Technology

Sierra Leone, with EU and UNEP support, introduces e-kekes and solar battery-swapping stations to cut emissions and boost urban mobility. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The Environmental Protection Agency of Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) has launched the country’s first electric mobility strategy, introducing electric three-wheelers known as e-kekes

This initiative is part of a broader effort, “Supporting Sierra Leone with the Shift to Electric Mobility,” aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing urban mobility, and improving air quality, with support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

As part of its goal to lower emissions, “Supporting Sierra Leone with the Shift to Electric Mobility” will establish regulatory frameworks, pilot electric three-wheelers and battery-swapping stations, and develop sustainable business models. The project prioritizes scaling up and replicating successful initiatives while implementing fiscal policies to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption across the country.

Funded by the European Union through the SOLUTIONSPlus project, the initiative commenced in 2024. It is co-financed and implemented by the national government in collaboration with UNEP, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and local stakeholders.

This effort represents a key milestone in Sierra Leone’s transition to sustainable transportation. Initially, 15 e-kekes will be deployed in the capital, Freetown, with a strong focus on gender inclusion—30% of drivers will be women as part of a test phase.

The adoption of e-kekes is expected to yield significant environmental benefits. Traditional three-wheelers consume four litres of gasoline per 100 kilometers, substantially contributing to air pollution. According to the UN, air pollution is responsible for 394,000 premature deaths annually across Africa. Transitioning to electric vehicles will help lower local pollutants, reduce pollution-related health risks in urban areas, and enhance road safety by replacing gasoline-powered three-wheelers with high-quality e-kekes.

Despite their higher initial cost—1.2 to 1.5 times that of conventional vehicles—e-kekes present a strong economic case. Feasibility studies indicate that lower operational costs and an efficient battery-swapping system make them financially viable. Additionally, e-keke drivers are projected to earn higher profits while benefiting from reduced daily rental fees of US$1.5, compared to US$5 for traditional kekes.

The initiative supports the EPA and Ministry of Transport’s broader push for electric two- and three-wheelers, which make up 10% of Sierra Leone’s vehicle fleet. These efforts aim to strengthen economic resilience by reducing fossil fuel reliance while advancing the country’s 2050 carbon neutrality goals. Moreover, the project seeks to encourage entrepreneurship in the electric vehicle sector and generate employment opportunities for young people in the industry.

“Supporting Sierra Leone with the Shift to Electric Mobility” will run until 2026, featuring innovative elements such as solar-powered battery-swapping stations to optimise operational efficiency. A comprehensive monitoring framework will evaluate vehicle performance, environmental impact, and socio-economic benefits, including how the initiative influences women's participation in the transport sector.

Also read: https://africanreview.com/transport-a-logistics/how-is-taag-angola-modernising-its-fleet

The opening of the Raxio DRC data centre in 2024 (PHOTO CREDIT: Raxio Group)

Africa-focused data centre provider Raxio Group has announced that its 1.5MW facility in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has achieved the Tier Certification of Constructed Facility (TCCF) from Uptime Institute

The company inaugurated its state-of-the-art data centre in Kinshasa in 2024, marking the country’s largest data centre, and known as Raxio DRC1.

“Achieving the TCCF for our DRC data centre is a significant milestone for Raxio Group,” said Robert Saunders, the company’s chief technical officer.

“This certification not only demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of our team in overcoming many challenges but also reinforces our commitment to building and operating state-of-the-art data centres in emerging markets.”

It also underscores the growth and rising sophistication of Africa’s data centre network.

The Tier III certification process involved a rigorous four-day, on-site evaluation conducted by Uptime Institute engineers.

Every aspect of the DRC facility’s design and construction was tested, inspected and verified to ensure full compliance with Tier III standards.

Successfully passing every test validates that the facility has been built entirely in accordance with the approved design documents, underscoring Raxio’s technical expertise and unwavering dedication to quality, the company added in a statement.

“This prestigious certification reaffirms Raxio’s commitment to delivering world-class, reliable and high-performance data centre infrastructure across Africa,” it read.

With this latest certification, the company now boasts three Tier III certified facilities across its growing portfolio, further solidifying its reputation as a leading provider of cutting-edge data centre solutions in Africa.

“This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and expertise of Raxio’s engineering team, whose technical leadership was instrumental in securing this certification,” the company’s statement added.

“Additionally, the project management office team played a crucial role in overseeing construction efforts, while the local technical operations team ensured the facility was ready for the Uptime Institute’s rigorous testing.”

Following the launch of its first facility in Uganda, Raxio now has a presence in Ethiopia, the DRC, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Tanzania and Angola and is keen to expand its footprint further, with plans to build several new facilities over the next two years.

In December, Raxio announced that its facilities in Mozambique and Ethiopia had also achieved the prestigious Uptime Institute Tier III TCCF, underlining its commitment to delivering state-of-the-art, reliable and efficient data centre infrastructure across Africa.

The same month, it appointed a new chief executive, Robert Skjødt, to spearhead the company’s next phase of expansion, planning to at least double Raxio’s presence across the continent within the next three years.

