- Somasoma AI, founded in 2025, provides AI-driven learning tools for students and teachers
- The platform aims to improve education quality while reducing repetitive academic tasks
- Founder Marcella Karimi seeks to balance automation with human-centered teaching
Kenyan entrepreneur and author Marcella Karimi is leveraging artificial intelligence to modernize education while maintaining a strong human focus in teaching. Karimi co-founded and leads Somasoma AI, a digital platform designed to transform how students learn and how teachers support their classrooms.
Founded in 2025, Somasoma AI offers an online environment where users create accounts and access AI-powered learning tools. The platform aims to simplify daily academic tasks and improve teaching quality. It enables students to focus on their progress rather than repetitive work.
Moreover, the platform provides a range of tools that support both classroom and home learning. It helps students understand key concepts and includes tracking and assessment features that measure progress over time and identify areas for improvement.
Somasoma AI also equips teachers with resources to manage and organize educational content directly on the platform. In addition, it allows educators to monitor student development and adapt activities based on individual needs. As a result, the platform streamlines day-to-day classroom management and enhances teaching efficiency.
Alongside her entrepreneurial work, Marcella Karimi works as an editorial assistant at Storymoja Africa, a publishing company. She graduated from the University of Nairobi in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in education, specializing in geography and Kiswahili. Prior to that, she completed a teaching internship at Alliance High School between 2021 and 2022.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Tunisia completed 20 digital projects in Q1 2026 while 121 remain in progress out of 192
- The government is advancing reforms including e-invoicing, digital tax systems and online public services
- The country ranks first in North Africa and third in Africa in the UN’s 2024 E-Government Survey
Tunisia accelerated the digitalization of its public administration as it completed 20 digital projects in the first quarter of 2026 and advanced dozens of others. The government reported that 121 projects are currently in progress out of a total of 192 initiatives launched nationwide. Sofiene Hemissi announced the figures on April 2 during a session at the National Council of Regions and Districts.
The government is advancing several major digital reforms across ministries and public services. The minister highlighted the planned rollout of electronic invoicing within the Ministry of Finance, which authorities expect to deploy in the third quarter of 2026. The reform aims to strengthen transparency and improve tax fairness.
In addition, the government is developing other key projects, including electronic tax stamps, remote payment of vehicle tax and the introduction of an online tax identification system.
Moreover, the authorities are expanding digitalization across strategic sectors. They are developing online administrative services, implementing digital hospital systems and digitizing education systems and transport services. These reforms form part of a national digital transformation strategy that Tunisia has been structuring since 2024.
The government aims to modernize public action and improve administrative efficiency. It is deploying digital infrastructure, strengthening skills and progressively digitizing procedures across all public sectors.
The transition should improve transparency, reduce administrative delays and expand citizen access to public services. Furthermore, the reforms are strengthening Tunisia’s international positioning in digital governance rankings.
According to the “E-Government Survey 2024” published by the United Nations, Tunisia ranks first in North Africa, third in Africa and 87th globally. The country recorded an E-Government Development Index score of 0.6935, which stands above the African average and reflects its progress and ambitions in digital governance.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- DAS medhub, founded in 2024, offers AI-driven symptom assessment and real-time healthcare connections
- The platform acts as a single entry point linking patients to verified doctors, hospitals and pharmacies
- Founder Divine Sebukpor integrates conversational AI to streamline diagnosis and reduce waiting times
Ghanaian AI and machine learning specialist Divine Sebukpor is developing a digital healthcare platform to streamline access to medical services through real-time interaction and data analysis.
Sebukpor founded and leads DAS medhub, a digital health platform that aims to simplify, accelerate and improve access to care for both patients and healthcare professionals.
Founded in 2024, DAS medhub operates as a single entry point into the healthcare system, where patient care begins with a simple conversation.
The platform provides guided symptom assessment designed to simulate a natural exchange with a trusted interlocutor. It then connects users with certified doctors, hospitals or pharmacists for fast and personalized care. The user experience begins when patients describe their symptoms through text or voice input.
The platform uses a multilingual interface and a large medical database to analyze the situation. It delivers immediate recommendations, including first-aid advice, and evaluates the severity of the condition.
Moreover, DAS medhub directs patients toward the most appropriate solution, whether consulting a doctor, purchasing medication or visiting a hospital. Following its analysis, the platform connects patients with verified healthcare professionals through a secure system. It ensures the seamless and secure transfer of medical records to facilitate consultations, prescriptions and appointment scheduling. As a result, the platform reduces waiting times and improves care coordination.
