News (1090)
In 2023, sub-Saharan African countries lost nearly $1.74 billion due to Internet outages and restrictions on access to social networks. Despite these losses, governments continue to use this lever for a variety of reasons.
Voluntary internet blackouts in Sudan, Chad, Senegal, and Comoros resulted in a loss of $39.5 million in the first quarter of 2024, according to data aggregated by Internet Society Pulse.
In Senegal, internet blackouts on February 4-7 and 13 followed the postponement of presidential elections, leading to an estimated loss of $75,523. In Comoros, a blackout from January 17-19, following the re-election of President Azali Assoumani, resulted in a loss of $24,252.
The situation in Chad is more complex, with internet access being cut off since February 28 due to events such as the attempted assassination of Supreme Court President Samir Adam Annour, the assassination of opposition leader Yaya Dillo, and subsequent civil demonstrations. The blackout has already resulted in nearly $2.95 million in losses.
In Sudan, losses are estimated at $36.5 million due to disruptions in internet services amid escalating violence. Internet Society Pulse reports a drop in connections and traffic, with the two main internet service providers, Sudatel and MTN, which hold 53% and 21% of the market share respectively, having completely disappeared.
Additionally, the Amhara region of Ethiopia, home to over 40 million people, has been without internet access since August 3, 2023. This comes in the wake of conflict between the government and the nationalist and irredentist Amhara militia, known as the Fano, formed in the 2010s.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Since it arrived in Guinea in 2006, Huawei has contributed to the implementation of various digital projects. In the years to come, the government would like to benefit from its expertise once again.
The Republic of Guinea is turning to Huawei for assistance with several digital initiatives. On April 5, Rose Pola Pricemou (photo), the Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and the Digital Economy, met with a delegation from Huawei in Guinea to discuss potential collaborations aimed at bolstering the nation’s digital infrastructure and fostering technological advancement.
The projects under discussion include training for those involved in computer systems modernization services (SMSI), strengthening the backbone, implementing the Guinea Safe City program, expanding Internet coverage to underserved rural areas, and organizing ICT Girls’ Day on April 25.
These initiatives, for which Guinea is seeking Huawei’s support, form a crucial part of the National Digitisation Strategy’s implementation, which aims to modernize the country’s administration and key sectors. Huawei has been a long-standing partner in this process, having been operational in the country since 2006. The company has spearheaded numerous projects, including the construction of 4,000 km of fiber optic cable, thereby contributing to the development of Guinea’s communications infrastructure.
With recent financial backing of $60 million from the World Bank, the Guinean government is hoping to ramp up its efforts in collaboration with Huawei. The government’s primary digital projects currently include the construction of a digital village, extension of the national fiber optic network, connection to new international fiber optic submarine cables, launch of the public telecommunications company Guinée Télécom, digitization of the administration and various public services, and provision of Internet connectivity to 300 schools and some universities.
Samira Njoya
E-health provides much-needed services in Africa, particularly by extending healthcare provision to regions where health workers are scarce. However, challenges persist, including the need for better coordination of various initiatives.
The International Committee of Digital Health Experts in Africa (CEISNA) has partnered with the Higher Institute of Public Health in Bamako, Mali, to improve the country’s healthcare systems, according to an announcement made on April 6.
"In a country facing major health challenges, the involvement of the senior management of Mali's Institute of Public Health in this collaboration is not only remarkable but essential. This partnership clearly illustrates Mali's determination to promote the well-being of its population through digital innovation in health," says CEISNA in a press release.
The collaboration will see the implementation of targeted initiatives to strengthen local capacities, expand access to quality care, and leverage modern technology to serve the Malian population better. The partnership also plans to foster a synergy of expertise to stimulate the development of innovative digital health solutions, promote knowledge sharing, and launch projects aimed at transforming healthcare access in Mali.
