Is Uganda Using Its Digital ID Cards as a Mass Surveillance Tool?
Rwanda to roll out digital currency in two years and Revolut opens its mobile wallet service in Africa
What’s happened this Week:
Gro Intelligence to shut down
Nigerian content creators get monetisation options on Instagram and Facebook
and more!
In The News This Week:
Agriculture Insights Platform Gro Intelligence To Shut Down
According to reports, Agriculture insights platform Gro Intelligence is shutting down after failing to secure enough capital to stay afloat.
Revolut Expands Mobile Wallets with Airtel, Orange Money, and MTN in Africa
Revolut, a UK-based fintech, has extended its international transfers feature Mobile Wallets with 14 new payment corridors, 9 new countries, and 3 digital wallets: Airtel, Orange Money, and MTN.
Rwanda To Develop Its Central Bank Digital Currency In Two Years
Rwanda is looking to develop its own national Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in the next two years, as part of the country’s efforts to streamline its financial system and position itself as an important player in the future of the global economy.
In the rest of the news:
Liberia and Ghana In Discussions To Implement Mobile Free Roaming
Bamboo Integrates Treasury Bills Purchases for Users In Nigeria
Graphic Communications Group Given Green Light To List On Ghana Stock Exchange
Nigerian Content Creators To Get Monetisation Options On Instagram and Facebook In June
EBANX Announces Partnership With Ozow To Launch New Services in South Africa
Bolt Removes Over 6,000 Drivers for Misconduct in South Africa
Deep Dive
Have Uganda’s Digital ID Cards Become a Tool for Mass Surveillance? - Concerns have been raised about the misuse of personal data and the infringement of privacy rights connected with Uganda’s Digital ID card program.
Details: A study by the African Center for Media Excellence (ACME) suggests that the implementation of biometric and digital identity programs in Uganda has facilitated increased surveillance, impacting journalism and media freedoms.
Zoom In: Bloomberg detailed in its latest report how authorities and the police appear to have ad hoc access to the NIRA system to surveil political opponents and journalists.
Africa Ecosystem Activity
Zambian construction e-commerce startup Bosso raises $400k pre-seed funding - Disrupt Africa
SA payment orchestration startup Revio rebrands after global growth “exceeds expectations” - Disrupt Africa
Ivory Coast cloud communication startup LAfricaMobile raises $4.6m Series A funding - Disrupt Africa
PODCAST: Using ChitChat for Money Transfers in Africa with Perseus Mlambo (CEO of Union54)
On today’s podcast show, we spoke with Perseus Mlambo, CEO of Union54 and creator of the social commerce platform ChitChat.
We discussed with Perseus various topics including the current challenges and opportunities of sending money across borders in Africa, how ChitChat had a goal of trying to help solve the issue, partnerships and compliance, and much more.
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Stat of The Day
According to Ghana’s Statistical Services, Ghana’s top 3 exports in 2023 were Gold, Petroleum oils, and Cocoa with Gold having the majority of exports with 45.2%
View more data insights below: