Visa Launches North Africa Sub-Region
Visa formed a new sub-region that includes Egypt, Libya and Sudan, saying the move will advance its strategic growth plans in the wider North Africa, Levant and Pakistan region. Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. The organization will be led by Malak El Baba, who Visa has appointed country manager for Egypt, Libya and Sudan. Please add us to your preferred sources list so our news, data and interviews show up in your feed. Add as Preferred Source“I am honored to take on this expanded role and continue driving Visa’s strategy across Egypt, Libya and Sudan,” El Baba said in the release.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 17, 2026 17:02 UTC
Al Ahly and Esperance to clash in heavyweight TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-final
Record 12-time champions Al Ahly of Egypt will face Espérance Sportive de Tunis of Tunisia in a heavyweight North African Quarter-final of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2025/26 following the last-8 draw conducted in Cairo on Tuesday. Al Ahly will travel to Tunisia to face Espérance in the first leg of their clash, before the return match in Cairo. The draw for the Semi-finals was also concluded and will see the winner of Espérance vs Al Ahly at home in the first leg against the winner of Mamelodi Sundowns vs Stade Malien. In the other Semi-final, the winner of AS FAR vs Pyramids FC will host in the first leg against the winner of RS Berkane vs Al Hilal. TOTALENERGIES CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2025/26Quarter-Final DrawQF1: RS Berkane (Morocco) vs Al Hilal (Sudan)QF2: Esperance ST (Tunisia) vs Al Ahly (Egypt)QF3: Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) vs Stade Malien (Mali)QF4: AS FAR (Morocco) vs Pyramids FC (Egypt)Semi-Final DrawSF1: Esperance ST/Al Ahly vs Mamelodi Sundowns/Stade MalienSF2: AS FAR/Pyramids FC vs RS Berkane/Al HilalFor more information on the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, please visit www.cafonline.com.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 17, 2026 16:46 UTC
Too little, too concentrated: why AI start-up funding in Africa needs rethinking
In Africa, AI and Tech investment remains concentrated in the “Big Four” – South Africa, Egypt, Kenya and Nigeria – at the expense of other countries across the continent. Steering investment to prepare countries for AITo attract capital toward AI start-ups, a country must itself be ready for AI. The AI Investment Potential Index (AIIPI), a research initiative, highlights that this adoption also relies on economic, political and social factors. Sovereign funds and instruments dedicated to new technologiesOnce a country’s AI investment strategy has been defined, the question of AI financing instruments arises. Development finance institutions, such as the African Development Bank or the West African Development Bank, are launching initiatives aimed at supporting the growth of the continent’s digital economy.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 17, 2026 16:25 UTC
Daily Memo: Ukrainian Advance, Polish Nuclear Ambitions
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Source:The North Africa Journal
February 17, 2026 16:00 UTC
Morocco’s dam filling rate climbs to 70.6% after heavy winter rains – The North Africa Post
Morocco’s dams reached a national filling rate of 70.6% on Feb. 16 after a new surge in water reserves driven by heavy winter rainfall, official data showed. Al Wahda, Morocco’s biggest dam, increased to 3.30 billion m³ from 3.12 billion, pushing its filling rate from 88% to 93%. Idriss I rose to 1.07 billion m³, reaching 94%, while Bin El Ouidane gained 153 million m³ to stand at 772 million m³, raising its rate to 63%. Dar Khrofa moved from 413 million m³ to 472 million, now 98% full. At Oued El Makhazine, cumulative inflows hit 1.46 billion m³, including 1.03 billion m³ in the past 15 days, forcing significant releases.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 17, 2026 15:43 UTC
Some Love Songs are More Than Just Romance
Whether it is resisting colonization, the Israeli occupation, Arab dominance, or the remnants of divide and rule, love often takes on a political dimension when artists assert their patriotism, or their mere existence, in songs. By focusing on the love between people that have so long been at war with each other, Keila made brave political statements in dangerous times. Elmiene’s For the Deported EP is a love letter to the country of his parents and the people that became refugees. Renowned Tuareg guitarist and singer-songwriter Bombino’s “Imajghane (The Tuareg People)” warns of the threat of Tuareg culture disappearing in our fast-changing world and calls on his people’s pride in their identity and spirit. Kabyle music is the traditional and modern popular music of the Kabyle people of northern Algeria, primarily sung in Tamazight and telling poetic stories of love, nostalgia, exile, social life, and identity.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 17, 2026 15:21 UTC
EY restructures francophone Africa operations into two entities, names CEOs
EY is advancing its restructuring in francophone sub-Saharan Africa, moving into an operational phase with the creation of two independent entities, ERITEDGE and ELYOS, and the appointment of their leadership teams. It reflects our ambition for the region,” said Eric N’Guessan, Cluster Leader for EY francophone sub-Saharan Africa. The firm said the entity builds on more than 50 years of technical expertise and will provide integrated audit and financial advisory services across the region. Arielle-Inès Séri Bamba, formerly head of audit and financial advisory for EY in francophone sub-Saharan Africa, has been appointed chief executive. “The launch of ERITEDGE and ELYOS marks a significant shift in the consulting and audit sector in francophone sub-Saharan Africa,” the firm said.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 17, 2026 14:19 UTC
MBZUAI receives $1M from Google.org for MENA AI
According to MBZUAI, this skew limits the accuracy and cultural nuance of AI systems when applied to Arabic dialects and minority languages across the MENA region. As large language models grow in scale and cost, the project aims to design training frameworks that require less manually annotated data and lower computational power. The collaboration forms part of what Google describes as the MENA AI Opportunity Initiative. Matias says, “We are happy to collaborate with MBZUAI, which is deeply rooted in advancing AI research and fostering regional academic talent. By focusing on low-resource languages in Large Language Models, we are progressing on the MENA AI Opportunity Initiative’s commitment to providing access to the most innovative AI technology in Arabic, its dialects and other languages spoken in the region.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 17, 2026 14:01 UTC
Why Astronomy in Africa Is Not Just Pure Science, but a Driver for Impact and Innovation
While astronomy is often viewed through the narrow lens of pure science, its real-world returns extend far beyond the telescope lens. In recent times, African astronomy infrastructure has been involved in key scientific discoveries and collaborations. The African Astronomical Society (AfAS) has advanced through collaborations with societies such as the European Astronomical Society and the American Astronomical Society. Integrating Astronomy into National Policy and Development PrioritiesRecognising the contribution that astronomy can make to national development agendas, there is a clear need to embed such programmes within national and regional priorities. Beyond delivering world-class science, astronomy creates jobs, develops transferable skills, and generates revenue across multiple sectors, from tourism and education to technology and industry.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 17, 2026 13:45 UTC
Badawi Highlights Investment Opportunities in Petroleum and Mining to IFC
Badawi Highlights Investment Opportunities in Petroleum and Mining to IFCKarim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, discussed with representatives of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank, investment and financing opportunities within the domains of petroleum refining, petrochemicals, and value-added industries, as well as the mining sector and the exploitation of mineral ores. Badawi highlighted the reforms and incentive measures implemented over the past year and a half to create an attractive investment climate in the oil and gas sector. These reforms have already facilitated agreements with two prominent global mining companies: AngloGold Ashanti and Barrick Mining Corporation. He noted that the mining sector is among IFC’s top priorities in Africa, with a focus on maximizing the added value of mineral resources. Egypt and the IFC agreed to form joint technical teams last year to study future cooperation opportunities and identify priority mining projects that are eligible for financing, ultimately contributing to sustainable development goals and maximizing Egypt’s economic returns.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 17, 2026 13:41 UTC
According to the IMF, North Africa gains momentum as Egypt and Morocco expand economic footprint
Egypt's GDP growth stabilised between 4.5 and 5.5 per cent in 2025, supported by public investment, energy projects and exports. Morocco recorded growth above 3.5 per cent over the same period, driven by automotive, aerospace and agribusiness sectors. The IMF notes that both economies benefit from proximity to European markets and from industrial linkages that are integrating North Africa into global value chains. The report also positions North Africa as a hub for trade and energy transition. North Africa recorded one of the sharpest declines, with investment inflows failing to keep pace with the region's economic growth and development plans.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 17, 2026 13:35 UTC
African Startups Raise $3.9bn in 2025 as Venture Market Steadies
African startups raised $3.9bn across 506 deals in 2025, signalling a steadying pulse for the continent’s venture ecosystem after two years of global market adjustment, according to AVCA’s newly released 2025 Venture Capital Activity in Africa report. While overall capital deployment remains below previous the highs of previous cycles, deal activity stabilised in 2025. Deal volume rose 4% YoY, making Africa the only global region where venture activity did not decline. Trade sales continued to anchor exit activity, accounting for over 70% of both exit volume and value, however exit routes have broadened modestly. Commenting on the findings, Abi Mustapha-Maduakor, Chief Executive Officer of AVCA, said: “The African venture capital ecosystem is recalibrating towards patient, structured and locally anchored capital.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 17, 2026 13:35 UTC
Family of murdered North Port woman reacts to convicted killer's death warrant
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Source:The North Africa Journal
February 17, 2026 12:03 UTC
Turkey Deploys Cagri Bay Drillship to Somalia in Historic Offshore Campaign
Cagri Bay can drill to 12,000 meters depth, targeting Curad-1 well at 7,500 meters offshore Somalia. Turkey’s seventh generation deep-drilling vessel Cagri Bay departed for Somalia on February 15, representing Ankara’s first overseas deepwater oil and gas exploration campaign and signaling renewed momentum in East Africa’s frontier basins. Security Partnership Underpins Energy AmbitionsThe drilling campaign operates within the framework of the Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement signed between Turkey and Somalia in February 2024. Turkey’s Expanding African Energy FootprintThe Somalia deployment is the latest extension of Turkey’s growing energy presence across Africa. The partnership includes onshore acreage in the Murzuq Basin and offshore Mediterranean blocks, building on a June 2025 offshore exploration memorandum of understanding between Libya and TPAO.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 17, 2026 10:47 UTC
Strong presence from the SWANA region
Arab cinema has an exceptional presence at the 76th Berlinale, with 15 different films being shown, including classics, jury entries, and talent programs, as well as the co-production market and its projects. These choices reflect the growing importance that filmmakers from the Middle East and North Africa have gained in recent years. Classic Films and ExhibitionThree jurors and eight talentsAhmed Shawky is a film critic, film festival programmer and holds many offices in the Egyptian film industry. He has served on film festival juries and writes regularly about cinema and the entertainment industry. Translation: Editorial RUYA Copyright: Goethe-Institut/ RUYAIn the international competition, Tunisian director Leyla Bouzid is competing with her film "In A Whisper", the only Arab film vying for the Golden Bear.
Source:The North Africa Journal
February 17, 2026 09:56 UTC