From Lagos to Nairobi

South Africa is intensifying its enforcement of immigration and labour laws, putting undocumented foreign workers and the employers who hire them under greater scrutiny. The government’s tougher approach is aimed at reducing illegal employment, protecting labour standards and ensuring that foreign nationals working in the country have the legal authorization to do so. President Cyril…

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a Pan-African HealthTech Launchpad aimed at helping the continent’s next generation of healthcare startups develop, scale and reach more patients. The initiative reflects a growing recognition that technology will play an increasingly important role in addressing Africa’s healthcare challenges. Across the continent, health systems continue to face…

Nigeria’s growing digital economy is attracting a new wave of businesses to specialised technology hubs, and entertainment startup Choplife is the latest company to join Itana, the country’s digital free zone. Founded by Nigerian music star Mr Eazi, Choplife’s move highlights the increasing overlap between entertainment, technology and financial innovation in Africa. Choplife operates at…

Africa’s increasingly connected economy is creating a growing demand for payment systems that can move money across borders quickly, securely and affordably. Yet businesses and consumers still face significant barriers when sending or receiving money between African countries. Different currencies, fragmented payment networks, foreign-exchange restrictions and regulatory requirements continue to make cross-border transactions complicated. Against…

For ride-hailing drivers, staying healthy is closely connected to earning a living. A driver who cannot work because of illness or an unexpected medical emergency may quickly face financial pressure, particularly when household expenses depend heavily on daily earnings. This is why access to affordable health insurance can be an important part of financial security…

Kenya’s Communications Authority (CA) has clarified new licensing requirements for cyber cafés, saying operators will not be required to monitor or retain customers’ browsing histories. The clarification follows public concern that new rules for public communications access centres could introduce broad online surveillance. The new requirements apply to public communications access centres, commonly known as…