Nigerian startup Riwe has secured UN funding to expand its climate insurance services for smallholder farmers. The project uses satellite data to automatically compensate farmers when droughts or floods occur. With the funding, the company plans to provide affordable insurance coverage, weather alerts and access to loans to more than 15,000 farmers, helping protect their crops from climate-related losses.
WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature aimed at detecting scam messages. The system will analyze suspicious messages from unknown numbers directly on users' devices rather than sending them to external servers. This allows the app to identify potential scams in real time while preserving privacy, as chats remain end-to-end encrypted. Users will receive an alert allowing them to block suspicious contacts.
Startup Esca Finance has partnered with the MANSA platform to offer same-day international money transfers. The partnership uses stablecoins to bypass delays associated with traditional banking systems. The technology allows money transfer operators to avoid holding large amounts of capital overseas to settle transactions destined for markets such as Nigeria, Ghana and Francophone Africa.
- Gabon will invest CFA5 billion ($8.9 million) to modernize digital skills training through a partnership between ARCEP and INPTIC.
- The two-year renewable program will upgrade infrastructure, create specialized laboratories, and expand training in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, data management, and telecommunications.
- Authorities aim to reduce dependence on foreign expertise and position INPTIC as a regional digital training hub for Central Africa.
The country's telecommunications regulator, the Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP), and the National Institute of Post, Information and Communication Technologies (INPTIC) signed a CFA5 billion ($8.9 million) subsidy agreement in Libreville on June 1 to modernize training for digital professions.
The agreement took place in the presence of Digital Economy, Digitalization and Innovation Minister Mark Alexandre Doumba and Higher Education Minister Charles Edgar Mombo.
The partners structured the agreement as a renewable two-year program. The initiative will rehabilitate the institution's educational infrastructure, acquire new technological equipment, and develop specialized laboratories.
In addition, the funding will support the launch or strengthening of academic programs in strategic fields, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data management, cloud computing, networks and telecommunications, as well as digital entrepreneurship.
Through the project, Gabonese authorities aim to align training programs more closely with economic needs.
Officials said the agreement includes reforms to INPTIC's governance and management mechanisms. The partnership will also provide the institute with access to ARCEP's sector data and market analyses, enabling it to anticipate changes in digital professions and evolving skills demands from businesses.
The investment forms part of Gabon's national digitalization strategy, particularly the component dedicated to human capital development.
Authorities now view the availability of local digital talent as a critical requirement for supporting the digital transformation of government administration, businesses, and public services.
The challenge has become increasingly urgent as demand for digital professionals continues to grow across Africa.
According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), nearly 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030. Organizations in both the public and private sectors are actively seeking specialists in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data management, and cloud computing.
By strengthening INPTIC's capabilities, Libreville aims to reduce the country's dependence on external expertise. At the same time, authorities want to position the institution as a leading regional center for digital skills training in Central Africa.
Samira Njoya
- Burkina Faso has issued more than 600,000 criminal record certificates and nearly 70,000 nationality certificates through digital platforms.
- Authorities have expanded online justice services to include business registry documents and digital filing and tracking of criminal complaints.
- A persistent digital divide continues to limit adoption, with internet access reaching 72% in urban areas but only 27% in rural regions.
Burkina Faso is continuing the modernization of its judicial system through digital technologies. Platforms deployed by the Ministry of Justice have enabled the issuance of more than 600,000 criminal record certificates and nearly 70,000 nationality certificates, highlighting the acceleration of digital public services for citizens. Authorities disclosed these figures during the National Forum on the Digitalization of Justice, which took place in Ouagadougou from June 2 to June 3. These results reflect progress achieved in recent years through the online delivery of administrative procedures.
In addition to platforms dedicated to criminal records and nationality certificates, the country launched a digital service in February for documents derived from the Trade and Personal Property Credit Register (RCCM). The service has already enabled the issuance of approximately 2,000 documents.
Moreover, authorities have implemented a system that allows citizens to file and track criminal complaints online. Despite these advances, access to digital judicial services continues to face a major obstacle: the digital divide.
