Reliable internet is something many people only notice when it is slow, expensive, or unavailable. That is why Amazon’s move into Africa’s satellite internet market matters.

Kenya has already shown that there is strong demand for better connectivity when traditional options fall short. Now, with Amazon preparing to challenge Starlink on the continent, the competition is no longer just between two tech giants. It is increasingly about who can connect more homes, businesses and communities that have long been left behind.

For Africa, more competition could mean something simple but powerful: better internet, wider coverage and more choices for millions of people.

Amazon is seeking approval to build its first satellite gateway in Africa, choosing Kenya as the launch point for a deeper push into the continent’s fast-growing internet market.

The proposed facility would connect Amazon’s low-Earth orbit satellite network to ground-based internet infrastructure, helping improve connection quality and reduce delays. If approved, it would mark Amazon’s biggest infrastructure investment in Africa so far and place it in direct competition with Starlink, which has already gained more than 22,000 subscribers in Kenya.

The move highlights Kenya’s growing role as a regional technology hub and a key battleground in Africa’s next connectivity race. Read more…

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Travel connectivity as a new market: How traveller behaviour is changing in the eSIM era

The global travel eSIM market grew from $989 million in 2024 to $1.8 billion in 2025, driven by changing traveller behaviors.

Currently, 51% of global eSIM users activate the technology specifically for travel to avoid expensive traditional roaming charges. By 2030, experts expect 35% of international travellers to buy an eSIM before departure. Read more…

🇿🇦 South Africa’s richest black man loses $700 million in 3 months as gold rally reverses

Patrice Motsepe’s fortune has fallen by about $700 million since March, dropping from roughly $4.3 billion to $3.6 billion as gold prices retreated and mining stocks lost momentum.

The decline reflects pressure on key holdings such as African Rainbow Minerals and Harmony Gold. While mining remains the foundation of his wealth, investments in banking, telecommunications and technology have helped reduce some of the impact from the commodity downturn. Read more…

🇹🇿 East Africa’s second-largest economy turns to Russia for $2 billion in investment deals after fallout with the US and EU

Tanzania is seeking more than $2 billion in investment and business deals from Russia over the next three to five years as it works to broaden its international partnerships.

During President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s visit to Russia, officials held talks covering healthcare, mining, energy, agriculture and technology. Tanzanian authorities said closer ties with Moscow do not mean a break with Western partners, stressing that the country will continue pursuing investment opportunities that support its long-term development goals. Read more…

Top 10 best-performing African countries in 2026, according to latest ranking

A new 2026 performance index by Jeune Afrique and The Africa Report ranks African nations using 24 indicators across governance, influence, and innovation. South Africa takes the top spot, Mauritius ranks second, and Namibia is third as the continent's most improved country.

Source: Jeune Afrique and The Africa Report.

🇷🇺 Europe's search for alternatives to Russian and Middle Eastern gas revives two African pipelines worth $38 billion

Europe's quest for energy supplies has renewed interest in the $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline and the $13 billion Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline.

Aimed at reducing dependence on Russian and Middle Eastern gas, both projects are designed to transport up to 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually from Nigeria to European networks via routes through West Africa and Algeria. Read more…

🇳🇬 Africa buys 9 out of every 10 off-grid solar kits sold globally as Nigeria drives recovery

Sub-Saharan Africa sold 9.26 million off-grid solar kits in 2025, accounting for over 90% of global sales. According to GOGLA data, this represents a 15% increase from 2024.

East Africa remained the largest market with a record 7.43 million units sold, while Nigeria led a 26% West African recovery with a 33% sales jump.

Growth across the continent was heavily driven by surges in PAYGo financing. Read more…

Botswana is home to the world’s largest elephant population, with more than 130,000 African savanna elephants roaming its terrain. This represents over one-third of all remaining elephants on the continent, making the country a vital sanctuary for the endangered species. Interestingly, thousands of these elephants migrated into Botswana over recent decades, seeking safety from poaching and conflict in neighboring nations.