insert_link Africa Africa’s mobility startups dethrone fintechs, scale new heights By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency Africa’s mobility startups are having a moment. For the first time, these small businesses in transport and logistics have dethroned Fintechs in attracting the most investor funding on the continent. In another historic first, mobility startups are beginning to explore cross-border rental trips as they look to capitalize on growing intra-Africa tourism fuelled by the removal of visa requirements by some […] todayAugust 22, 2024 12
insert_link Africa DRC adds new investor to power its deepwater port ambitions By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency The Port of Banana project, a deepwater project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has gained fresh momentum with the addition of a new investor, sparking renewed optimism for the port's long-awaited completion. The British International Investment has committed up to US$35 million alongside DP World for the strategic project expected to become a key driver of trade and economic […] todayAugust 22, 2024 9
insert_link Africa Africa’s off-grid solar sector is electrifying global investors By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Africa’s off-grid solar sector continues to be a magnet for investment, with recent analysis from Africa: the Big Deal emphasizing its growing appeal to investors. Despite a general decline in start-up funding across the continent over the last two years, the industry remains a clear priority for both the social impact and regular investment community. According to Laura Fortes, the senior […] todayAugust 22, 2024 12
insert_link Africa TikTok Announces Industry-First Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council TikTok is taking major steps to boost safety on its platform across Sub-Saharan Africa with the launch of its inaugural Safety Advisory Council and the expansion of its #SaferTogether community education campaign. By partnering with key stakeholders, including policymakers, members from academia, NGOs, and community leaders, TikTok aims to foster a collaborative approach to ensuring a secure and positive platform environment. This announcement was made at TikTok's Safety Summit […] todayAugust 22, 2024 14
insert_link Africa Niger Resumes Oil Exports via Benin After Dispute Niger has restarted crude oil exports through Benin following a dispute that previously halted the flow via a Chinese-funded pipeline according to Reuters. The conflict arose from Niger's refusal to lift a ban on imports from Benin, leading to a block on exports through the PetroChina-backed pipeline in May. Niger had subsequently shut off the pipeline flow in June. todayAugust 22, 2024 3
insert_link Africa Sahel Juntas Accuse Ukraine of Supporting Rebel Groups, Denounce Actions to UN Security Council The military juntas of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have lodged a complaint with the U.N. Security Council, accusing Ukraine of supporting rebel groups in the Sahel region, reports Reuters. This follows Mali's decision to cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine in early August, after comments from a Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson about recent fighting in Mali's north, which resulted in the deaths of Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner mercenaries. Niger's […] todayAugust 22, 2024 5
insert_link Africa Sierra Leone’s women farmers use a custom called bora to access land – but it’s making them more vulnerable By Bankolay Theodore Turay, University of Lagos Bora – a type of thank you gift – is a Sierra Leonean custom of respect that is often used in relation to land. For instance, informal farmers pay bora to landowners to be able to farm on their land. But bora has changed over the years and is having a negative impact on women, who are responsible for much of […] todayAugust 21, 2024 7
insert_link Africa Africa CDC Prepares for Mpox Vaccinations Across DRC and Other Nations The Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries could begin vaccinating against mpox within days, Africa's top public health agency announced on Tuesday to Reuters. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has been coordinating with affected countries on logistics and communication strategies to facilitate the rollout of vaccine doses, which are expected to arrive soon following pledges from the European Union, Bavarian Nordic, the United States, and […] todayAugust 21, 2024 10
insert_link Africa Kenya’s Top Court Suspends Ruling on 2023 Finance Law Kenya's top court has suspended a lower court's ruling that declared the 2023 finance law unconstitutional. Reuters says, the court emphasized the need to maintain budgetary stability until the government's appeal is heard next month. The finance law is crucial for outlining the government's revenue-raising measures, including tax increases. todayAugust 21, 2024 4
