East Africa

1. In 2024, the mobile payment market in Africa reached $81 billion, with cyberattacks and fraud resulting in the loss of $5 billion, including $230 million in Kenya alone.

2. Vodafone, South Africa's largest mobile operator, will acquire a $2.1 billion stake in Safaricom, East Africa's largest telecommunications company, increasing its control to 54.9% and strengthening its financial inclusion efforts.

1. Of the 315 students kidnapped in Nigeria, 50 have escaped and reunited with their families.

2. The Ethiopian Investment Holding Company will launch a groundbreaking $85 million digital and fiscal stamp duty project aimed at improving circulation oversight and increasing fiscal revenue by introducing uniquely identified excise tax stamps on locally manufactured and imported goods.