Author: James Wambua

• Xente, co-founded by Francis Nkurunungi, is a fintech platform that streamlines business payments, collections, and financial operations.
• Targeting medium to large enterprises, Xente offers a digital wallet and integrates with systems like VISA to facilitate secure, efficient transactions and manage financial documents in one place.
• Currently, the startup has onboarded over 500 businesses in Uganda and plans to expand rapidly into Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Ghana.

When you think about the next big thing in fintech, your mind might drift to Silicon Valley or China. But Francis Nkurunungi, the COO and Co-Founder of Uganda-based fintech Xente, wants to change that perspective. He believes that Africa is the next frontier for technological innovation and investment.

At the sidelines of the 13th edition of the AIM Congress 2024 in Abu Dhabi, Francis shared Xente’s entrepreneurial journey, the opportunities and challenges they face, and their ambitious plans for the future. This is …

• Founded in Uganda, Famunera is a tech-driven startup that digitizes agribusiness operations, providing farmers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses with easy access to financing, market access, and supply chain traceability.
• Initially a B2C model for farm inputs, it transitioned to a B2B platform to address the unique financing needs of agribusinesses.
• With growing presence in the UAE, and the Netherlands, Famunera has onboarded over 1,000 agribusinesses and indirectly employed over 50,000 farmers.

Imagine a world where farmers from Uganda can seamlessly connect with agribusiness financiers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while cooperatives in the Netherlands can procure produce from African farmers without the usual hurdles of financing and market access. This vision is no longer a far-off dream but a reality, thanks to Famunera, an innovative agribusiness startup.

Famunera, founded by Naika Enock Julius in 2016, is on a mission to transform the global agribusiness scene. By leveraging technology, Famunera is …

• Kenya’s GDP grew by 5.6% in 2023, driven by a rebound in agricultural activities and strong performances in transportation, communication, and hospitality sectors.
• The manufacturing sector saw mixed results with modest growth in food production and significant increases in non-food manufacturing.
• Despite inflation remaining stable and financial indicators showing growth, the Nairobi Securities Exchange saw a decline, highlighting some challenges amid the overall economic recovery.

Kenya’s economy achieved a significant milestone in 2023, recording a robust Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 5.6 percent, official data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics showed on Monday. This impressive growth rate, up from a revised 4.9 per cent in 2022, marks a notable recovery driven largely by the agricultural sector’s rebound and a strong performance across various industries.

The 2024 Economic Survey Report paints a comprehensive picture of the factors contributing to this resurgence, highlighting both the successes and challenges faced …

• Three Americans are among 50 arrested in a failed attempt to overthrow President Tshisekedi of DRC.
• The alleged coup leader, Christian Malanga, a US-educated former refugee and naturalized US citizen, along with his son Marcel and Benjamin Zalman-Polun, a cannabis entrepreneur from Maryland, among those arrested.
• The UN and international community have condemned the coup attempt, instead, calling support for the Congolese government.

In a stunning turn of events that has sent ripples through the international community, three American nationals have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a failed coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The dramatic incident unfolded in the early hours of Sunday May 19th, culminating in a shootout in the capital, Kinshasa. Later, a disturbing video footage shows two of the American men pleading for mercy on the ground, surrounded by heavily armed government forces.

The plot to overthrow President Félix Tshisekedi’s government …

• Kazan Forum provided a unique platform for nations to strengthen ties and explore joint initiatives in various spheres including economic, educational, social, and cultural realms.
• With over 80 nations expected to participate, including representatives from prominent OIC member states, the forum catalyses international cooperation and collaboration.
• The forum’s comprehensive agenda also featured cultural events, fashion shows, competitions, and an international property market fair.