The partnership aligns with the joint commitment of CEISNA and the Institut Supérieur de Santé Publique de Bamako to enhance Mali’s healthcare systems through digital technology. This comes as Mali is in the process of overhauling its healthcare system, with the National Strategic Plan for Digital Health 2024-2028 approved last December.
The collaboration is expected to herald a new era in the collective effort towards sustainable development and the promotion of public health in Africa, ultimately contributing significantly to the well-being of the people of Mali and the wider region.
Samira Njoya
The benefit of remote work culture to African technology adoption lies in its capacity to democratize access to global talent and foster collaboration across borders, among others, thereby propelling Africa's technological advancement.
South Africa has officially passed its digital nomad visa regulations into law, following a draft released in February. The law, which took effect on 28 March 2024, paves the way for the issuance of digital nomad visas. This move aims to attract international talent and stimulate economic growth.
The regulations follow months of deliberation and public consultation. Despite concerns about its impact on the cost of living and tax leakage, the government is optimistic about the benefits for the economy.
South Africa's diverse landscapes and thriving tech scene make it an attractive destination for digital nomads. According to the ‘State Of The ICT Sector Report’ released on 31 March 2024, 5G network coverage in the region has seen a significant increase, growing from 20% in 2022 to 38.42% in 2023, while all provinces in urban areas have achieved 97- 100% coverage for both 3G and 4G/LTE networks. This growth is attributed to the substantial investments in mobile infrastructure. The enhanced network reliability and speed are expected to boost IoT and digital service advancements, marking a notable step in the transformative journey of this new era of remote work.
The digital nomad visa is crucial for driving technology adoption in Africa by attracting global talent, fostering knowledge transfer, promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening tech ecosystems, and encouraging remote work culture.
Hikmatu Bilali
In January 2023, Ghanaian fintech Zeepay raised $10 million, bringing the total funds raised since its launch in 2014 to $24.6 million. The company aims to continue its expansion in its markets and to attract new capital.
Ghana-based fintech firm Zeepay has successfully concluded a funding round, securing an undisclosed amount from pan-African investors including Africa50, Oikocredit, Injaro, Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund, and I&P. The announcement was made in a press release on Thursday, April 4. The funds are set to bolster Zeepay’s operations in cross-border remittances and mobile money in Africa and the Caribbean.
Andrew Takyi-Appiah, the startup’s founder, stated, “The raise will greatly assist us in completing our ongoing expansion drive into the rest of Africa. Our short to medium plan is to expand our mobile money reach into a minimum of 10 countries within the next two years, leveraging remittances in partnership with MoneyGram, and we are delighted to see this vision come through.”
Established in 2014, Zeepay specializes in facilitating instant remittance settlements to mobile money wallets in Africa and the Caribbean on behalf of leading international money transfer organizations (IMTOs). The fintech firm, which operates in around 20 countries globally, has already raised over $24 million to accelerate its growth, particularly in Africa and the Caribbean. Through its technology and various partnerships, Zeepay enables real-time money transfers abroad via a mobile wallet to more than 150 countries.
The fintech sector is the most appealing segment of the African technology industry for investors. In 2023, young entrepreneurs in this segment raised $852 million, and $1.9 billion in 2022, as per data from Partech Africa, a tech investment firm with offices in Dakar (Senegal) and Nairobi (Kenya).
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Africa, the world’s youngest and most vibrant continent, stands to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for economic expansion. Yet, appropriate backing is required for the continent to harness this technology effectively.
China is eager to enhance its partnership with Africa in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) stated on Wednesday, April 3. The announcement followed the China-Africa Internet Development and Cooperation Forum, which took place in Xiamen, China, from April 2 to 3.
The CAC statement outlined cooperation areas, including AI research, technological advancement, and its application in Chinese and African academic and research institutions. Key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and urban management will also be involved. The collaboration will extend to digital infrastructure development, talent exchange, capacity building, cybersecurity, and data protection.
