, while upholding the principles of digital security integral to this transformation.
Togo's capital, Lomé, is set to host Artificial Intelligence Week (AIW) from June 4 to June 8, an event that aims to unite tech enthusiasts, innovators, and thought leaders. The conference themed "L’IA au Togo et en Afrique : état des lieux, opportunités et enjeux sociétaux (AI in Togo and Africa: Current Status, Opportunities, and Societal Challenges)," seeks to foster sharing, learning, and shaping the future of AI.
Côte d'Ivoire's Telecommunications/ICT Regulatory Authority (Artci) has issued a warning to US-based Starlink, prohibiting the satellite internet provider from operating in the country without due approval, according to a release issued on Tuesday. This follows last week's internet disruptions in several West and Central African nations, caused by damage to the WACS, MainOne, ACE, and SAT3 submarine cables.
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Nigerian neobank Brass has raised an undisclosed amount of funding to support its operations, Techcabal reported on Tuesday. The startup recently faced disruptions following a partner withdrawal but has now processed pending transactions. Brass plans to use the new funding to accelerate growth within the Nigerian market.
Nigerian financial technology startup Kuda has secured operating licenses in Tanzania and Canada, tech news platform Techcabal reported on Monday. These licenses will allow Kuda to offer money transfer and multi-currency wallet services to users in these new markets.
Zone, a Nigerian fintech company specializing in blockchain-based payment processing, announced the completion of an $8.5 million funding round on Monday.
"With the support of our new investors, we will enhance our technology, launch new use-cases and expand our network coverage. We will also complete preparations to conduct a comprehensive pilot program to test our cross-border capabilities in 2025. This will further solidify our position as a pioneer in decentralized payment infrastructure for Africa," the startup said.
Egyptian healthtech firm 30Med, which seeks to connect pharmaceutical companies and doctors by simplifying the introduction of new drugs through iterative videos, announced last week that it has successfully closed an undisclosed funding round.
The company plans to use the funds to enhance its platform and expand its presence in the medical community.