Alongside his role at DAS medhub, Divine Sebukpor serves as project development manager at Andeda S.L, a firm specializing in data analysis and advisory services. In addition, he mentors young talent as a volunteer within ALX Ghana, which trains youth in digital skills. He also acts as an ambassador for Extern, a U.S.-based company that helps young people explore and launch their careers.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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DR Congo signs a memorandum to digitize and interconnect its education system nationwide
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Government integrates reform into a 2024–2029 strategic plan focused on digital transformation
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Authorities expand digital training to 250,000 youth to support workforce readiness
The Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship (MINEDU-NC) and the Universal Service Development Fund (FDSU) signed a memorandum of understanding in Kinshasa on April 2. The agreement aims to strengthen digital integration across the country’s education system.
The initiative seeks to modernize the management of schools, administrative offices, and provincial education departments. It also aims to ensure secure and reliable circulation of educational data.
Paterne Binene-A-Kadiat, Director General of the FDSU, said the framework will connect central administration, provincial departments, management offices, and schools.
“This collaboration framework, which provides for the interconnection of central administration, provincial departments, management offices and schools, aims to facilitate information flow, data management and improve education system management at all levels,” he said.
The memorandum defines an integrated education ecosystem based on five pillars. Authorities structured the system around global interconnection, interoperability of information systems, institutional oversight, data reliability and traceability, and modern digital governance.
The plan includes the deployment of secure digital platforms, interoperable information systems, and digital equipment for schools. The FDSU will act as the technical arm for digital inclusion and will expand access to technology in rural and peri-urban areas. This expansion aims to reduce the digital divide across the country.
The partnership aligns with the ministry’s 2024–2029 five-year plan, which positions digital transformation as a strategic lever for education reform. Authorities are integrating this initiative into broader national priorities.
The agreement complements a national digital training program targeting 250,000 young Congolese. Officials launched the operational phase of this program on February 12 with the training of 200 instructors in Kinshasa.
Authorities expect these measures to deliver a more connected education system and centralized data management. The government also aims to improve transparency and operational efficiency across the sector.
In addition, the reforms seek to better prepare young people for digital careers, reinforcing workforce readiness while supporting long-term economic development.
Samira Njoya
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Paul Olivier Ahoua’s DiscutAI automates client communication across web and messaging channels.
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The platform targets revenue growth and improved customer satisfaction through instant, consistent responses.
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Ahoua previously co-founded and sold ReezyTech and co-founded Foover, demonstrating serial entrepreneurship.
Paul Olivier Ahoua, an Ivorian tech entrepreneur based in France, develops solutions at the intersection of technology and customer relations. He co-founded and serves as fullstack developer at DiscutAI, a start-up that helps companies manage digital client interactions efficiently.
DiscutAI launched in 2024 and provides intelligent customer service that responds to inquiries, follows up with contacts, and processes orders. The platform acts as an intermediary between businesses and clients, accessible on instant messaging apps and web interfaces. It aims to increase revenue while optimizing customer satisfaction.
The platform automates common queries, information requests, and simple actions to shorten response times and reduce staff workload. Automation ensures clients receive rapid, consistent, and personalized responses, delivering a smooth, continuous experience.
DiscutAI emphasizes two main benefits: revenue growth and customer satisfaction. The service maintains continuous availability and instant replies, facilitating the conversion of prospects into buyers while minimizing losses due to long response times. Direct follow-ups and order confirmations via chat tools simplify the purchasing journey.
Before DiscutAI, Ahoua co-founded ReezyTech in 2023, a management and booking platform for accommodations in Côte d’Ivoire, which he sold two years later. In 2024, he also co-founded Foover, a meal-ordering app.
He earned a master’s in computer engineering and networks from Pigier Côte d’Ivoire in 2020 and a master’s in software architecture from the École supérieure de génie informatique (ESGI) in 2022.
Ahoua completed several developer internships from 2019 to 2021. He then joined Canal+ Group as a fullstack developer, followed by a fullstack role at Kaïbee, a French IT consulting firm, from 2022 to 2024. His career trajectory reflects deep expertise in software development and scalable digital solutions.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
The startup is developing a solution that aims to modernize agriculture across Africa using artificial intelligence and robotics. The company is targeting its home market first but has plans for regional expansion, with ambitions to deploy its robots across other African countries.