The declaration comes as African experts ponder the enormous opportunities that this technology could bring to the continent, provided the right policies and infrastructure are in place. According to a recent analysis by the US think tank Brookings Institution, only seven African countries have developed national AI strategies, and none have implemented formal AI regulation.
Collaborating with China, a country advanced in AI, could empower Africa to establish supportive policies and robust infrastructure, harnessing AI’s boundless opportunities and propelling its development. As per PwC’s Annual Global CEO Survey, AI could add $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with Africa potentially generating $1.2 trillion, signifying a 5.6% rise in the continent’s GDP by 2030.
Samira Njoya
In a bid to become a model of inclusive development via digital technology, the government of Madagascar is collaborating with both local and global partners. Several initiatives are currently in progress to achieve this goal.
Madagascar’s Digital Development, Posts and Telecommunications Minister, Tahina Razafindramalo, launched “Antananarivo 42”, a tuition-free institution aimed at equipping the youth with essential digital and programming skills, on Tuesday, April 2.
Backed by the Axian group, this initiative addresses Madagascar’s increasing demand for expertise in areas such as big data, artificial intelligence, web development, network and systems administration, and cybersecurity, as highlighted by the French embassy in Madagascar.
The inaugural batch of 196 students will undergo a three-year program, learning various programming languages and working on practical projects, often in partnership with associated companies. The objective is to effectively prepare them for the IT job market.
Official data indicates that the sector accounts for over 30,000 formal jobs in Madagascar, with the job market’s demands continually changing. Consequently, the Ministry of Digital Development, Posts and Telecommunications plans significant investment in digital profession training, including the imminent establishment of the National Digital Institute, projected to train over 3,000 individuals annually.
With the inauguration of Antananarivo 42, Madagascar joins Morocco as the second African country in the global 42 network. This network, initially established by French billionaire Xavier Niel, comprises 54 campuses across 31 countries, offering innovative, free programming and IT development training. The schools admit students without any diploma prerequisites or age restrictions.
Samira Njoya
Burkina Faso has been documenting internally displaced individuals for the past few months, with international allies like Japan providing support.
On April 2, the Japanese government donated digital equipment to the Burkina Faso Ministry of Solidarity, Humanitarian Action, National Reconciliation, Gender and Family. The donation aims to assist the government in the biometric registration of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The Ministry of Humanitarian Action announced that the donation, valued at XOF93 million ($153,000), primarily includes 120 fingerprint sensors and 120 power banks. This contribution supports the implementation of the biometric registration system for IDPs, a project initiated in May 2019 to provide more reliable data and streamline aid efforts for displaced individuals.
With the backing of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the government has developed two applications for this initiative. The first application registers and fingerprints IDPs detects duplicate registrations, and offers accurate statistics on population movements and returns. The second application aids in the processing, analysis, and dissemination of registration data, thereby enhancing the management of IDPs.
The Japanese government’s donation is expected to facilitate Burkina Faso’s implementation of the IDP registration system and expedite its development through the use of digital technology. Official estimates suggest that the system and its deployment will exceed two billion CFA francs in costs.
Samira Njoya
Despite the launch of several investment vehicles at the start of the year, investment in African startups continued its downward trend in 2024, following a decline in funding in 2023 compared to 2022.
African startups raised a total of $466 million in the first quarter of 2024, marking a 47% decrease compared to the same period in 2023, according to data released on April 3 by Africa: The Big Deal, a database that tracks funding exceeding $100,000 raised by African startups.
The logistics sector, led by a significant deal involving Nigerian startup Moove, which received a $100 million investment from Uber, surpassed the fintech sector, raising a total of $151 million. Fintech followed closely with $105 million, while the agrifoodtech sector completed the top three with $50 million.
Notably, 87% of these funds were raised by startups from Nigeria ($160 million), Kenya ($108 million), South Africa ($72 million), and Egypt ($53 million). This group, known as the Big Four, continues to dominate the African investment market, while the consistent decline in funding since 2023 has not benefited other technology ecosystems on the continent.