“Our goal is to accelerate Africa’s digital growth responsibly,” he said on his appointment.

“By combining Raxio’s expertise in data centre development with sustainable energy practices, we can provide essential infrastructure that not only meets the needs of today but also preserves resources for future generations.”

Read more:
Powering the Civ1 data centre in Cote d'Ivoire

Raxio achieves Tier III facility certifications from Uptime Institute

Raxio launches Mozambique's first Tier III data centre

There is growing interest in blockchain and cryptocurrency in Africa. (PHOTO CREDIT: ADOBE STOCK)

Global digital asset trading platform STARDEER, which works in blockchain and cryptocurrency, has opened its first regional base in Africa, as part of a globalisation strategy

“Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions in the global digital asset market, especially among the youth, where acceptance of digital assets is very high,” said Amelia White, the company’s chief operating officer.

“Through localised services, we aim to better meet the diverse needs of the African market and provide regional users with a more convenient, secure and compliant trading experience.”

The establishment of the African regional centre aims to provide local users with more efficient and professional services, the company stated in a press release.

It will encompass various functions, including customer support, marketing, compliance consulting and regional cooperation, offering comprehensive support to users throughout Africa.

Additionally, STARDEER plans to strengthen its collaboration with local governments and regulatory agencies through the centre to jointly explore the application of digital asset technology in areas such as payments, financial inclusion and blockchain governance.

The opening of the Africa base follows the establishment of other regional hubs in Asia-Pacific and Europe and underscores the company’s commitment to regional development and global leadership in compliance and lawful operations.

As a platform holding a US’ MSB (Money Services Business) license, STARDEER has been dedicated to adhering to regulatory standards worldwide, ensuring the legality and compliance of its operations.

The MSB license requires the platform to strictly implement anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) policies, ensuring the safety of all users’ funds and the legality of transactions.

STARDEER has also announced partnerships with regulatory agencies “in several African countries” to promote the lawful compliance of digital asset trading in the region, without identifying the specific entities.

It added that this collaboration will include policy framework design, technical support and the implementation of AML compliance solutions to ensure the healthy development of local markets.

It is understood that STARDEER plans to further expand its market coverage in Africa over the next three years, including establishing branches in major countries and launching regional educational programmes to help more users understand and engage with digital asset trading.

Additionally, the platform plans to collaborate with financial institutions and technology companies in Africa to jointly build a regional blockchain ecosystem, creating more value for local users.

“The establishment of the African regional centre is not only an important step in STARDEER's globalisation strategy but also demonstrates its determination to promote the healthy development of the digital asset industry,” the company’s press statement read.

“Through technological innovation, compliant operations, and global expansion, STARDEER aims to bring more opportunities to the African market, supporting the region's digital transformation and achieving inclusive growth in the digital economy.”

Zambia boosts youth with digital skills and jobs. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

As digital technologies transform industries and reshape daily life, the demand for skilled workers in Zambia’s evolving digital economy is rising

This shift presents a significant opportunity for the country’s youth at a time when over 10% are unemployed, aligning with the implementation of Zambia’s National Development Plan 2022-2026.

According to Bernard Banda, director of Economic Regulation at the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA), digital skills have become essential in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. Speaking to ITC, he emphasized that businesses must enhance their services, introduce new offerings, and hire workers with the right expertise. “This has also extended to the need for cybersecurity of embedded e-commerce systems or digital services,” he added.

Recognizing the potential for youth entrepreneurship and rural economic growth, the National Development Plan highlights digital capacity-building as a key strategy for economic transformation. In response, ITC partnered with the Women’s Entrepreneurship Access Center and ZICTA to train 175 individuals in Lusaka and Livingstone. The programme equipped them with knowledge in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and social media, enhancing their freelancing capabilities.

Of the participants, nearly half were women, and over 60 have already established profiles on freelancer platforms. Additionally, 43 have reported securing new work opportunities due to the training.

“The We’Digit training programme gave me the confidence to complete my e-commerce website, as I was able to apply the knowledge I gained from the training,” said Mercy Chewetu Mukupa, founder and CEO of Queen of Chitenge Fashion Ltd. She aims to use her platform to onboard other designers and generate advertising revenue.

Livingstone-based freelancer Clive Lusana credited the programme for helping her integrate artificial intelligence tools into digital content creation. “The DIY model really helped me take responsibility over my own future,” she said.

This initiative is part of ITC’s broader efforts to bridge Zambia’s digital divide and unlock new business opportunities. Through its Fast Tracking Digital Entrepreneurship in Africa programme—supported by the Government of the Netherlands—ITC has trained numerous tech hubs, start-ups, and digital entrepreneurs in cutting-edge skills and tools.

Under FastTrackTech Switch ON, ITC has also connected Zambian entrepreneurs with global opportunities by facilitating their participation in major events such as the 2023 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and Web Summit in Lisbon. These networking efforts have helped professionals like Muchu Kaingu, Chief Technology Officer of microfinance firm Lupiya, build international partnerships.

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