3Farmate is a Ghanaian agritech startup founded in Accra in 2021 by Clinton Anani. The company develops autonomous robots capable of performing multiple farming tasks, aiming to boost productivity while reducing costs for farmers.
Its main product, Fama, is an autonomous agricultural robot designed to plant, weed and fertilize without human intervention. It operates without GPS, using an artificial intelligence vision system to navigate complex and uneven terrain.
Anani said the system was designed for real farming conditions, including rough terrain, loose and muddy soils and unpredictable weather. He added that a single operator could supervise multiple robots, each covering between 11 and 14 hectares per day with planting precision under 85 millimeters. Farmers pay per hectare, which allows them to access this level of automation without purchasing equipment upfront.
The approach is tailored to conditions across Africa, where farms are often fragmented, largely unmechanized and located in areas with limited connectivity. By automating key tasks, the system helps offset labor shortages and improve operational efficiency.
The company uses a usage-based model, enabling farmers to access the technology without a large upfront investment, a critical factor in a sector where agricultural equipment often remains unaffordable.
Beyond operations, 3Farmate is part of a broader effort to modernize agricultural systems. By combining automation, data and artificial intelligence, the startup aims to support more productive, sustainable and climate-resilient farming in the face of demographic and environmental pressures.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
- Internet freedom levels vary widely across African countries, with Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, and Seychelles leading.
- Some countries, including Sudan and Egypt, impose severe digital restrictions.
- Internet shutdowns cost sub-Saharan Africa $1.11 billion in 2025 despite a slight decline from 2024.
Internet access continues to expand across Africa, but online freedom remains highly uneven depending on the country, reflecting political and socio-economic dynamics, according to a recent report.
A report published in mid-March by Cloudwards shows that some countries provide relatively open digital environments, while others impose strict restrictions that limit online expression and innovation.
The report, titled “Mapped: Internet Freedom by Country in 2026,” evaluates internet freedom on a scale from 0 to 100. It measures access to political and civic content, social media usage, and VPN access. It also assesses censorship practices, platform blocking, and potential penalties faced by users, offering a comprehensive view of both technical access and actual freedom of expression online.
Contrasting Levels of Digital Freedom Across Countries
Across Africa, several countries record relatively high levels of internet freedom. Cabo Verde ranks highest on the continent with a score of 84, alongside Côte d’Ivoire and Seychelles, which post identical scores.
A second group of countries—including Benin, Niger, Gambia, and Liberia—follows with scores of 76, reflecting generally open digital environments. Ghana completes the leading group with a score of 72.
Meanwhile, a middle-tier group—including Angola, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and Mauritius—records intermediate scores of 68, indicating moderate freedom levels with some limitations.
By contrast, countries such as Sudan and Egypt rank among the most restrictive, each scoring 12, highlighting severe constraints on online content and digital expression.
Between these extremes, most African countries fall into an intermediate category. Morocco, South Africa, Cameroon, Tunisia, and Rwanda each score around 56, reflecting mixed environments with both openness and constraints.
Costly Digital Restrictions
Beyond governance concerns, digital restrictions impose significant economic costs.
A separate report titled “The Cost of Internet Shutdowns in 2025” by Top10VPN estimates that internet shutdowns cost sub-Saharan Africa approximately $1.11 billion in 2025.
This figure marks a slight decline from 2024, when losses reached $1.56 billion. However, the economic impact remains substantial amid continued disruptions.
In 2025, authorities recorded more than 24,000 hours of internet shutdowns, affecting approximately 116 million users across the region. These disruptions most often occurred during political tensions, elections, or security crises and directly impacted digital economies and access to essential services.
Globally, such shutdowns generated estimated losses of $19.7 billion.
Samira Njoya
African Countries, by Internet Freedom Score (2026)
Country Score
Cape Verde 84
Ivory Coast 84
Seychelles 84
Benin 76
Gambia 76
Liberia 76
Madagascar 76
Namibia 76
Niger 76
Ghana 72
Angola 68
DR Congo 68
Gabon 68
Malawi 68
Mali 68
Mauritius 68
Mozambique 68
Congo 68
Senegal 68
Botswana 64
Central African Republic 64
Guinea-Bissau 64
Lesotho 64
Morocco 64
Nigeria 64
South Africa 64
Mauritania 60
Burundi 56
Cameroon 56
Chad 56
Eswatini 56
Guinea 56
Rwanda 56
Tunisia 56
Kenya 52
Zambia 52
Algeria 48
Burkina Faso 48
Djibouti 48
Togo 48
Zimbabwe 48
Somalia 44
Equatorial Guinea 36
Ethiopia 36
Libya 28
Tanzania 28
Uganda 24
Egypt 12
Sudan 12
The African accelerator Innovate Now has selected 19 Kenyan startups for its 11th cohort focused on assistive technology. The ventures address issues in AI-powered accessibility, mobility, inclusive education and digital inclusion. Over the next eight months, founders will receive dedicated mentorship, test their solutions with people with disabilities, and take part in tailored coaching ahead of a final Demo Day.
