Dashen Bank and Visa strike five-year deal to expand digital payments in Ethiopia

Chamaine ChaferaFinance, Technology

Ethiopia’s digital payments landscape is set for further expansion after Dashen Bank and Visa agreed to a five-year partnership aimed at increasing the use and availability of electronic payment services across the country. The agreement, announced in Addis Ababa this 16 September, will focus on several areas of the payments …

Nigeria accelerates $2bn fibre rollout with three-year completion target

Chamaine ChaferaFinance, Technology

Nigeria has brought forward the timetable for one of its largest digital infrastructure projects, with the government now aiming to complete a planned 90,000-kilometre national fibre network within three years. The revised schedule was announced by Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Minister Bosun Tijani at Semafor’s The Next 3 Billion …

Burkina Faso Plans Connectivity Expansion to Reach 1,000 Underserved Communities

Chamaine ChaferaFinance, Technology

Burkina Faso is moving to extend mobile and internet access to 1,000 underserved communities in 2026 as the government steps up efforts to close the country’s digital divide. The expansion is being supported through the Burkina Faso Digital Transformation Acceleration Project (PactDigital), which is working with the government on its …

Morocco’s ORA Technologies Extends Series A Funding to $10 Million with Local Investors

Chamaine ChaferaFinance, Technology

Moroccan super app ORA Technologies has expanded its Series A funding round to $10 million after securing an additional $2 million from domestic investors, marking one of the country’s largest locally financed early-stage technology investments. The latest funding will support the company’s expansion across its food delivery and digital payments …

Gabon Introduces New Digital Laws to Modernise Payments and Public Records

Chamaine ChaferaFinance, Technology

Gabon has taken another step in its digital transformation journey by adopting two new legal measures designed to modernise electronic payments and establish a comprehensive framework for managing digital records across public institutions. The reforms form part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen digital governance and reduce reliance on …

Burundi Unveils BurundiPay to Accelerate Digital Payments and Financial Inclusion

Chamaine ChaferaFinance, Technology

Burundi has taken a major step toward modernising its financial sector with the launch of BurundiPay, a national instant payment platform designed to enable real-time transfers and payments across banks, microfinance institutions and mobile money providers. The initiative marks a significant milestone in the country’s digital transformation agenda and aims …

Ghana Tightens Financial Cybersecurity Framework Amid Fintech Growth

Chamaine ChaferaFinance, Technology

Ghana is strengthening cybersecurity regulations for financial institutions as the country’s digital payments sector continues to grow rapidly. New directives introduced by financial regulators aim to improve cyber resilience across banks, fintech companies and mobile money operators amid increasing concerns over online fraud and data breaches. The updated measures require …

Ghana Expands Digital Finance Ecosystem With Biometric Identity Integration

Chamaine ChaferaFinance, Technology

Ghana is deepening integration between its national identity infrastructure and digital finance ecosystem as the government advances efforts to modernise electronic payments and improve access to formal financial services. The country’s Ghana Card platform is increasingly being used to support digital transactions, banking verification and ATM services through linked payment …

South Africa Unveils R12.5 Billion Plan to Modernise Borders and Boost Trade

Chamaine ChaferaBusiness, Finance, Technology

South Africa has announced an ambitious infrastructure programme aimed at transforming its land border posts, with officials positioning the initiative as a catalyst for economic growth, improved security and a better travel experience. The project, valued at R12.5 billion, will focus on rebuilding and modernising six of the country’s busiest …

Zambia Strengthens National Connectivity to Accelerate Digital Financial Services

Chamaine ChaferaFinance, Technology

Zambia is accelerating investment in its national digital backbone as the country works to support rising demand for electronic payments and online services across both urban and rural regions. Government authorities, in collaboration with telecom operators and financial institutions, are upgrading fibre networks and data infrastructure to improve connectivity and …

Kenya Advances Integrated Digital Strategy Linking Identity, Payments and Public Services

Chamaine ChaferaFinance, Technology

Kenya is accelerating efforts to modernise its digital public infrastructure, with new developments highlighting the growing convergence of digital identity, payments, and secure government platforms. Recent industry reporting and regional analysis indicate that Kenya is among several African countries actively exploring tighter integration between national identity systems and financial services, …

Visa Pushes Digital Wallet Integration as Africa Moves Toward Unified Payments and Identity

Chamaine ChaferaFinance, Technology

Visa is accelerating efforts to integrate digital identity and payment systems, positioning unified digital wallets as a cornerstone of future public infrastructure across emerging markets, including Africa. According to a recent industry report, Visa is working with identity technology partners to embed payment capabilities directly into digital identity wallets. The …