Brief (381)
During her visit to Madagascar, Jennifer Bachus, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, met with a Malagasy delegation led by Tahina Razafindramalo, Minister of Digital Development, Posts, and Telecommunications, on Thursday, June 20. The primary objective of this meeting was to promote a safe and secure cyberspace, enhance Madagascar's digital resilience, and support local initiatives for digital transformation.
Burundian Minister of Communication, Information Technologies, and Media, Léocadie Ndacayisaba, formally launched the operations of the Société de Télédiffusion Numérique du Burundi (STNB) in collaboration with China on Saturday, June 15. The institution will oversee the future national digital terrestrial television platform.
The transition to digital television, according to the Minister of Communication, aims to promote development across all sectors in the country.
Guinean Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, Rose Pola Pricemou, met with the Spanish Ambassador to Guinea, Angel Antonio Carrascal Gutierrez, on Wednesday, June 19. The meeting aimed to explore new opportunities for collaboration between the two countries in the areas of postal services, telecommunications, and the digital economy
Chad's Minister of Communications, Digital Economy, and Digitalization of Administration, Boukar Michel, held a meeting on Tuesday, June 18, with a delegation of American, Canadian, and Turkish investors. The delegation was accompanied by Kitoko Gata Ngoulou, Chad's ambassador to the United States. The discussions focused on the digital economy and the digitization of key sectors within the country. Boukar Michel emphasized that such partnerships would address the telecommunications needs of the population, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in advancing Chad's digital infrastructure and services.
EtriLabs, a Beninese startup incubator with a presence in Benin and Senegal, announced on Thursday, June 13, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the selection of six startups operating in educational technologies for the inaugural cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship. The program aims to accelerate 36 edtech startups over a period of three years.
The selected startups—Irawo, Sewema, Logeco, Blemama, Tama, and Esseyi—will benefit from an eight-month acceleration program, mentorship, expert advice, and non-equity funding of $75,000.
On Friday, June 14, the Minister of Digital Economy and New Information Technologies, General Bonjean Frédérik Mbanza, met with a delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Gabon. Led by its Resident Representative, Francis James, the UNDP delegation presented the University Pods (UNIPODS) incubator program to the minister. This initiative is established within major public universities across Africa.
Madagascar plans to extend its surveillance camera project beyond the capital, Antananarivo, to other major cities in the country. The initiative was discussed during a meeting between Tahina Razafindramalo, Madagascar’s Minister of Digital Development, Posts, and Telecommunications, and Ji Ping, the Chinese Ambassador to Madagascar, held on Thursday, June 13, at the ministry’s headquarters in Antananarivo. Originally, the project included the installation of 1,200 surveillance cameras in the Malagasy capital.
Angola's National Institute for the Support of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (INAPEM) signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese tech giant Huawei last week, according to Angola Press Agency on June 14.
The partnership aims to strengthen Angola's national entrepreneurial ecosystem by fostering innovation and supporting the development of startups.
BotswanaPost, has partnered with Software Group -a global technology company specialized in digitalization and integration solutions for financial service providers- to introduce DigiPost, Software Group announced June 4.
This solution, which will be an integral part of the BotswanaPost Posa'it super app, will enable individuals and small businesses to resell postal services, improving financial inclusion across the country.
From July 5 to 7, the Dakar City Hall will host a hackathon for technology enthusiasts. Called Dakar Innovation Days, this event will showcase the creativity of students, professionals, and hobbyists. Organized by the Dakar City Council, the initiative aims to identify and promote innovative start-ups that contribute to local development.
More...
Dahirou Thiam, the head of Senegal's regulatory agency for telecommunications and postal services (ARTP), recently welcomed a delegation from Guinea's counterpart, the ARPT. The Guinean delegation, led by Mamady Doumbouya, Director of Radiocommunications, visited from Wednesday, June 5th to Friday, June 7th. Their goal was to collaborate with Senegal's ARTP to develop a plan for rolling out 5G technology in Guinea.
Niger is currently developing a digital health master plan to optimize healthcare management. To this end, a workshop was held on Wednesday, June 5 in Niamey, presided over by the Minister of Public Health, Population, and Social Affairs, Colonel-Major Garba Hakimi.
Burkina Faso unveiled its new e-certificate platform for Certificates of Citizenship on Friday, June 7, in the capital Ouagadougou. The platform, accessible at https://ecertificat-nationalite.gov.bf/, is designed to streamline the application process for Burkinabe citizens by allowing them to submit and track their requests online.
Rwandan Minister of Telecommunications and Innovation Paula Ingabire met with her Chadian counterpart, Minister of Communications, Digital Economy, and Digitalization of Administration Boukar Michel, on the sidelines of the ongoing ICANN80 summit (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) in Kigali, Rwanda, on Sunday, June 9. The discussions focused on bolstering bilateral cooperation in the digitalization sphere. Both ministers expressed their commitment to formalizing this collaboration through a memorandum of understanding, paving the way for Rwanda to share its digitalization expertise and experience with Chad.