Cyber Carnival 2026 will take place this June in Nairobi, Kenya, with dates yet to be confirmed. Framed as a full-scale festival, the event combines cybersecurity and technological innovation with elements of African culture. It will bring together professionals, tech enthusiasts, and the wider public through workshops, live demonstrations, and interactive exhibits designed to make digital security more accessible while showcasing local creativity.
Kenyan data protection authorities have launched an investigation into Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses amid concerns they may capture and expose sensitive information. The glasses, which can record video, take photos and respond to voice commands, are reported to capture private content that is then reviewed by human contractors. The case has reignited debate over privacy and consent in the era of wearable technology.
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Tarik Fadli develops digital platforms to streamline administrative and business processes.
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Algo Consulting Group operates across sectors including notary services, hospitality, transport, and HR.
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The company leverages technology to improve efficiency, transparency, and regulatory compliance.
Moroccan entrepreneur Tarik Fadli is leveraging digital technologies to streamline administrative procedures and modernize organizational management across multiple sectors.
Fadli founded and leads Algo Consulting Group, a digital services firm that designs and deploys technology solutions aimed at simplifying operations for organizations in industries such as hospitality, transport, agriculture, public administration, and human resources.
Founded in 2007, Algo Consulting Group has developed Wraqi, an online notary platform that enables users to complete procedures remotely that were traditionally reserved for physical notary offices.
The platform aims to simplify access to notarial services while reducing constraints related to travel and paper-based document management. The company has also developed Quotelo, a booking engine designed for meetings, conferences, and group events in the hospitality and events sectors. The tool allows users to search, compare, and book conference venues based on specific criteria while offering greater transparency on features and pricing.
In addition, Algo Consulting Group markets Ajiel, a digital platform that enables companies to manage payroll and employee benefits independently.
The platform allows businesses to process salaries and manage staff benefits while complying with legal and tax requirements.
The company develops ticketing solutions for rail, bus, and broader transport networks. It also provides comprehensive logistics tools designed to improve operational efficiency, streamline processes, and enhance transparency.
For the agriculture and fisheries sectors, the group develops traceability solutions that allow stakeholders to track products from origin to points of sale or auction markets.
Tarik Fadli graduated in computer science from the University of Colorado Denver. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Salford, obtained in 2014. He earned a postgraduate diploma in data and systems analysis from the University of Oxford in 2015 and holds certification as a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) architect.
Fadli began his career in 2000 in the United States, where he worked as a solutions architect and IT manager at CTL Thompson, a consulting engineering firm specializing in geotechnics, materials, environment, and structures. In 2007, he joined Microsoft Middle East & Africa as a principal solutions architect before founding his own company.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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VoiceUp enables anonymous and secure internal reporting for organizations.
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The platform streamlines case management from submission to resolution.
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Founder Ahmed Genedy brings experience from Coca-Cola and the energy sector.
Egyptian tech entrepreneur Ahmed Genedy is leveraging digital innovation to improve transparency and accountability within organizations through his platform iVoiceUp.
Genedy co-founded iVoiceUp in 2019 and serves as chief executive officer of the company, which provides a structured, anonymous, and secure system for collecting and managing internal reports.
The platform aims to transform how organizations handle whistleblowing and internal alerts by combining technology with governance best practices.
iVoiceUp operates a comprehensive reporting and case-tracking system accessible to multiple stakeholders, including whistleblowers, investigators, and management teams.
The process follows a structured workflow that includes report submission, assignment to relevant teams, investigation, and documented resolution. Users can submit reports in text or voice format and attach supporting digital evidence. The platform emphasizes anonymity to encourage individuals to report incidents they might otherwise hesitate to disclose publicly.
iVoiceUp automatically notifies designated personnel as soon as a report is submitted. The system integrates automated distribution mechanisms, support functions, and collaborative tools that enable rigorous and structured case tracking.
