$1M Hashgraph Hackathon, AI fixes security problems as it creates new
Africa AI News weekly digest...
Good morning, and welcome to this week’s issue of Africa AI News – Weekly News Digest.
It’s been a fairly quiet news week for AI in Africa, although there is a nice steady stream of AI applications and developments. While there has been little specific policy direction, there are rising calls by political leaders across Africa for “digital sovereignty” in high tech, where skills and infrastructure are built in African countries.
At the same time, the use of the various AI bogeymen (fake news, political interference) by politicians as a justification to attack media freedoms highlighted in previous issues of AfricaAINews is rearing its head again in news stories, and a factor identified in the AI Governance toolkit.
On with this week’s issue!
/Roger
Investment
Hedera launches $1M African hackathon
#Africa #blockchain — The Swiss-based Hashgraph Association and Exponential Science Foundation has unveiled the Hedera Africa Hackathon 2025, with a $1 million prize pool. It kicks off now, with events over June and July and the main hackathon in August, targeting 10,000 participants across 15 countries. (Hedera Hackathon)
Kofa lands $8.1M to expand battery-swap network
#Ghana #funding — Ghana’s Kofa raised $8.1 million in mixed funding to grow its battery-swapping service which uses AI extensively for planning optimisation. With 200 daily swaps already in motion, the clean energy startup aims to serve electric motorcycles, homes and small businesses across the continent. (Afrotech)
Qualcomm picks top startups for Africa 2025 program
#Africa #startups — Qualcomm has announced the shortlisted startups for its 2025 Make in Africa programme, selecting innovators from Kenya, Tunisia, Nigeria, Senegal and Benin. The equity-free initiative offers mentorship and training in 5G, IoT and on-device AI. (Connecting Africa)
Some shortlisted startups:
Aframend (Nigeria): AI-driven drug discovery.
AmalXR (Tunisia): AI-powered VR patient rehabilitation.
ClimatrixAI (Nigeria): AI-driven hyperlocal flood risk prediction.
Ecobees (Tunisia): AI-based beekeeping.
Edulytics (Senegal): AI-based mobile liver fibrosis detection.
Farmer Lifeline (Kenya): Solar-powered pest detection AI robots.
Pixii Motors (Tunisia): Electric scooters with AI/IoT battery swap stations.
Pollen Patrollers (Kenya): AI/IoT based beekeeping.
Applications
WHO unveils AI toolkit to speed emergency response
#Egypt #health — The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo has launched the AIM Toolkit, an AI-powered system that cuts the time to produce emergency response documents from weeks to minutes. It aims to bolster preparedness across the region. (WHO)
AI app Daleela tackles health gap for Egyptian women
#Egypt #health — Reproductive health knowledge remains limited among Egyptian women, with recent studies revealing widespread misinformation. In response, doula Nour Emam’s startup Motherbeing has launched Daleela, an AI-powered app offering Arabic-language support on sexual and reproductive health. (Egyptian Streets)
Policy
AI Governance for Africa toolkit published
#Africa #policy — The AI Governance for Africa toolkit has been published. Its three parts unpack AI governance principles, review policy in key African countries, and presents advocacy strategies. Written by ALT Advisory, it forms part of Thomson Reuters Foundation’s AI Ethics, Data and Digital Rights Accelerator. (Thomson Reuters Foundation)
Zimbabwe announces Media Policy
#Zimbabwe #policy #media — President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the Zimbabwe Media Policy on Wednesday, intended to “promote the spread of factual, ethical, and patriotic content that reflects Zimbabwe's values and development goals.” Zimbabwe’s media and civil society have been under attack by government for decades, and the policy appears coercive: media “must foster peace, harmony, and patriotism”. (Bulawayo24)
Kenya joins Italy-led global AI hub board
#Kenya #governance — Italy and Kenya have deepened tech ties as Kenya joins the governance board of a new AI Hub for Sustainable Development. Set to launch in Rome on 20 June, the UN-backed hub will link African startups with global AI leaders. (iAfrica)
Ethiopia calls for African AI leadership at ETEX 2025
#Ethiopia #policy — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has pledged to position Ethiopia at the forefront of Africa’s tech revolution, citing AI as vital to the AU’s Agenda 2063. Speaking at ETEX 2025, he called for a digitally sovereign Africa that builds and governs its own platforms. (iAfrica)
Mauritius unveils AI Office and digital blueprint
#Mauritius #ICT — Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation Dr. Avinash Ramtohul laid out steps to align Mauritius’ digital future, including an AI Office, cybersecurity upgrades, and a push toward cashless government services. This was on the sidelines of a UNDP-organised Digital Strategy Alignment Workshop with representatives from ministries, civil society, private sector and academia. (NewsMoris)
Training
IBM to train 100,000 Egyptians in AI skills over five years
#Egypt #skills — IBM has signed a five-year agreement with Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) to train 100,000 Egyptians in AI through its SkillsBuild platform. The initiative sims to help build a workforce capable of meeting global AI standards. (Middle East AI News)
Only 5% of SA firms cyber ready, says Cisco
#SouthAfrica #cybersecurity — Just 5% of SA organisations are fully prepared to handle modern cyberattacks, according to Cisco’s 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index. Despite 92% using AI for threat understanding, a severe talent shortage and low security spend leave most firms dangerously exposed. Other findings:
AI’s expanding role in cybersecurity: 92% use AI to understand threats better, 89% for threat detection, and over 80% for response and recovery.
GenAI tools are widely adopted: 47% of staff use approved tools, 21% have unrestricted access to public GenAI, and 40% of IT teams do not know what tools staff are using. (ITNewsAfrica)
Zimbabwe, UAE partner on AI and digital training
#Zimbabwe #education — Zimbabwe will train over 10,000 teachers and lecturers annually in AI and digital literacy under a new partnership with the UAE. The initiative targets rural inclusion and is part of a national strategy to drive industrialisation and digital transformation. (TV BRICS)
Events
Inclusive tech takes centre stage at IWTz2025
#Tanzania #technology — Anchored by the Future Ready Summit, Innovation Week Tanzania 2025 gathered diverse voices to shape a resilient digital future. Sessions across cities and universities championed locally-driven innovation and inclusive technology strategies. (TechAfrica News)
[ This newsletter was human led and AI bred]