The refinery is expected to deliver fairer prices, transparent trading systems and new market opportunities for thousands of artisanal miners, trading posts, and small- and medium-scale mining operators. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Small-scale miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo are tipped to gain access to a …
Read More »Canal+ leverages AI to win over African audiences
After acquiring MultiChoice, French media giant Canal+ is turning to AI to analyze viewing habits and recommend locally relevant films, series and sports. It is also lowering streaming costs, raising the stakes in Africa’s local content battle. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | African streaming subscribers could soon …
Read More »Cheaper cross border call rates beckon on lower tariffs push
A new wave of reforms across Africa is setting the stage for significantly cheaper cross-border call rates, as regional blocs and national regulators move to cut mobile termination rates (MTRs) and roaming charges. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Cross-border traders and travellers across Africa are set to benefit …
Read More »African leaders call for job creation in mining sectors
Governments in Africa are pushing for local processing in a bid to turn their vast critical mineral reserves into factories, skills and long-term jobs. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Across Africa, governments are tightening export rules and changing mining laws to make sure they keep more value within their …
Read More »Car sales surge across Africa
New cars are hitting Africa’s roads faster than ever as local production rises and Chinese brands heat up competition with attractive prices.Morocco is speeding production at over 1 million units surpassing South Africa at nearly 600,000 units. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | After years of shortages, high prices and delayed …
Read More »Smartphone upgrades are surging across Africa
Africa’s mobile phone market is experiencing a surge as consumers in the continent’s biggest cities increasingly opting for higher-spec devices previously considered out of reach. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Africa is witnessing a mobile phone upgrade cycle moment. The obvious trend has been that of feature phones losing …
Read More »Local capital sparks Africa’s startup funding comeback
Africa’s startup ecosystem is bouncing back, with 2025 funding levels seen surpassing 2024 and 2023, driven largely by a surge of local investors taking charge. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Africa’s startup ecosystem is emerging from two difficult years with renewed momentum, buoyed by a funding rebound that is …
Read More »Kenyan engineers take action to help premature babies breathe safer
A duo of biomedical engineers in Kenya are designing low-cost regulators to help nurses safely manage oxygen in premature infants to reduce preventable deaths and higher risks of blindness. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | When healthcare engineer Lisa Mutheu joined the East Africa Biodesign fellowship, she anticipated a year of …
Read More »West Africa’s push for cheaper flights
Air travel across West Africa is set to become dramatically cheaper as ECOWAS eliminates a host of taxes and charges that currently make up nearly half the cost of a typical airline ticket. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | West Africa is bracing for a jump in air travel demand as …
Read More »A lioness caught on camera reignites hope for lion survival
It’s not just any lioness — it’s a lactating lioness. Caught on camera in a park in the Central African Republic, the big cat has reignited hope in a resurgence of lion populations in Africa. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Once written off as disappearing, lion prides in several …
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