Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Africa AI News email digest!
A bumper Africa AI News issue again this week! Africa’s tech sector saw major moves in funding, infrastructure and national digital capacity this week. Nigeria’s Terra Industries closed a $52 million seed round to scale autonomous security systems, while the government unveiled a National Digital Cloud Policy targeting $750 million in private investment over two years. In Kenya, Amaco Energy Group proposed a $1.5 billion AI data centre in Mombasa, highlighting growing demand for large-scale computing infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Morocco established four Jazari institutes to build research, skills and sovereign computing capacity.
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/Carrington
Data Centres
Amaco proposes $1.5B AI Mombasa data centre
#Kenya #infrastructure - Greek firm Amaco Energy Group is seeking approval for a $1.5 billion AI data centre in Mombasa, Kenya. The HERCULES project would generate LNG-based power for an AI data centre independent of the national grid, with integrated cooling. Financing, customers, facility size, approval status and construction timetable remain undisclosed. [Business Daily Africa]
AI Analytics and OADC expand local AI computing
#Nigeria #infrastructure - AI Analytics Intelligence and Open Access Data Centres announced a partnership to offer locally hosted AI and cloud infrastructure across Africa. The service combines enterprise software with high-performance computing, including AI Processing Units, for businesses seeking local data residency, stronger security and regulatory compliance. [Punch]
Startups
Terra Industries closes $52 million seed round
#Nigeria #funding - Terra Industries has raised $18 million, closing its seed round at $52 million. New investors include Norleo Space Investments and Grant Gordon. It will scale autonomous security systems, ArtemisOS software and manufacturing, including a Ghana factory planned to open in the fourth quarter of 2026. [TechCrunch]
Jem raises $8.4 million for AI workforce platform
#SouthAfrica #funding - Jem has raised $8.4 million in a Series A led by Quona Capital. Jem’s WhatsApp-based service supports more than 250,000 workers at over 200 companies. Jem will add rostering, employee assistance and credit scoring while expanding its AI-powered workforce-management platform for frontline workers across Africa. [FurtherAfrica]
AI widens performance gap among Kenya entrepreneurs
#Kenya #entrepreneurship - Columbia Business School research involving 640 Kenyan entrepreneurs found GPT-4 assistance widened performance gaps rather than narrowing them. Initially low-performing businesses recorded nearly 10% worse outcomes, while high performers gained more than 15%, suggesting users need existing expertise to judge and apply AI-generated advice effectively. (Columbia Business School)
Ethiopia AI startups graduate from bootcamp
#Ethiopia #startups - The Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute, Addis Ababa University and UNDP have completed a two-week bootcamp for startups at minimum viable product stage. Delivered through the AI Unipod initiative, the programme provided technical and practical support to help participants develop AI-based solutions addressing social and economic challenges. (Tech Review Africa)
Kenya and AWS sign Konza cloud deal
#Kenya #cloud - Kenya’s Technopolis Development Authority and AWS have signed a collaboration agreement covering an AWS Outpost at Konza and a Startup and Innovation Centre of Excellence. The deal sets workstreams for cloud adoption, skills development, infrastructure alignment and startup support, including AWS credits and technical mentorship for participating founders. [APTANTECH]
Policy
Nigeria launches national digital cloud policy
#Nigeria #cloud - Nigeria has unveiled the National Digital Cloud Policy, targeting $750 million in private investment over 24 months. The framework covers data centres, cloud and AI computing, creates a National Digital Marketplace, and sets phased steps for government migration, provider onboarding, infrastructure expansion and digital-service exports. [Developing Telecoms]
Mozambique advances national AI strategy
#Mozambique #AIstrategy - Mozambique’s INTIC has presented its proposed national AI strategy to Vodacom Mozambique as consultations continue. Developed with support from UNESCO and partners, the framework focuses on digital inclusion, private-sector innovation and technology jobs, alongside ethical governance, data security and responsible adoption of emerging technologies. (TechAfrica News)
Education and workforce
Meta opens Nigeria AI Academy applications
#Nigeria #education - Meta, 3MTT and RAIN opened applications for Meta AI Academy Nigeria on 18 August. The programme combines self-paced learning, technical training and startup support. The top two Nigerian teams will each receive $5,000 in equity-free funding, advertising credits and a chance to attend Meta’s regional AI summit. [MSME Africa]
Somalia launches Bile AI training initiative
#Somalia #sducation - Somalia launched the third Bile Initiative in Mogadishu on 20 August for more than 160 ICT students from 22 universities. The programme covers artificial intelligence, cloud computing, software skills and analysis, and aims to move participants into work. Women represent 43% of the cohort; Tabaarak and SomaliREN implement it together. [Dawan Africa]
Egypt runs nationwide technology hackathon
#Egypt #education - Egypt is running a five-day artificial intelligence hackathon through 20 August at CREATIVA Digital Egypt Innovation Hubs, including locations from Alexandria and Cairo to Aswan. Students and graduates receive in-person and online training while developing projects intended to strengthen employment-ready technology skills. (Egypt Innovate)
Namibia updates qualifications for new skills
#Namibia #Education - The Namibia Qualifications Authority is developing a national qualifications framework to align training with demand in oil and gas, the energy transition and artificial intelligence. Standards will be reviewed every five years, with earlier updates allowed as technology, safety or industry requirements change, alongside a micro-credentials framework. (The Brief)
CoEs & Labs
Morocco creates four Jazari institutes
#Morocco #CoEs - Morocco has formally established four Jazari institutes covering research, education, industry and smart cities. The network will support sovereign computing, high-performance infrastructure, skills development, Industry 4.0 and data-driven urban services under the Maroc IA 2030 roadmap for stronger national digital capabilities. (Morocco World News)
GenAI
Egypt launches sovereign BelMasry platform
#Egypt #Arabic - Egypt’s Communications Ministry has launched BelMasry, a free sovereign platform supporting Egyptian dialects and Modern Standard Arabic. Developed by the Applied Innovation Center, it combines speech-to-text, translation and text-to-speech capabilities and translates across 50 foreign languages, supporting digital inclusion and data sovereignty. (Ahram Online)
Robotics
Prosus bets on $20,000 robots
#SouthAfrica #robotics - Prosus expects general-purpose robots to become commercially viable within years as hardware costs fall and training improves, potentially reaching about $20,000 each. The Naspers-controlled technology investor says task reliability has risen from around 65% in 2023 to as much as 99.9%, with warehouses and logistics likely early adopters. (Business Insider Africa)
Manufacturing
Egypt launches digital platform for manufacturers
#Egypt #manufacturing - Egypt’s Ministry of Industry has launched a unified digital platform covering manufacturers’ full investment cycle. Services include complaint tracking, marketplaces for inputs and finished goods, financing links and an artificial intelligence “Calculate Your Opportunity” tool that produces preliminary feasibility studies within minutes. (State Information Service)
Accessibility
Egyptian founder’s ScribeMe reaches 140 countries
#Egypt #accessibility - Egyptian entrepreneur Mark Morad’s ScribeMe app helps blind users interpret their surroundings through phones and Meta smart glasses. Used by thousands across 140 countries, it supports 20 languages, including Arabic, and offers real-time visual descriptions, document scanning and camera-based assistance. (Reuters)
Bilaterals
Ethiopia and Russia deepen technology cooperation
#Ethiopia #techtransfer - Ethiopia and Russia plan to deepen technology cooperation in research and development, human capital and technology transfer. During a visit to the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute, Russian Ambassador Evgeny Terekhin said the partnership aligns with the wider BRICS agenda for shared development and mutual benefit. (Fana Media Corporation)
[ This newsletter was both AI edited & human edited ]