Kenya

Meta Partners With Safaricom to Bring Second Submarine Cable to Kenya

Meta has entered a deal with Kenyan telecommunications giant Safaricom to bring its second submarine cable to the country. Through its subsidiary, Edge Network Services Limited, Meta has signed Safaricom as a landing partner for a new high-capacity submarine cable connecting Oman and Kenya.

“This deal is a major strategic milestone for us at Safaricom as we celebrate 25 years and signals our readiness to evolve into a fully-fledged tech company in line with our Vision 2030 strategy,” said Dr. Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom.

 (Source: Citizen Digital)

 

Uganda

Parliament Approves Ush467Bn loan for ‘Oil Roads’

Uganda’s Parliament has approved the Government’s request to borrow €115.88 million (sh467 billion) from Standard Chartered Bank to finance the construction of 68 kilometres of ‘oil roads’.

These roads are part of Package 6B of the Critical Oil Roads Programme, which involves upgrading the Karugutu-Ntoroko Road (56.5 km), the link to Rwebisengo (8.2 km), and 3.3 km of town roads in Ntoroko district. These roads are part of the broader network of ‘oil roads’ in Uganda’s Albertine Graben region, which includes Hoima, Buliisa, and Nwoya districts.

Presenting the loan request for second reading, Finance State Minister (General Duties) Henry Musasizi said the funds will enable the government to accelerate infrastructure development needed to achieve Uganda’s first oil by 2025. However, debate in the House was marked by dissenting views. 

 (Source: New Vision)

Tanzania

Tanzania Experiences Nationwide Internet Disruption on Election Day

Tanzania experienced a nationwide internet outage coinciding with the country’s general elections. According to NetBlocks network data, the outage began around 8:00 AM local time and affected major services, including social media platforms, messaging apps, and independent news sites. The disruption, affecting several network providers, caused widespread connectivity issues across key cities, including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Mwanza. Users reported difficulties accessing platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and YouTube, and VPN use rose sharply as citizens sought ways to bypass the restrictions.

 (Source: Techweez)

 

Rwanda

50,000 Households to Get Free Cooking Gas Kits Courtesy of Rwanda-Saudi Deal

Rwanda and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have launched a joint clean cooking initiative to reduce reliance on traditional biomass fuels and improve household health outcomes. The programme, a collaboration between the Government of Rwanda and Forward7, an initiative under the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI), aims to provide 50,000 affordable Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) kits to Rwandan households over the next 18 months. 

 (Source: KT Press)

Ethiopia

NBE Turns Attention to Third-Party Bank Accounts, Unlawful Remittances

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) warned on Friday that it will take action against businesses and individuals who conduct official transactions through personal or third-party bank accounts, alleging the practice “appears to be intended to evade oversight by tax authorities” and could involve proceeds from criminal activity. Central bank regulators say that many business entities and individual traders conduct official transactions through personal or third-party accounts, bypassing their registered business bank accounts. To address this, the bank has instructed all financial institutions to collect and report data on customers, especially business organisations and traders, who use personal or third-party accounts for commercial operations. The move, the NBE said, is part of efforts “to safeguard the soundness and integrity of the financial system and the broader economy.”

 (Source: The Reporter)

Sudan 

UN Warns of Humanitarian Catastrophe in Sudan’s El Fasher after RSF Takeover

The United Nations humanitarian office on Tuesday warned of an “unfolding catastrophe” in the Sudanese city of El Fasher, citing a complete collapse of health services and dwindling supplies of food and water days after the city fell to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The warning comes after the RSF consolidated control over the North Darfur capital last week, following the Sudanese Armed Forces’ withdrawal. The takeover triggered widespread reports of looting and ethnically targeted violence, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.

 (Source: Sudan Tribune)

Somalia

Former Diplomat Calls For Ban on Ethiopian Airlines Over Somaliland Visa Row

Somalia’s former ambassador to Kenya, Mohamed Nur Tarsan, has urged President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government to take decisive action against Ethiopian Airlines after the carrier ceased implementing Somalia’s new e-visa requirement for passengers travelling to Somaliland.

The dispute arises from a directive issued by authorities in the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, warning that international airlines could face bans if they require passengers to obtain Somalia’s e-visa. Ethiopian Airlines subsequently decided to allow travellers to Hargeisa to get visas on arrival, effectively rejecting Mogadishu’s order. The Somali government recently introduced an electronic visa system covering the entire country, including regions outside its direct control. The e-visa costs USD64 per entry and was designed to streamline entry procedures and generate revenue. However, the move has deepened confusion among passengers flying to Somaliland, which has operated independently for more than three decades despite lacking international recognition.

 (Source: Somali Guardian)