By optimizing information flows, the platform allows organizations to process more cases faster while ensuring full traceability of actions, decisions, and outcomes.
The solution also helps organizations standardize procedures for collecting, documenting, and resolving incidents, thereby limiting impacts on employees and corporate reputation.
Ahmed Genedy graduated from the American University in Cairo with a bachelor’s degree in engineering in 2015. He joined The Coca-Cola Company in 2017 as a project manager before moving into the renewable energy sector.
He served as managing associate at Solariz Egypt from 2018 to 2019, where he worked on the design, financing, installation, and commissioning of photovoltaic solar power plants.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Cairo-based startup Qualiphi supports over 500,000 students across 40 universities.
- The platform uses AI to align academic pathways with labor market needs.
- The company targets expansion across the Middle East and North Africa.
Qualiphi, founded in 2025 by Nevien Magdy and based in Cairo, has developed a technology solution designed to transform how universities manage career pathways. The platform operates as a Career Services Management (CSM) system that enables universities and schools to digitize their career services. The tool covers key stages, including career exploration, skills development, access to internships and job opportunities, and connections with recruiters.
“The platform [Qualiphi] currently supports more than 500,000 students and graduates across 40 universities, along with a growing network of employers seeking to identify, attract, and develop the next generation of talent,” the startup said.
Qualiphi targets the persistent gap between academic training and labor market needs. The platform integrates analytics and recommendation tools to guide students toward career paths aligned with employer expectations while facilitating recruitment processes for companies.
Moreover, the solution reflects a broader regional trend toward digitizing higher education and employability services.
The startup has already secured partnerships with academic institutions and public sector stakeholders, aiming to build an integrated ecosystem linking universities, students, and employers.
Qualiphi has recently strengthened its market position through external growth operations aimed at expanding its services across the Middle East and North Africa. The company aims to scale its platform regionally while improving graduate employability and providing businesses with more structured access to emerging talent.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Nigeria plans a national cybersecurity coordination council to strengthen resilience.
- Cybercrime costs the country over $500 million annually.
- Africa recorded more than $3 billion in cyber-related losses between 2019 and 2025.
Interpol estimates that cybersecurity incidents across Africa caused financial losses exceeding $3 billion between 2019 and 2025, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing governments and businesses.
The Nigerian government aims to strengthen collective resilience and improve coordinated responses to evolving cyber threats across both public and private sectors.
ESTABLISHMENT OF NIGERIA'S NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY COORDINATION COUNCIL TO STRENGTHEN CYBER RESILIENCE
— Dr. 'Bosun Tijani (@bosuntijani) April 1, 2026
The Federal Government has signalled its intention to work collaboratively with the private sector and key stakeholders toward the establishment of a Cybersecurity Coordination… pic.twitter.com/BSqEJIyj9h
Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, announced the initiative in a statement released on April 1. He said the proposed council would operate as a non-statutory, multi-stakeholder coordination platform.
The council will bring together key actors to strengthen partnerships, facilitate the sharing of reliable information, and ensure sustained cooperation among institutions responsible for cybersecurity.
Tijani said recent cybersecurity incidents have posed significant risks to customers and disrupted operations across major private institutions, public systems, and Nigeria’s service industry.
“These incidents highlight the increasingly coordinated and sophisticated nature of cyber threats, orchestrated by organized actors and malicious networks seeking to undermine trust in Nigeria’s rapidly growing digital ecosystem,” the statement said.
Nigeria, like many African countries, faces an acceleration in cyber threats as digital adoption expands.
A January 2026 report by Deloitte stated that organizations across sectors experienced a notable increase in attacks in 2025, ranging from AI-driven scams and ransomware incidents to identity theft affecting everyday users.
“Over the course of the year, a clear trend emerged: attackers became more sophisticated and more agile […]” Deloitte said, adding that threat actors are expected to rely even more on automation and AI-driven tools in 2026.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) reported that Nigeria loses more than $500 million annually to cybercrime, underscoring the economic stakes.
This trend threatens the government’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy.
Speaking at a conference in January, Tijani stressed that achieving this goal depends as much on trust as on physical infrastructure, given the growing importance of digital systems.
“If we lose trust in this sector, citizens will be discouraged from using tools capable of transforming our economy. If we maintain that trust, citizens will believe in these tools, and they will help make Nigeria prosperous,” he said.
This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum