South African regulators are preparing a new layer of oversight for online shopping payments tied to global platforms such as Temu and Shein, as authorities move to tighten control over cross-border digital transactions. The South African Reserve Bank (South African Reserve Bank), through its Financial Surveillance Department (FinSurv), is working on a framework targeting payment…

Bharti Airtel has completed a major internal restructuring move that strengthens its control over its African operations after acquiring a 16.31% stake in Airtel Africa from Indian Continent Investment Limited (ICIL). The transaction, finalised on June 22, 2026, was valued at about £1.9 billion and executed through a share swap deal in which Bharti Airtel…

Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has dismissed widespread reports claiming it recently approved 48 additional digital lending apps, describing the claims as inaccurate and misleading. The commission clarified that no new digital loan licences have been issued and insisted that the widely circulated figure of an expanded approval list (reportedly pushing total…

South Africa’s telecom regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has finally clarified what satellite internet providers like Starlink must do before they can legally operate in the country, ending months of uncertainty around its possible launch. In a new Government Gazette notice, ICASA made it clear that Starlink cannot simply activate services…

Mastercard has rolled out its first Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in Africa, choosing Johannesburg as the base as cyberattacks continue to rise across the continent’s fast-growing digital economy. The new facility is designed to act as a collaboration point for governments, banks, fintech companies and private organisations. Instead of operating in isolation, these groups will…

South African fintech giant Yoco has taken its biggest strategic step yet, signaling a major shift in the country’s rapidly evolving retail technology landscape. The company, best known for its card payment machines and merchant payment solutions, has acquired local artificial intelligence startup Dyner.AI in what marks Yoco’s first major acquisition. The move highlights Yoco’s…

Africa’s telecom industry witnessed one of its biggest transactions in recent years after Vodacom officially completed its acquisition of an additional stake in Safaricom, giving the South African telecommunications giant majority control of East Africa’s largest telecom operator. The deal, which had faced months of legal delays, was finalised on June 30, 2026, following approval…

Kenya’s telecommunications regulator is preparing tougher measures against mobile operators, including potential compensation for subscribers affected by dropped calls and poor network performance. The move signals a major shift in regulatory oversight as authorities seek to improve service quality across the country’s telecom industry. Communications Authority Proposes Tougher Quality Standards The Communications Authority of Kenya…

MTN Group has confirmed that ongoing anti-migration protests in South Africa have not affected its business operations, despite growing regional tensions ahead of nationwide demonstrations. The telecommunications giant said it continues to monitor developments closely while prioritising the safety of its employees and infrastructure. MTN Reports No Business Disruptions Speaking ahead of the planned nationwide…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revoked the operating licences of 46 microfinance banks, including fintech-linked institutions such as NOW NOW Digital Microfinance Bank, Sycamore Microfinance Bank, and OurPass Microfinance Bank. The revocation officially took effect on July 1, 2026, preventing the affected institutions from continuing operations as licensed microfinance banks in Nigeria. Fintech-Linked…