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Semafor Africa

Airtel targets network expansion, mobile money in Safaricom battle

Airtel Africa’s Kenyan arm is accelerating a push to break Safaricom’s dominance in East Africa’s biggest economy.
A customer sits at a kiosk next to a sign advertising M-Pesa, Safaricom’s and Airtel mobile money service, in Nairobi, on September 14, 2023. Simon Maina/AFP via Getty Images

State Department pauses most visa processing in Zimbabwe

The decision comes as the Trump administration reportedly presses African nations to accept deported non-national migrants.
Secretary of State Marco RubioUmit Bektas/Reuters

Rwanda, US agree deportation deal

Rwanda will receive up to 250 deportees from the US.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) speaks during a peace agreement signing between Rwanda and DR Congo as Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe (L) looks on at the State Department in Washington, DC, on June 27, 2025. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

South Africa unveils US tariff response

The 30% rate is due to take effect on Friday.
A worker at a company in South Africa that exports valves to the US.A worker at a company in South Africa that exports valves to the US. Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters.

US announces new visa bonds for travelers from Zambia, Malawi

Applicants will need to pay up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas under a new pilot program.
Zimbabwean migrants wishing to enter South Africa queue at a passport check.Marco Longari/AFP via Getty Images

Shoprite to exit Ghana, Malawi

The move is part of the chain’s efforts to focus on its home market.
A worker pushes trolleys at the Shoprite store in Johannesburg, South Africa.Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo/Reuters

Orange taps OpenAI LLMs for translating African languages

Orange is one of Africa’s major mobile network and internet service providers with a presence in 18 countries.

Nigeria announces new fossil fuel tax

The surcharge to encourage clean energy use could raise more than half a billion dollars annually.

Côte d’Ivoire’s Ouattara anchors fourth presidential bid to economic growth

President Alassane Ouattara, 83, argues that only experience can push the country to upper middle-income status.

Uganda’s yearly coffee earnings almost double

The results were bolstered by global coffee prices hitting record highs this year.

Sahel’s junta leaders plan new investment bank

The bank is intended to reduce the states’ reliance on foreign donors for financing development projects.

Why Africa must localize health production

Local pharmaceutical production will help reduce the continent’s reliance on external supply chains, boosting its health security.

VC investment rises in southern Africa

Around $180 million was invested in startups in southern Africa last year across a record 224 deals.

Ghana cuts interest rates by historic margin

Bank Governor Johnson Asiama lowered the rate to 25%.

South Africa targets 3% inflation

South Africa’s Reserve Bank unveiled the policy shift after announcing it would cut the benchmark rate to 7%.

US hits Africa with new tariff rates

US President Donald Trump slapped a 30% duty on imports from South Africa after the continent’s largest economy failed to secure a trade deal.

mRNA vaccine trials raise hopes for tackling HIV

The results suggest the possibility of a vaccine for HIV/AIDS, which killed more than half a million people last year.

Côte d’Ivoire’s Ouattara seeks fourth term

The 83-year-old Ivorian president previously said he would step down from the helm of Francophone West Africa’s biggest economy.