Omar Mohammed

While not quite the six months it took his Nigerian counterpart, president John Magufuli at last revealed the make-up of his highly anticipated cabinet on Thursday (Dec. 10), a month after being sworn into office. He fulfilled his campaign promise of a small government, appointing 19 ministers. That compares with 30 cabinet ministers in former president Kikwete’s government.

South African president Jacob Zuma abruptly fired his finance minister Nhlanhla Nene yesterday (Dec. 9). He was replaced by David Van Rooyen, a relative unknown lawmaker with little experience in government. The episode heaps more uncertainty onto an already faltering economy.

Where Apple goes, Google will follow. Well, perhaps only this one time. The search giant introduced its Google Play Music in South Africa on Tuesday (Dec. 8) entering a competitive market for on-demand music streaming services that also includes Apple Music.

Where I come from in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, we have a concept known as “Utani”. This Kiswahili term means teasing or critiquing with affection.

South Africa’s economy has been struggling for a while now. And things are just getting worse.

Over the last decade, impact investment in Africa has emerged as one of the go to play for investors who want to make money while doing good.

This post has been updated.

The Nigerian government has agreed to reduce the hefty fine imposed on MTN to $3.4 billion following lengthy negotiations between the two parties. It’s a cut of 35% from the record $5.1 billion fine the Nigerian regulator had originally demanded.

In a landmark ruling in Britain, a judge has approved the first of its kind plea deal between the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the London arm of South Africa’s Standard Bank to defer prosecution on bribery charges involving its Tanzanian unit in exchange for a total of $32.6 million in penalties.

Former prime minister Roch Marc Christian Kaboré has been elected the next president of Burkina Faso after he emerged the clear victor in the presidential and parliamentary elections held on Sunday. He won with 53.5% of the vote, defeating his closest challenger, former finance minister Zephirin Diabre, who managed to attract the support of 21.6% of the electorate. The outright majority secured by Kabore means that no run-off will be necessary.

Despite democracy spreading on the continent, and improvements on healthcare, education, and the economy, there is one area where Africans believe the region is getting worse—corruption. In fact, over half the Africans contacted for a new poll by Transparency International and the research firm Afrobarometer say corruption is getting worse in their home countries.

The NBA is about to lose one of its best—and most bankable—players. When Kobe Bryant retires at the end of this season, he will leave behind a formidable legacy, measured in both points and dollars.

This post has been corrected.

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Pope Francis landed in Kenya yesterday (Nov. 25) on his first papal visit to Africa.

Pope Francis is on his way to Kenya today (Nov. 25) and the way things have been going in east Africa’s largest economy, they sure could use his prayers.

Tanzanians, like other Africans on the continent, are doing almost everything via their phones these days—from paying bills, depositing and transferring cash, to accessing loans.

Updated 12:03pm ET

South Africa’s economy may play second fiddle to Nigeria these days, but the “rainbow nation” still boasts the richest individuals on the continent.

After intense criticism over the decision to activate its “safety check” feature for the attacks in Paris but not for the Beirut bombings a day earlier, Facebook told over a billion users worldwide that it was changing its policy.

The decision by the Nigerian government to impose a record $5.2 billion against MTN has sent shock waves in the African business world, with analysts suggesting that it might scare off foreign investors from the country. But the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), says “non-compliance” and “obvious disregard” of the rule of law by the South African-based mobile operator compelled the regulator to issue the hefty fine.

Russian intelligence officials now believe that a bomb was responsible for bringing down the Metrojet airline that crashed in Egypt in late October, killing all 224 passengers on board, Interfax news agency reports. There are also now reports that Egyptian authorities have arrested two Sharm el-Sheikh airport employees they believe may have assisted the bombers.

The record $5.2 billion fine issued against MTN Nigeria by country regulators was due today (Nov. 16), but has been postponed until further notice.

It is as big an upset as when Douglas knocked out Tyson.