BSS Modernisation: West Africa’s telecom operator has picked Covalense Digital to consolidate billing and customer management onto a single convergent BSS stack, aiming for a 360-degree account view and simpler journeys for agents and customers. Cross-border Payments: PAPSS plans to connect with Egypt’s Instapay, targeting faster, cheaper instant transfers across 30 African countries and pushing Egypt’s share of cross-border payments higher over the next five years. Financial Intelligence: Nigeria’s NFIU is mobilising banks, fintechs and insurers to co-design a Joint Financial Intelligence Collaboration framework to disrupt illicit networks and strengthen integrity. Retail Investment Push: Dangote Petroleum Refinery has named a 10-member board as it moves toward a major public listing, with governance and broader investor ownership in focus. Energy & Industry: Kenya is set to break ground on Dangote’s Sh2.2tn Lamu refinery on Sept 30, positioning it as a regional processing and distribution hub and a jobs engine. Illicit Trade Costs: South Africa says illicit goods drain about R200bn in uncollected taxes, squeezing consumers, jobs and compliant businesses. Creator Economy: Nigeria’s Haelsoft Marketplace launches to help African creators sell digital products and courses using mobile-first, local payment options. Credit Expansion: Nigeria’s CreditChek acquires Uganda’s Algosys to expand core banking and lending software coverage across East Africa. Sustainable Finance: MENA sustainable bond demand is cooling amid Gulf conflict uncertainty, higher yields and tighter conditions. Weather Risk: El Niño is strengthening, raising the odds of severe heat, drought, flooding and disrupted rainfall across Africa and beyond.