こんにちは,
Victoria for Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- MTN faces growing pressure to exit Iran
- He can’t sing, but his AI artist is on Spotify
- Mauritania threatens fines, licence loss over SIM violations
MTN under fire as Iran unrest escalates
When a telecom company gets dragged into street protests, Internet shutdowns, and geopolitics, you know it’s no longer just a business story. That’s where MTN finds itself in Iran, caught between an authoritarian government, angry citizens, and growing pressure from investors and human rights watchers.
The latest call is blunt: MTN should cut its losses and leave Iran. That’s the view of economist Iraj Abedian, who says the company risks serious reputational and financial damage if it stays put amid nationwide protests against Iran’s ruling theocratic regime, per MyBroadband. Those protests, sparked by inflation and a collapsing currency, quickly turned into broader anti-government demonstrations, met with violence and an internet blackout enforced by telcos, including MTN’s affiliate, Irancell.
Why this matters is simple. Internet shutdowns aren’t neutral technical decisions; they’re political acts with real-world consequences. By complying with blackout orders, MTN risks being seen as enabling repression, even if it insists it has no choice under local law. Abedian argues this puts the company in a no-win situation: stay and be labelled a collaborator, or leave and take a financial hit.
The context makes things messier. MTN has been trying to exit the Middle East since 2020 and has already pulled out of Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen. Iran is different. US sanctions mean MTN can’t sell its stake, move money in, or take money out. As CEO, Ralph Mupita, puts it, the investment is essentially a “frozen asset.” Meanwhile, the group is already dealing with civil lawsuits and a US grand jury probe over past operations in conflict zones, claims MTN denies.
MTN says it hasn’t invested fresh capital or taken dividends from Iran since sanctions were reimposed in 2018 and denies reports that it planned a quiet exit via a Qatari intermediary. Still, critics warn that waiting things out could backfire badly. As Abedian puts it, hoping for a miracle won’t save the brand, and history shows companies can be held accountable long after the protests end.
He can’t sing, but his AI artist is on Spotify
Grief pushed Bukar Mamadu into an unexpected place: poetry. After losing his mother, writing became a quiet refuge, a way to process emotions he couldn’t quite explain. Years later, that same habit would lead him somewhere even more surprising: releasing music on streaming platforms without ever learning how to sing.
Today, Mamadu runs an AI-generated music project called BukarSkywalker, all while holding down a demanding full-time role as Chief Engineer at the University of Maiduguri. His journey sits at the intersection of loss, creativity, and technology, shaped by decades of curiosity about how machines work and how humans express feeling.
Mamadu’s relationship with technology started early. In 1989, as a teenager sneaking into his uncle’s study in Lagos, he encountered a PC running MS-DOS and quickly learned that computers weren’t “intelligent” unless you knew how to speak their language. That curiosity stuck. By the 1990s, he was learning BASIC, experimenting with early systems like the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, and later studying Electrical and Electronics Engineering before earning advanced degrees in Software Engineering.
Writing, however, came later and for very different reasons. A science student who once disliked English, Mamadu turned to poetry in his early twenties as a way to cope with grief. What began as private reflections slowly expanded into themes of purpose, faith, and life. Music soon followed, with his poetry morphing into song lyrics inspired by classic R&B and soul. He even had a track recorded in Nashville, but high costs and limited returns made traditional music production impossible to sustain.
AI changed everything. With new tools, Mamadu finally found a way to turn years of lyrics into songs without the need for studios, musicians, or massive budgets. What started as therapy has evolved into a creative experiment powered by technology, proving that it’s never too late to remix your story. For more on how Bukar Mamadu leapt from engineering to AI music, check out Delight’s latest for After Hours.
Mauritania threatens fines, licence loss over SIM violations
If you’re a telco in Mauritania right now, the regulator is watching, and it’s not bluffing. The country’s telecom watchdog has put three major operators on notice over how they identify their subscribers, with a clear warning: fix it fast or face serious consequences.
On Thursday, January 15, Mauritania’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARE) formally notified Mattel, Mauritel, and Chinguitel for breaching subscriber identification rules uncovered during recent inspections. The operators have been given two months to clean up their databases before a follow-up inspection determines their fate.
Under Mauritanian law, telcos are required to carry out biometric identification before selling or activating any SIM, eSIM, or related access device. They’re also expected to properly secure the personal data collected in the process. According to ARE, these obligations weren’t fully met across the operators’ subscriber bases.
If the issues persist after the deadline, penalties could be stiff. ARE can suspend or even withdraw licences, restrict access to frequencies or numbering resources, and impose fines of up to 3% of annual turnover or 5% for repeat offences. For operators without measurable turnover, fines could reach 10 million ouguiyas, doubling if violations continue.
This isn’t happening in isolation. Like many African countries, Mauritania has been tightening SIM registration rules in response to rising mobile-enabled fraud and security concerns. In 2023, regulators ordered the deactivation of unregistered SIM cards. With over 6.3 million mobile subscriptions in the country, the message is clear: no biometric ID, no network access.
In case you missed it
- Nigeria’s SEC raises capital requirement threshold for fintechs and virtual asset provider
- “The third party didn’t exist” – Femi Falana’s lawyer explains why Nigerian court ruled against Meta
What I’m watching
- How to Take Control of Your Emotions – Joe Hudson (4K)
- A Divorce Lawyer’s Warning: The Moment You’ve Already “Lost the Plot”
Opportunities
- MTN Nigeria is hiring a Specialist – International Remittance (Product Manager). Apply here.
- Bamboo is hiring a quality assurance manager. Apply here.
- Paystack MFB is hiring for a few roles. Apply here.
- Attend your first tech event in January! Tech Revolution Conference, a two-day event to discuss everything tech, takes place at Landmark Event Centre, Lagos on January 30 and 31, 2026. Get your tickets here.
- Don’t miss the Cavista Technologies Hackathon happening between February 21 and 22. Register your team and go home with cash prizes here.
- Kuda is recruiting a Head of Product (Credit). Apply here.
- Jumia is looking for a Senior Key Account Manager. Apply here.
- MTN is hiring a Specialist, International Remittance (Product Manager). Apply here.
- Don’t Miss the Africa Business Convention (ABC) 2026. It’s Africa’s #1 Business Conference & Investment Expo. It’s between February 3 and 4. Book your seat today here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for over 100 roles. Apply here.
- We’re hosting a debate on AI in daily life. Join us to share your insights and perspectives.
- Techpoint Africa is creating a video series where people discuss and debate policies and current events. If you enjoy thoughtful conversations, fill out this form. Apply here.
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Have a productive week!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
