• Kenyan fintech Payd enables instant cross-border payments to more than 35 countries at fees up to 70% lower than traditional banks.

• The Nairobi-based startup launched in 2023 to serve freelancers, creatives and small businesses operating globally.

• Payd allows users to open virtual dollar and euro accounts and manage international payroll, invoicing and bulk payments.

Payd operates as a fintech solution developed by a Kenyan startup. The platform provides a suite of financial tools that allow users to receive, send and manage money internationally within seconds. The Nairobi-based startup launched in 2023 under the leadership of founders Benaiah Wepundi and Japheth Achimba.

“Our PayPal accounts were suspended due to address verification issues and irregular income,” Benaiah Wepundi told Disrupt Africa. “I was also running a distributed talent team across Kenya, Nigeria, Brazil and the Philippines for a U.S. company, and payroll was always delayed by a full day,” he said.

At the core of Payd’s offering, the platform delivers instant payments to more than 35 countries, with fees that can be up to 70% lower than those charged by traditional banks. Users can send funds through mobile money, bank transfers, cards or digital dollars, which removes the three- to five-day delays commonly associated with conventional banking services.

Payd also focuses on simplifying income generation for independent workers. Freelancers can create professional invoices within minutes, generate payment links and set up customized digital storefronts that allow clients to pay easily for services or products.

“Most users never directly interact with wallets, chains or tokens: they simply receive and use their money as they would with a bank account,” Wepundi said.

Another key feature allows users to open virtual U.S. dollar and euro accounts within minutes. This capability enables users to receive international payments without complex banking procedures and convert funds into local currencies at often more competitive exchange rates.

Payd also targets businesses through its Business offering. The platform provides advanced financial management tools, including international payroll management, automated invoicing, expense tracking and the ability to execute bulk payments to global partners and subcontractors.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange J. A. de BERRY QUENUM

• Guinea completed the rehabilitation and equipping of its cybercrime directorate, financed by the National Development Budget.

• Authorities upgraded facilities and equipment to support digital investigations and evidence collection.

• The country ranked in the third performance tier in the ITU’s 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index, with strong legal and organizational scores.

Guinea continued to strengthen its digital security framework. On January 21, the Prime Minister’s Office announced the full rehabilitation and equipping of the Directorate of Cybercrime and the Fight Against Technological Traces. The National Development Budget financed the initiative.

Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the new premises alongside the Minister of Security and Civil Protection, General Bachir Dial.

The infrastructure is located in the Minière district in Dixinn municipality. The facility includes a modern two-storey building designed to meet technical requirements for digital investigations. Authorities officially inaugurated the site on December 17, 2025, and they equipped it with specialized tools to analyze technological traces, collect digital evidence, and process information technology-related offenses.

This modernization comes as cybersecurity holds a strategic role in Guinea’s public policies. The progressive digitalization of administrative services, the expansion of electronic payments, and the growth of digital usage increase risks related to cyberattacks, identity theft, and online fraud. Authorities aim to adapt National Police operational capacities to a rapidly evolving digital environment.

In its Global Cybersecurity Index 2024, the International Telecommunication Union stated that countries must prioritize cybersecurity to fully harness information and communication technology potential. Guinea ranked in the third of five performance categories established by the UN agency.

The country recorded strong results in legal and organizational frameworks, with scores of 16.27 and 14.38 out of 20, but it still faces gaps in technical and operational capacity.

Through this investment, Guinea aims to improve the effectiveness of cybercrime enforcement, enhance training for specialized agents, and strengthen citizen confidence in security services. Over the long term, the framework should secure digital usage, support the country’s digital transformation, and provide a safer environment for economic actors engaged in digital development.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J. A. de BERRY QUENUM

• Internet shutdowns cost sub-Saharan Africa an estimated $1.56 billion in 2024, according to Top10VPN.

• Governments imposed at least 300 shutdowns worldwide over the past two years, making 2024 the worst year since 2016.

• Sudan accounted for about 72% of Africa’s total economic losses from shutdowns in 2024.

UNESCO has expressed concern over the growing use of Internet shutdowns ordered by governments, particularly during political crises or election periods. In a statement published on Jan. 21, the UN agency stated that Internet access represents a cornerstone of freedom of expression and a central component of democratic rights. UNESCO urged states to prioritize policies that support connectivity rather than impose restrictions.

This position comes amid a global increase in government-imposed shutdowns, including across Africa. According to digital rights group Access Now, which UNESCO cited, authorities recorded at least 300 Internet shutdowns across more than 54 countries over the past two years. The data made 2024 the worst year for shutdowns since 2016.

Since the start of 2026, several countries have again imposed full or partial connectivity disruptions. Governments implemented these measures during large-scale protests or sensitive electoral processes.

In sub-Saharan Africa, these practices carry a particularly heavy economic cost. According to the Global Cost of Internet Shutdowns 2024 report published by British platform Top10VPN, Internet shutdowns and social media restrictions caused estimated losses of $1.56 billion in the region in 2024. Although losses declined slightly from $1.74 billion in 2023, the figures remain substantial and reflect the persistence of measures that slow Africa’s digital economic growth.

The report showed that shutdowns totaled 32,938 hours across sub-Saharan Africa in 2024 and affected 111.2 million Internet users. Sudan ranked among the hardest-hit countries, with estimated economic losses of $1.12 billion, or nearly 72% of the regional total, amid conflict and prolonged restrictions. Ethiopia and Kenya also posted significant losses of $211.2 million and $75 million, respectively, in contexts involving security tensions, protests, and information controls.

Authorities generally justify Internet shutdowns on grounds of national security, public order, or efforts to combat disinformation. In practice, governments often implement these measures through social media blockages, intentional bandwidth throttling, or complete shutdowns. These actions disrupt platforms that play central roles in news distribution, commercial activity, digital financial services, and social organization.

UNESCO said these disruptions extend far beyond access to information alone. The agency stated that shutdowns weaken media ecosystems, hinder journalists’ work, and encourage the spread of unverified information. UNESCO added that shutdowns also undermine related fundamental rights, including access to education, freedom of assembly, and participation in public life, while eroding trust in the digital environment.

Many African countries continue to rely on digital technologies to drive growth, expand financial inclusion, and modernize public services. Against this backdrop, repeated Internet shutdowns increasingly conflict with these objectives. Top10VPN said it calculated economic losses based on digital GDP, shutdown duration, and the number of affected users, highlighting direct revenue losses for businesses, telecom operators, and governments themselves.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J. A. de BERRY QUENUM