Data presented during the National Forum on the Digitalization of Justice showed that internet access reaches about 72% in urban areas, compared with only 27% in rural areas. The figures highlight significant inequalities in access to digital technologies across the country.
World Bank data for 2024 showed that only 37.24% of the population owned a smartphone. Meanwhile, DataReportal estimated that Burkina Faso had 5.42 million internet users at the end of 2025. As a result, the digital divide remains a major challenge for the government's administrative transformation agenda.
While online services reduce processing times and eliminate unnecessary travel for users, a large share of the population still lacks the devices or connectivity required to access those services. Consequently, the overall impact of digitalization remains constrained.
In response, authorities are considering additional support measures to broaden access. Officials have discussed integrating national languages into digital platforms, developing solutions for citizens with limited literacy skills, and expanding connectivity infrastructure in rural areas.
Furthermore, these measures will complement existing initiatives already underway.
Authorities are currently deploying telecommunications infrastructure in underserved areas and establishing digital community centers. These facilities will serve as local access points that allow citizens to connect to the internet and use a range of digitized public services.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Cameroonian entrepreneur Patrick Kana founded QTA Tech in 2023 to help organizations accelerate digital transformation and improve data management.
- The company develops websites, applications, e-commerce platforms, internal management systems, and data optimization solutions for businesses.
- QTA Tech created ProprioLink, a digital real estate ecosystem that connects property seekers with certified real estate professionals across Africa.
Patrick Kana is a Cameroonian engineer and entrepreneur. He is the founder and chief executive officer of QTA Tech, an agency specializing in organizational digital transformation.
Founded in 2023, QTA Tech supports companies across multiple industries. The firm provides end-to-end services that range from needs assessment and strategy design to implementation and maintenance.
The company bases its approach on understanding client objectives, developing tailored digital strategies, and providing continuous support to ensure long-term project success.
QTA Tech offers services across several business segments. The agency develops websites and applications for both businesses and individual users. In addition, the company helps organizations build e-commerce platforms, internal management systems, and digital tools designed to streamline day-to-day operations.
Furthermore, QTA Tech provides services related to data management and utilization. The company organizes, optimizes, and secures organizational data to improve operational efficiency.
At the same time, the firm supports companies as they modernize their digital infrastructure and business processes. Among the agency's flagship innovations is ProprioLink, a digital real estate ecosystem designed to connect property seekers with certified real estate professionals across Africa. The platform aims to simplify interactions between market participants while improving access to trusted real estate services.
Alongside his commercial activities, Patrick Kana serves as president of Drupal Cameroon, a professional association that brings together users, developers, and companies that use the open-source Drupal content management system (CMS).
Through this role, he contributes to the development of the local technology ecosystem and promotes the adoption of open-source digital solutions.
Patrick Kana trained as an engineer. He earned a master's degree in networking from the University of Dschang in 2016. Subsequently, he obtained a master's degree in information systems and database management from Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis, Senegal, in 2018.
He began his professional career in 2016 as an independent developer. In 2020, he joined training center CUGIT Consulting as an Oracle database administrator before taking responsibility for the organization's IT team.
Between 2022 and 2023, he strengthened his technical and educational expertise as an Oracle administrator and trainer at training center CISPhoenix. He later devoted his full attention to entrepreneurship and the development of QTA Tech.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Gachlem Ngassaki-Zoni founded DigiPay Group in 2020 to facilitate real-time digital payments and cross-border money transfers across Africa.
- DigiPay connects users to a broad network of mobile money operators, banks, and international payment networks to improve transaction speed and interoperability.
- The entrepreneur previously served as Regional Director for West and Central Africa at cross-border payments specialist TerraPay before launching his ventures.
Gachlem Ngassaki-Zoni is a Congolese entrepreneur and the founder and chief executive officer of DigiPay Group, a pan-African fintech company specializing in digital payments and money transfers.
Founded in 2020, DigiPay aims to streamline financial transactions across borders. The company enables users to send, receive, and manage payments in real time. Moreover, the company relies on an extensive network of partners that includes mobile financial service operators, banks, and international payment networks.
As a result, DigiPay seeks to improve connectivity between African payment ecosystems and global financial networks.
DigiPay structures its offering around several complementary services. The company provides money transfer solutions that facilitate remittances between Africa and numerous destinations worldwide. These services target both individuals who support family members abroad and entrepreneurs who need to execute international payments.
The company emphasizes the speed, simplicity, and security of its transfer operations. Furthermore, DigiPay aims to reduce friction in cross-border transactions and improve access to international financial services.
In addition to money transfer services, DigiPay markets a range of digital payment cards under the DigiCard brand. The company offers these cards to individuals, freelancers, and businesses. The cards allow users to make purchases, pay for subscriptions, and manage business-related expenses through digital channels. Consequently, DigiPay is expanding its product ecosystem beyond remittances and payment processing.
Alongside his fintech activities, Gachlem Ngassaki-Zoni serves as founder and chief executive officer of Gachlem.com, a real estate company that he launched in 2022. He also holds a shareholder position in Noki Noki Services, a Congolese express grocery delivery company. These investments reflect his broader interest in technology-enabled business models and consumer services.
Gachlem Ngassaki-Zoni holds a master's degree in economics and management from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, which he obtained in 2019. Before launching his entrepreneurial ventures, he strengthened his industry expertise through several professional roles. Most notably, he served as Regional Director for West and Central Africa at TerraPay, a company specializing in cross-border payments.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
The investment fund Catalyst Fund has crossed the $30 million mark to support green innovation in Africa. The capital will be used to back early-stage startups developing technologies to tackle climate challenges. The goal is to help vulnerable populations adapt to droughts and floods through projects in clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and water management.
The international money transfer app YouSend is now available in the UK and Canada, enabling African immigrants to send money home quickly and securely. Powered by advanced digital payment technology, 95% of transfers to Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania are completed in under two minutes. The company emphasizes fast transfers, transparent pricing, and 24/7 customer support.
Marrakech will host the Africa IT Meetings trade show in November 2026, bringing together IT managers, technology companies and digital experts. Participants will discuss data protection, cloud computing and cybersecurity. The event aims to foster business partnerships and support Africa's digital transformation.
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- Benin’s National Center for Digital Investigations (CNIN) says unauthorized AI-generated, modified, or distributed images of individuals can result in up to five years in prison and a fine of CFA25 million ($44,400).
- Authorities link the warning to the growing use of generative AI and deepfake technologies that can facilitate fraud, defamation, identity theft, and disinformation.
- Cybercrime cases in Benin increased from 347 in 2022 to 415 in 2023 and reached 576 cases by Sept. 17, 2024, according to the special prosecutor of the CRIET.
Benin’s National Center for Digital Investigations (CNIN) has reminded the public of the penalties associated with using artificial intelligence to modify, generate, or distribute a person’s image without authorization, as authorities intensify efforts to curb cybercrime and digital identity fraud.
The agency said on Friday, Aug. 29, that such practices violate image rights and may trigger legal action under Article 576 of Benin’s Digital Code. Offenders face a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of CFA25 million, equivalent to about $44,400.
The warning comes as generative artificial intelligence tools capable of producing increasingly realistic images, videos, and audiovisual content become more widely accessible.
Deepfake technologies can replace a person’s face, alter their statements, or create fabricated scenes that criminals may use for manipulation, defamation, fraud, identity theft, or reputational damage. Researchers have warned for several years that distinguishing authentic content from AI-generated material is becoming increasingly difficult.
A Growing Threat for Authorities
The CNIN’s statement forms part of a broader effort by Beninese authorities to strengthen the fight against cybercrime. According to figures released by the special prosecutor of the Court for the Repression of Economic Offences and Terrorism (CRIET) in October 2024, cybercrime-related cases increased from 347 in 2022 to 415 in 2023. Authorities recorded 576 cases as of Sept. 17, 2024.
Meanwhile, Beninese authorities have expanded operations targeting online fraud networks and identity theft schemes operating on social media platforms.
In 2024, the CNIN announced the deactivation of approximately 600 fake accounts that criminals used for romance scams and fraudulent schemes linked to spiritual or marabout-related services.
Issues Extend Beyond Deepfakes
The rise of deepfakes reflects a broader set of cybersecurity risks that increasingly concern African governments. According to Interpol, online scams, digital fraud, ransomware attacks, and identity theft rank among the continent’s most significant cyber threats. Financial losses linked to cybercrime in Africa exceeded an estimated $3 billion between 2019 and 2025.
Against this backdrop, Beninese authorities seek to prevent the misuse of emerging artificial intelligence tools before they become an additional channel for fraud and disinformation.
Regulators now face the challenge of balancing the rapid growth of generative AI technologies with the protection of citizens’ rights in the digital space.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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- Senegal appointed Samba Diouf as Minister of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy as part of a government reshuffle announced on June 1.
- Authorities separated the digital economy portfolio from communications, underscoring the strategic importance of technology and digital sovereignty.
- Diouf takes charge of implementing Senegal’s New Technological Deal, a CFA1.1 trillion ($1.95 billion) program scheduled for 2025–2034.
The composition of Senegal’s new government was unveiled on Monday, June 1. Among the appointments announced by the administration led by Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo, the nomination of Samba Diouf as Minister of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy has drawn particular attention.
Diouf succeeds Alioune Sall at the head of the ministry. Meanwhile, authorities have reconfigured the institution by separating the digital economy portfolio from the communications portfolio.
The restructuring reflects the increasing importance that Senegal places on digital transformation within its public policy framework. As a result, Diouf assumes responsibility for a sector that sits at the center of the government’s economic development and technological sovereignty agenda.
A Specialist in Digital Transformation
Before joining the government, Samba Diouf served as Minister-Counselor for Digital Affairs to the President of the Republic. Diouf built most of his professional career in digital transformation, telecommunications, and financial services. He held positions within several international technology groups, including Huawei Technologies, IBM, Oracle, Atos, and Ericsson.
Throughout his career, he led digital transformation projects for public administrations, telecommunications operators, and financial institutions.
His profile combines technical and managerial expertise. He holds a master’s degree in physics, a master’s degree in information and communication systems engineering, an Executive MBA in corporate strategy, and an MBA in finance. His qualifications provide expertise across technology, governance, and business development.
Strategic Projects to Advance
Diouf assumes office two months after the first anniversary of the New Technological Deal and the launch of its flagship projects.
Authorities launched the program last year around 12 priority projects and allocated nearly CFA1.1 trillion ($1.95 billion) in investment between 2025 and 2034. The initiative aims to strengthen connectivity, expand digital public services, support the digital economy, and enhance the country’s technological sovereignty.
However, significant challenges remain. According to data from the International Telecommunication Union, Senegal ranked among Africa’s 15 most advanced countries for digital services in 2025. Nevertheless, gaps in internet access persist, particularly between urban and rural areas.
Cybersecurity, digital identity, artificial intelligence development, and support for technology startups also remain among the sector’s top priorities.
As head of a ministry now fully dedicated to telecommunications and digital development, Diouf must translate the government’s ambitions into measurable outcomes. His mandate comes at a time when digital technologies are expected to play an increasingly important role in Senegal’s economic competitiveness and the modernization of public administration.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
Lire aussi:
Last week, South African fintech firm Yoco announced the acquisition of Dyner.ai, a startup that develops AI-powered software for restaurants. Yoco, which already helps more than 200,000 small businesses accept card payments, plans to integrate the technology into its platform to simplify day-to-day operations for clients. The deal will give small merchants access to AI tools that can help manage inventory and reduce costs.
The CcHUB innovation center is expanding its long-standing headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria. For the first time in fifteen years, the incubator is offering private offices to accommodate rapidly growing startup teams. The aim is to preserve its collaborative culture while providing spaces tailored to companies scaling beyond the startup stage, helping foster mutual support and local innovation.