• Orange Egypt and Circle K sign a deal to digitize more than 200 stores.
• The partnership deploys connectivity solutions and SD-WAN technology to optimize operations and network performance.
• The agreement reflects Egypt’s fast-growing retail market and broader push toward digital transformation.

Orange Egypt and Circle K announced on April 22 that they signed a partnership agreement to modernize the retailer’s distribution network, which spans more than 200 points of sale across the country. The agreement positions Orange as Circle K’s digital transformation partner in Egypt’s increasingly digitized retail environment.

Orange Egypt will provide a suite of connectivity and digital infrastructure solutions under the agreement. The company will deliver high-speed internet access and secure interconnection between all retail locations.

The companies aim to ensure operational continuity while improving performance and streamlining the management of commercial activities across the network.

The project also includes the deployment of Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) technology. This advanced networking solution enables centralized and flexible orchestration of data flows across multiple sites.

The system will strengthen security, improve service stability, and increase operational efficiency for Circle K.

Circle K operates in Egypt through a network of convenience stores and service stations. The brand ranks among the leading players in proximity retail and belongs to an international group active in more than 20 countries.

The company relies on strong distribution capabilities and serves a large daily customer base through its extensive network. It focuses on everyday consumer goods and fast services while pursuing continuous expansion in urban and peri-urban markets.

The partnership carries strategic importance for both companies in one of the Middle East’s largest retail markets. Egypt’s retail sector continues to grow, supported by its large population and evolving consumption patterns.

The agreement reflects a broader shift toward digitizing distribution networks, where connectivity and information systems act as key drivers of performance and expansion.

For Mohamed Shebl, Chief Business Officer of Orange Egypt, the collaboration demonstrates the operator’s ability to meet international standards.  “Through this partnership, we continue to leverage cutting-edge innovations to enhance competitiveness and optimize operational efficiency, in line with our vision of leading the digital transformation of the business sector toward more advanced and sustainable models, while supporting the objectives of Egypt’s digital strategy and ‘Egypt Vision 2030,’” he said.

Samira Njoya

Lire aussi:

• Burundi approves a 2025–2030 national AI strategy to support governance and growth.
• Authorities structure the roadmap around six pillars including governance, infrastructure, and human capital.
• Government plans pilot projects in health and agriculture to demonstrate economic impact.

Burundi has stepped up efforts to position itself in emerging technologies by adopting a national artificial intelligence strategy for 2025–2030, authorities said following validation of the plan on Wednesday, April 22 in Bujumbura.

The Ministry of Finance, Budget and Digital Economy, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), designed the roadmap to make artificial intelligence an operational tool for governance, economic growth, and public service modernization. Authorities aim to structure the local ecosystem and capture economic gains linked to data exploitation as AI adoption accelerates globally.

A Strategy Structured Around Six Priorities

Authorities anchored the strategy on six core pillars, starting with governance. The government plans to create steering bodies, draft an ethical charter, and adapt the regulatory framework to oversee AI development. In parallel, authorities will promote ethics, inclusion, and sustainability by introducing algorithm oversight mechanisms, integrating local languages, and supporting responsible AI practices.

On the technical front, the government will strengthen digital infrastructure and data management capacity. Authorities plan to modernize data centers, establish sector-specific hubs, and develop sovereign cloud solutions while expanding telecom networks.

The government has also prioritized human capital development. Authorities aim to align university training with AI-related jobs, train more than 1,000 public officials, and foster talent through programs targeting youth and women.

In addition, the strategy emphasizes innovation and entrepreneurship. Authorities will introduce dedicated financing mechanisms, set up incubators in several cities, and provide incentives to support the emergence of AI-focused startups.

Finally, the government will prioritize practical applications. Authorities plan to deploy around 15 pilot projects in key sectors such as healthcare and agriculture. These projects will include diagnostic support tools, telemedicine solutions, climate alert systems, and advisory services for farmers, with the goal of quickly demonstrating productivity gains and improved public services.

A Position Still Under Development

However, Burundi still faces structural constraints in digital infrastructure and data utilization. As in several African economies, challenges include limited data availability, weak system interoperability, and evolving regulatory frameworks.

Nevertheless, authorities designed the strategy to address these gaps by aligning investments, skills, and use cases within a coherent vision. The plan also fits within the country’s Vision 2040–2060 framework, which identifies digital technology as a key driver of economic transformation.

Once implemented, the strategy could position Burundi alongside African countries that have already structured their AI approaches, including Rwanda, Senegal, Morocco, and Benin. However, authorities must now translate this ambition into concrete deployments capable of delivering measurable economic gains amid growing competition around data and advanced technologies.

This article was initially published in French by  Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Terra Industries started building a major drone factory in Accra.
• The plant targets annual production of 50,000 drones by 2028.
• The project follows a $34 million funding round to scale industrial capacity.

Terra Industries announced on Sunday, April 19, that it launched construction of “Pax-2,” its second autonomous systems manufacturing plant. The company is building the facility in Accra, Ghana. The site will cover more than 3,150 square meters (34,000 square feet). Once operational in June 2026, it will become the largest drone production facility in Africa, surpassing the flagship “Pax-1” site in Abuja, Nigeria.

The company is making this investment after raising $34 million to expand industrial capacity and strengthen engineering teams in Nigeria and allied countries. The Ghanaian site will focus on high-volume production of strategic aerial systems. These include the Archer surveillance and strike drone, the Iroko tactical unit, and the Kama high-speed interceptor, which can reach speeds of 300 km/h to counter hostile drones.

Beyond the industrial investment, this initiative reflects broader shifts in security dynamics across the continent. Armed groups in several regions, particularly in the Sahel, are increasingly using drones, sometimes adapted from civilian technologies. This trend is transforming operational methods and increasing demand for integrated solutions combining surveillance, electronic warfare, and interception capabilities.

At the same time, the global market is expanding. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global military drone market could reach $30.9 billion by 2034, up from $18.2 billion in 2025 and $20.8 billion in 2026. The growth is driven by expanding use cases in security environments.

The company selected Ghana based on the availability of technical skills and the country’s ambition to position itself as a regional industrial hub. The project should create around 120 direct jobs, mainly in engineering, and operate continuously to meet demand. By 2028, the plant aims to achieve an annual production capacity of 50,000 units.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum