Vodacom secures Deloitte sign-off on $2.1 billion Safaricom stake deal
South Africa’s largest mobile operator, Vodacom Group has received an independent fairness opinion from audit firm Deloitte confirming that its planned purchase of an extra 20% stake in Kenya’s Safaricom for $2.1 billion is fair to shareholders. The sign-off clears a key regulatory step in its home country. The fairness opinion, dated
TikTok bans late-night live streams for Nigerian creators
Popular social media platform, TikTok has started restricting Nigerian users from hosting live streams during late-night hours. The platform claims this action is part of an ongoing safety investigation. Many creators have received in-app notifications informing them that their ability to go live at night has been temporarily disabled. Responding to Technext’s
No expat CEOs: Kenya’s final condition in landmark Safaricom sale
In tough conditions to ensure local control over Safaricom, the Kenyan government has directed that the telco’s chairman and the chief executive officer (CEO) must be Kenyan citizens, part of key stringent directives for Vodacom Group as it takes a controlling 55% stake in Safaricom after a KES 244.5 billion ($1.88 billion)
Today Africa Weekly | December 1 – December 7, 2025
Last week (December 1 – December 7, 2025) felt like that group chat where everyone is typing at once. Money flying here, regulators clearing their throats there, one company suddenly packing its bags for a bigger partner, another quietly walking in with fresh investor love. You look away for a
Terrorists use Starlink to evade Nigerian intelligence agencies – Presidential aide
Presidential aide Daniel Bwala has sparked controversy by claiming that terrorist groups operating in Nigeria remain untraceable because they use Starlink satellite internet and foreign mobile networks, an explanation that quickly unravelled under questioning during a live radio interview. The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication made the
FBI names Nigerian tech founder in $41m insider trading probe
The FBI names Nigerian tech founder and Pastel co-founder Izunna Okonkwo in a significant insider trading and money-laundering scheme that allegedly generated $41 million through the acquisition of several U.S. companies. Court filings from the U.S. District Court for New Jersey indicate that Okonkwo, 30, was identified as a co-conspirator after investigators
Top 10 African startup fundraises in 2025
Global venture capital hit about $366.8 billion by late 2025. More than half of that money went into artificial intelligence companies, which is the first time one sector has taken such a big share. But while the world was busy talking about AI, Africa was writing its own story. By
Spotify 2025 Wrapped: Tems and Burna Boy top the list
Grammy Awards winner and global Afrobeats sensation, Tems, has claimed a dual spotlight in Spotify 2025 Wrapped, emerging as both one of Nigeria’s most-exported artistes and the most-streamed woman in the country. This was revealed in Spotify’s 2025 data for Nigeria. According to the data, Ayra Starr held onto her title as
Chowdeck processes ₦1.4 billion in orders on Black Friday in Nigeria and Ghana
Y Combinator-backed on-demand delivery platform, Chowdeck, processes ₦1.4 billion in orders on Black Friday 2025: 52,000 deliveries in a single day, more than double last year’s 25,000. By December 1st, the four-day campaign had hit 182,000 orders and 727,000 kilometres covered. The company ran a live tracker at bfcm.chowdeck.com that
CBN revises Nigeria’s cash withdrawal and deposit limits
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a circular to all banks, other financial institutions, and the general public, revising its cash-related policies and making significant changes to how Nigerians withdraw and handle cash. The circular, titled ‘Revised Cash-Related Policies’, states that: Additionally, exemptions for embassies, diplomatic missions, and donor agencies have
