Al-Shabab Bans Mobile Money in Somalia

Somali rebel group al-Shabab has imposed a ban on the mobile money transfer service known as ‘Zaad’, according to a report by Reuters.

In a statement issued by the militant group, al-Shabab has ordered local telecoms companies to stop offering Zaad by 31 December 2010, stating the service poses a threat to the economy. The group claims that use of Somali shillings has declined in recent months.

Al-Shabab also says that mobile banking could expose Somalia to interference by Western countries through the international partners of the Somali telecoms firms.

Southern Sudan’s Hormuud Telecom, Golis Telecommunications in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland and Telesom in the breakaway republic of Somaliland all offer Zaad, which allows customers to use their mobile handsets to transfer money, make purchases, pay bills and recharge airtime.

In a country that has lacked an effective central government for almost two decades and where the banking sector remains underdeveloped, the Zaad service has become a popular means of moving money.

Azur Gabon Extends Billing Contract With Redknee

Redknee, a provider of billing and charging software and solutions, has received a new contract for an extended implementation of its converged billing and airtime-selling solutions by Gabon’s newest mobile operator, USAN Gabon (Azur).

Redknee says its turnkey solutions deliver a functionally rich platform that extends beyond basic rating, charging and billing models, enabling operators to differentiate their service offerings and launch creative promotions and incentives to their customers. A key feature is Redknee's Airtime Reseller, which enables voucherless, pre-paid wireless airtime top-up.

Azur is a subsidiary of Bintel, which is registered in Dubai but headquartered in Bahrain, and has a focus on emerging markets, with subsidiaries in the Central African Republic, Somaliland, Gabon and The Republic of the Congo, and it also holds a majority stake in Swiss-based firm Telesonique.