Outside of the Big Four, only four other African countries - Uganda ($16 million), Ghana ($10 million), Tanzania ($9 million), and Morocco ($7 million) - managed to attract more than $5 million in the first quarter of the year.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Guinea's government is pursuing initiatives to expand high-speed internet access across the country. These efforts may be bolstered by support from partners like the World Bank.
Guinea is set to be connected to a second subsea cable, as announced by Rose Pola Pricemou, the country’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, on March 26. The move is part of the Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP), aimed at strengthening Guinea’s digital sovereignty.
“Currently, only one subsea cable connects Guinea to the rest of the world. Through the WARDIP project, we will gain a second subsea cable. It is unacceptable that in 2024, people in the most remote villages cannot access basic social services digitally. Literacy should not be a prerequisite to benefit from public services,” Pricemou said.
The government first revealed its intention to connect to a second undersea cable in February 2022 to bolster the country’s high-speed telecoms infrastructure. Since 2014, Guinea has relied mainly on the ACE (Africa Coast to Europe) cable for broadband services. However, recurrent failures on this infrastructure have disrupted internet service in the country, necessitating a second cable.
The World Bank will finance the future infrastructure under the WARDIP program. In December, the government secured $60 million to enhance internet access. According to the 2022 annual report of the local telecom regulator, ARPT, Guinea has 6.98 million mobile internet subscribers, with a penetration rate of 52%.
The deployment of this second cable is expected to not only boost infrastructure capacity through additional connectivity but also extend these services to millions more people and reduce costs. The project aligns with the government’s digital transformation ambitions.
Samira Njoya
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Ghana has recently initiated a comprehensive digitization of its education system, an ambitious project aimed at equipping teachers, revamping infrastructure, and updating curricula to fully leverage the ongoing technological revolution.
Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo officially inaugurated the “Smart Schools” project on Monday, March 25, a move aimed at enhancing e-learning and digitization in the country. The initiative includes the distribution of 1.3 million tablets to secondary school students across Ghana and the provision of teaching and learning management systems, digital learning content, and electronic devices to all upper secondary, technical, and vocational schools.
The government has also pledged to build 100 smart schools across the country’s 16 regions, providing a modern learning environment and digital-centric training. The first 30 schools are slated for completion by year-end, with the remaining 70 set to be finished within the next two years.
The project aligns with the National Digitisation Strategy and the Ministry of Education’s digitization program. In 2018, the Ministry of Education partnered with private entities to bolster this initiative. Additional measures to advance digital education in Ghana have been announced, including the training of 100,000 teachers in digital skills in 2022.
The government believes that this project will equip Ghana’s youth to fully engage in the fourth industrial revolution. For Education Minister Yaw Osei Adutwum, “the application of technology in education should improve student engagement, motivation, and teacher-student interactions.”
“We are committed to ensuring that by 2030, we build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability, and gender sensitive and provide a safe, inclusive, and effective environment for all,” he added.
Samira Njoya
In Kenya, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have emerged as a significant driver for economic development and job creation. In response, the government is intensifying its efforts to forge partnerships and launch initiatives that aim to bolster the nation's digital capabilities.
On Thursday, March 28, Eliud Owalo, Kenya’s Minister of ICT and the Digital Economy, and Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Investment, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster investment cooperation in digitization and technology between their respective countries.
As part of this partnership, the United Arab Emirates has pledged significant investments in Kenya’s ICT sector, with a particular focus on data center infrastructure capable of serving millions of users, as well as artificial intelligence and large language models.
This initiative is a component of Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation (BETA) program, which seeks to guide Kenya towards a brighter, more interconnected, and digitally empowered future. This comes shortly after a similar agreement was signed between Kenyan company EcoCloud and UAE-based G42 to establish Kenya’s first geothermal-powered data center.
These data center investments bolster Kenya’s ambition to become a preferred destination for data center providers, in light of the increasing global demand for cloud services. A report by Research and Markets predicts that the local data center market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.22% between 2023 and 2028.
