Kenya

Kenya pushes full control of the SGR operations to December

The Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) now expects to assume full control of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR)  from the Chinese firm Africa Star Railway Operation Company (Afristar) by December 2025. Already, the State agency has assumed 98% of the operations, with the rest expected to be concluded by December. Of the 52 functions of the SGR, the KRC has control of 47, including security, passenger services, rolling stock management, track maintenance, and partial signalling responsibilities. Afristar’s five functions include the management of signalling systems, dispatch coordination, freight management and operation in Port Reitz. The agreement in place gave the Chinese company a 10-year contract to operate and maintain the SGR. The agreement also included a provision for a revision or termination of the contract every five years, and KRC chose to terminate the contract at the end of the initial five-year period ending May 2021.

(The East African)

Tanzania

Tanzania moves to lower prices of locally manufactured electronics

Tanzania is taking steps to ensure that locally manufactured electronic products are more affordable than imported alternatives as part of a wider strategy to boost local industries and create employment opportunities. The ICT Commission, which oversees the implementation of the National ICT Policy and sectoral growth, has intensified efforts to support local investors in the technology manufacturing sector. The ICT Commission plays a key role in promoting ICT companies, including startups, to enhance the country’s competitiveness in the digital economy.

(The Citizen)

Uganda

Airtel Uganda pays $267 million in dividends on profit growth driven by data business

Airtel Uganda has declared a final dividend of USh2.50 per share, bringing the total dividend for the year ended 2024 to USh315 billion at the rate of USh7.88 per share. The latest dividend declaration by the Ugandan Securities Exchange-listed telco follows an improvement in the performance of its business that yielded a 6.7% growth in the net profit to USh316.7 billion, buoyed by a significant growth in data revenues from USh296.95 billion a year earlier.

(The East African)

Ethiopia

Ethiopia saves $1billion on wheat imports as local output rises

Ethiopia says it has reduced annual wheat imports valued at $1 billion as part of its plan to attain food security and reverse forex outflows. The government says it is taking steps to change Africa’s narrative of being perpetually dependent on aid from Western countries. Further wheat has been a key pillar in Ethiopia’s journey towards food self-sufficiency.  We see this being undertaken through the expansion of irrigated farming, the use of improved seed variety, and the adoption of modern farming techniques.  Official data shows that Ethiopia produced 15.1 million tonnes of wheat between 2022/23 and 23 million tonnes between 2023/24, further highlighting its commitment to achieving food self-sufficiency while demonstrating that the country no longer needs to import wheat.

(The East African)

Rwanda

Rwanda, Ghana launch new cross-border payment infrastructure

The National Bank of Rwanda and the Bank of Ghana, in partnership with the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN), have launched Africa’s next-gen digital payment infrastructure to facilitate real-time cross-border transactions and accelerate the continent’s digital economy.

 Formally known as Project 54, the new initiative was launched during the Inclusive Fintech Forum 2025 on February 25, bringing together over 3,000 participants. These included government officials, policymakers, regulators, technology experts, and investors, among others. 

Africa’s digital financial services are dominated by fintechs and are poised to generate $40 billion in revenue by 2028. However, players in this growing industry have often called out regulatory constraints and limited digital infrastructure that impede the realisation of this potential. Soraya Hakuziyaremye, Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, has called for an accelerated response from regulators, financial institutions, and market players to harness these innovations for inclusive growth.

(The New Times)

Somalia

Somalia, Kenya to sign trade facilitation deal 

Somalia and Kenya are discussing a trade facilitation agreement meant to eliminate irregular tariff barriers between the countries. Somalia joined the East African Community in December of 2023, becoming the eighth Partner of the regional bloc. However, its trade with Kenya is often faced with multiple levies, policy shifts and non-tariff barriers. This is because Somalia is still implementing key trade protocols, which are intended to enable it to be at par with EAC Partner States on regional free trade.

(The East African)

South Sudan

Arab Sudanese Bank re-opens branch in Port Sudan

The Arab Sudanese Bank reopened its branch in Port Sudan on Wednesday evening, marking its return to economic activity in Sudan. The bank’s General Manager, Walid Al-Absi, highlighted that the branch opening was part of its efforts to provide high-quality banking services and support Sudan’s economic recovery after the destruction caused by the war.

 Al-Absi acknowledged the bank’s losses during the conflict but assured that operational systems had been restored, linking branches with the Central Bank of Sudan and electronic banking services. The bank aims to promote financial inclusion and economic recovery by offering Islamic banking services. 

Minister of Culture and Information Khalid Al-Aiser emphasised the government’s focus on digital payments and attracting foreign investments. The Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sudan, Mohamed Osman Ahmed, welcomed the bank’s return, calling it a significant step towards economic recovery, and urged the bank to help bridge the foreign exchange gap and support rebuilding efforts.

(Sudan News Agency)