In 2025, Tech Labari covered a number of stories that shed light on transformative shifts in Africa’s tech, fintech, and mobility landscapes.
Here are the five standout stories and what they reveal about where things are headed.
1. Starlink Activates New Ground Station in Nairobi to Improve Service
We reported that Starlink launched a Point of Presence (PoP) / ground station in Nairobi, Kenya — its second in Africa after Nigeria.
- Why it matters: This infrastructure upgrade dramatically improved latency for Kenyan users. Previously, data had to route through Nigeria, creating high lag; the new station reduced that, improving speeds and reliability.
- Bigger picture: Starlink is showing that it’s serious about delivering high-quality satellite internet in Africa, not just a token presence. For the continent, this could mean more reliable connectivity in areas underserved by terrestrial broadband.
2. Trump Administration Eyes Major Expansion of Travel Ban Targeting 36 More Countries
We broke down a State Department memo that revealed plans by the Trump administration to expand its travel ban to 36 additional countries, many of them African.
- Why it matters: The proposed restrictions were based on concerns like visa overstays, weak identity-document systems, and security risks — and African nations make up a large portion of the list.
- Implications for tech and talent: Such a ban could heavily affect student mobility, business travel, and talent exchange between the U.S. and African countries.
3. Nigerian Open-Banking Startup Okra Quietly Shut Down in May 2025
One of the most significant fintech stories of the year: Okra, once Nigeria’s flagship open-banking startup, shut down operations (including its cloud spin-off Nebula) in May 2025.
- What went wrong: According to insiders, the shutdown was driven by a combination of regulatory delay (open-banking rules in Nigeria hadn’t taken full effect) and macroeconomic pressures (the naira’s decline made dollar-denominated bills much more expensive)
- Wider meaning: Okra’s fall is arguably a cautionary tale for African fintech — even big ideas need the right timing, regulatory framework, and financial resilience. It underscores how exchange rate risk and regulatory uncertainty remain key inhibitors for African startups.
4. Is BYD Already Winning the EV Competition in Africa?
In a forward-looking piece, we explored how BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant, is rapidly scaling in Africa.
- Growth strategy: BYD already has a presence in several African countries (e.g., Rwanda, Egypt), and is forming partnerships (e.g., with bus makers in Kenya).
- Challenges ahead: While demand is growing, EV charging infrastructure is still nascent — in Ghana, for example, public charging stations remain very limited.
- Why it matters: BYD’s expansion signals that EV adoption in Africa may not just be about individual imports but about a more systemic shift — and that Chinese EV firms might become key players in the continent’s clean mobility future.
5. Revolut Might Be Setting Up in South Africa
Tech Labari covered Revolut’s ambition to apply for a full banking license in South Africa.
- Strategic importance: South Africa is Revolut’s beachhead into Africa, a hub with strong financial infrastructure and high digital adoption.
- What’s at stake: A Revolut presence could shake up the South African fintech scene, challenging established digital banks (like TymeBank) and traditional banks by offering multi-currency accounts, investments, and more.
- Broader trend: If successful, Revolut’s entry could accelerate the “neobank wave” in Africa — but also shows how global fintechs are increasingly viewing the continent as a key growth market.
Key Themes for 2025
Looking across these top stories, a few broader themes emerge for the African tech scene in 2025:
- Infrastructure depth matters: Whether it’s satellite internet (Starlink) or EVs (BYD), scaling in Africa isn’t just about sales — it’s about building systems (ground stations, charging networks) that make these technologies reliable and usable.
- Regulation and macro risk remain huge: Okra’s shutdown highlights how regulatory delays and currency volatility can derail even well-capitalized startups.
- Geopolitics is a tech risk: Travel bans and visa policies aren’t just diplomatic issues — they have real implications for talent, remittances, and cross-border innovation.
- Global fintechs are eyeing Africa more aggressively: Revolut’s move into South Africa underscores a broader trend: big fintech players are seeing African markets not as peripheral but central to their growth strategies.