This new collaboration is anticipated to narrow the digital divide in the country, spur technological innovation, and cultivate the emergence of a digital economy. It is also expected to create new job opportunities and provide Kenyan citizens access to the latest digital tools.
Samira Njoya
Disruptive technologies may cause widespread job losses, specialist reports say. The same reports indicate that workforce adaptation is key to mitigating the negative impacts of those technologies.
As Africa’s population surges, creating more and better jobs for its youth is crucial for poverty reduction and wealth distribution, the World Bank stated in its report “Digital Africa: Technological Transformation for Jobs 2023”. The report urges policymakers and the business sector to prioritize digital technology and promote its accessibility urgently to tackle unemployment challenges.
“Africa’s jobs and technology challenges are immense and urgent. Its share of the global workforce is projected to become the largest in the world by the twenty-second century, rising from 16 percent in 2025 to over 41 percent by 2100. More than 22 million Africans between the ages of 15 and 64 join the workforce annually—almost 2 million people per month. This flow of workers is expected to increase to over 33 million per year by 2050,(UN DESA 2022). The imperative is to create good jobs for these millions of young entrants to the workforce and better jobs for today’s workers. Greater adoption of improved and adequate technologies is a critical and underemphasized requirement to meet this goal,” the report states.
The report proposes various strategies and initiatives to better prepare Africa for the future. It emphasizes the importance of promoting the development of digital skills and recommends that African governments invest in digital skills training programs to equip the workforce with the skills needed for the digital economy.
It also highlights the importance of supporting entrepreneurship and encouraging the growth of startups and small technology companies by providing them with access to funding, mentoring, and resources. This can stimulate job creation and innovation in the technology sector.
Improve the ecosystem
The World Bank stresses the need to improve access to technology by promoting access to affordable and reliable internet services, smartphones, and computers. It also calls for implementing policies that support a business environment conducive to technology adoption and innovation, which may involve reducing regulatory barriers, promoting competition, and protecting intellectual property rights.
The report recommends investing in the development and upgrading of digital infrastructures, such as broadband networks, digital payment systems, and data storage and processing systems. It also advocates for collaboration with the private sector, suggesting that public decision-makers establish partnerships with private-sector companies to encourage the adoption of technologies, innovation, and job creation.
Finally, the World Bank believes that by implementing these strategies and working collaboratively, African policymakers can harness the power of technology to improve the lives of their citizens and unlock the continent’s potential for inclusive development.
Muriel Edjo
Mobile financial services are pivotal to fostering digital inclusion in Africa, a region where a substantial segment of the population lacks access to conventional banking services. Digital technology presents considerable transformational prospects in this area.
The Interbank Electronic Banking Group of Central Africa (GIMAC) is set to assist the Republic of Congo in the implementation of the CongoPay digital platform for financial transactions, confirmed Valentin Mbozo’o, Managing Director of Gimac, following a meeting with Léon Juste Ibombo, Minister of Post, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, on Monday, March 25.
As part of this upcoming collaboration, Gimac commits to making the platform operational and accessible to all segments of the population. “By supporting a project like CongoPay, it will be possible for many people, even the least affluent and most vulnerable, to benefit from these digital payments, regardless of their purchasing power, standard of living, or societal position,” explained Mbozo’o.
This initiative aligns with the fifth pillar of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2020-2026, which aims to align Congo with the development of the digital economy, enabling everyday simple money transfers using electronic transaction technologies.
The CongoPay platform, set to be implemented by the Digital Development Agency (ADN), also partners with Mediasoft Lafayette, an IT engineering services company based in Côte d’Ivoire. This national platform will augment existing electronic money transfer services in Congo.
Once implemented, CongoPay is expected to facilitate trade and financial transactions in the country. It will also aid in improving the efficiency of public administration, facilitate financial inclusion by providing access to basic financial services, and promote the dematerialization of money in the country.
Samira Njoya