This Week in African Tech 🌍

Hey, Maryann here 👋🏽 

From bold bets to bittersweet farewells, this week’s tech news has been a mix of ambition, exits, and big wins. Airtel is sinking $120 million into an AI-focused data centre, Jumia’s revenue is climbing, and Vodacom just made South Africa’s first native 5G voice call.

Meanwhile, Shoprite is bowing out of Ghana and Malawi, Egypt is giving TikTok three months to play by local rules, and the Kenyan fintech community is mourning the loss of Leon Kiptum, a leader who built with purpose and heart.

But before we get to the roundup…

Tech Roundup

• Airtel Nigeria is building a $120 million, 38-MW data centre in Lagos, Nigeria, set to launch in 2026. Unlike rivals focusing on cloud storage, Airtel is prioritising AI compute power, with high-performance GPUs already delivered to support model training.

• E-commerce giant Jumia announced a 25% revenue growth in its Q2 2025 earnings report, signaling a positive trajectory in its path to profitability. The company has significantly narrowed its operating losses by focusing on core markets and essential goods while expanding its footprint into secondary cities across the continent.

• Nigerian telecommunications company 9mobile has officially rebranded to T2, following its acquisition by the investment firm LH Telecoms. The rebrand marks a new strategic direction for the struggling telco which has lost 19 million subscribers over 8 years.

• Tanzania has banned foreign nationals from operating in 15 small-scale sectors, including mobile money transfers, tour guiding, and on-farm crop buying. The government says the move will protect local livelihoods, but critics warn it violates East African Community (EAC) free movement agreements.

• Retail giant Shoprite has announced that it will exit Ghana and Malawi to consolidate its operations and focus on the South African market. The move highlights the significant operational and logistical challenges that continue to hamper pan-African retail expansion.

• Egypt has given TikTok three months to align its moderation policies with local laws and cultural norms or face a ban, says Ahmed Badawi, head of the country’s telecoms committee. The move could hit Egypt’s creator economy hard, especially youth influencers who rely on TikTok for income and visibility. Similar demands for regulatory compliance have recently emerged in Nigeria and Kenya.

• Vodacom has completed South Africa’s first native voice call over 5G, using Voice over New Radio (VoNR) tech. Unlike current 5G calls that fall back to 4G, VoNR runs entirely on 5G, offering faster call setup, clearer audio, and less background noise. The test marks a step toward full 5G capabilities in SA’s telecom sector, though no public rollout date has been announced.

• Leon Kiptum, former Flutterwave East Africa VP and one of Kenya’s most respected fintech leaders, has sadly passed away after a long battle with cancer. Remembered for his calm, compassionate leadership and deep belief in people and purpose, Kiptum guided Flutterwave through challenging regulatory times and previously held senior roles at Barclays, KCB, Chipper Cash, and Betway

Deal Roundup

• MENA-focused expense management platform Alaan has raised $48 million in a Series A round led by Peak XV Partners, with participation from Y Combinator and other notable investors. The funds will be used to enhance its platform and expand its reach across the Middle East and North Africa.

• South African travel-tech startup TurnStay has secured $2 million in a funding round led by First Circle Capital. The company plans to use the capital to expand its operations across Africa and enhance its platform, which provides flexible accommodation solutions for business and leisure travellers.

• Ghanaian fintech startup Fusepay has closed a $350,000 pre-seed funding round led by US-based Hustle Fund. The company will use the investment to scale its platform, which helps African businesses manage their corporate spending through smart cards and expense management software.

Other Events and Opportunities

• Tech Safari and Itana are hosting a webinar to explore how to build infrastructure for the next generation of African founders. On Thursday, August 21, by 11 AM WAT / 1 PM EAT, join Iyin Aboyeji, Nkechi Oguchi and Caleb Maru to explore what Africa’s next wave of founders need. Register here.

• Jobtech Alliance and Bumpa are hosting an in-person meetup on Thursday, August 14, bringing together founders, operators, and digital work enablers to unpack how jobtech is evolving in the age of AI. Expect a fun icebreaker, live use cases from builders in the space, and solid networking with some of Nigeria’s top jobtech founders. Register here to get the location and save your spot.

• Visa has opened applications for the fifth edition of its Africa Fintech Accelerator. The program offers startups access to tools, mentorship, and industry connections to help scale their solutions. Applications are open here until August 15.

• The Africa Money & DeFi Summit returns to Accra on September 24–25, bringing together 500+ fintech and Web3 leaders. Applications are open for its Investment Showcase, where selected African startups will pitch to investors for funding and partnerships.

And that's a wrap!

That’s it for this week. See you on Wednesday 😃 

Cheers,

The Tech Safari Team

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