 AIM Global Foundation, a leading private organization dedicated to promote economic development and international cooperation, concluded its participation in the 15th International Economic Forum – Kazan Forum held over six days at the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Center. The forum served as a pivotal platform for experts and stakeholders from around the world to engage and explore avenues for enhancing economic and social relations

The XV International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: Kazan Forum” provided a unique platform for nations to strengthen ties and explore joint …

• South Sudan is recognised for its vast mineral resources, including a burgeoning gold industry.
• Over 50 alluvial sites near the Luri River, about 40 km southwest of Juba, have reported gold concentrations.
• Other alluvial gold concentrations have been found near the Kinyeti River, Nimule, and northeast Karpeto.

Globally, South Sudan is recognised for its vast mineral resources, including a burgeoning gold industry. This industry represents promising opportunities for collaboration with established gold producers, enabling the country to leverage its expertise for enhanced exploration, extraction, and value addition.

For the first time in its eight-year history, the South Sudan Oil and Power Conference and Expo has been extended to four days to include a concurrent mining forum. This forum aims to explore and promote South Sudan’s untapped mining potential.

It invites international investors and private companies to participate and engage directly with South Sudan’s Ministry of Mining, offering a unique opportunity …

• In Africa, a staggering 1.2 billion people lack access to clean cooking facilities.
• Lack of clean cooking facilities is one of the main causes of deforestation in Africa.
• AfDB funding is a major step along the road to saving the lives of 600,000 mainly women and children each year.

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has pledged $2 billion over the next decade towards clean cooking initiatives in Africa, marking a huge stride in the effort to save the lives of 600,000 people, predominantly women and children, each year. This commitment aims to address the health hazards associated with traditional cooking methods that rely on charcoal, wood, and biomass, which contribute to severe respiratory illnesses and environmental degradation.

At a summit on Clean Cooking in Africa, held in Paris, AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina announced that the Bank would allocate 20 per cent of its energy project financing to promoting …

• Across Africa, gender inequality in marriage, divorce, custody, and property rights is perpetuated by sex discrimination embedded in both legal systems and customary laws.
• Discriminatory family laws have profound impacts, increasing the risk of sexual and gender-based violence for women and girls.
• Laws in Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Sudan, and Tanzania still allow child marriage.

Discrimination against women and girls remains widespread in family laws across Africa, according to new research by Equality Now. An analysis of 20 African countries reveals that gender inequality in marriage, divorce, custody, and property rights is perpetuated by sex discrimination embedded in both legal systems and customary laws. Despite some significant legal reforms, progress has been slow, inconsistent, and hindered by setbacks, lack of political will, and weak implementation.

The report, “Gender Inequality in Family Laws in Africa: An Overview of Key Trends in Select Countries,” highlights how overlapping and …

• With Yeeo—a web app—individuals have the privilege of saving their time and cost of printing cards, which often end up being dumped and ensure their money is invested elsewhere.
• Yeeo’s business strategy brings together environmental conservation and this vision to help enterprises save billions spent on card printing.
• Dubai-based Yeeo has already secured intellectual property rights in 179 countries around the world.

As I navigated through the bustling crowd of delegates from around the world at the Startups Showcase during the AIM Congress 2024, I felt a gentle tug on my jacket. It was Abdullah AlShetiwi, a determined look in his eyes and a welcoming smile on his face.

As I reached out to offer my business card to Abdullah, he intercepted with a gesture, saving me the customary exchange. Instead, he swiftly pulled out his phone, suggesting we swap contacts via a QR Code. With a quick scan …

• About a fifth of children under 17 have received unsolicited online requests to discuss sex or sexual acts.
• Up to a third of children aged 12-17 in Ethiopia and Mozambique are sharing personal information with strangers online.
• An estimated 13 per cent of 12-17-year-olds in Kenya and Mozambique reported being threatened or blackmailed to engage in sexual activities online.
• A third of 9-17-year-olds in South Africa and over a quarter of 12-17-year-olds in Mozambique went on to have face-to-face meetings with individuals they initially met online.

Fresh reports from two of Africa’s leading child rights groups have uncovered a shocking rise in online child sexual exploitation and abuse across the continent. The African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) and ChildFund’s investigations reveal a deeply troubling trend, with children increasingly becoming victims of online predators.

These findings underscore an urgent need for robust measures to combat this growing menace and …