Mara X and Mara Z smartphones

Rwanda’s Mara Group launched two smartphones on Monday, describing them as the first “Made in Africa” models and giving a boost to the country’s ambitions to become a regional technology hub.

The Mara X and Mara Z will use Google’s Android operating system and cost 175,750 Rwandan francs ($190) and 120,250 Rwandan francs ($130) respectively.

Samsung’s cheapest smartphone in the country costs 50,000 Rwandan francs ($54), and nonbranded phones are 35,000 Rwandan francs ($37).

Mara Group CEO Ashish Thakkar said the company was targeting customers “willing to pay more for quality”.

“This is the first smartphone manufacturer in Africa,” Thakkar said after touring the company with Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

Companies assemble smartphones in Egypt, Ethiopia and Algeria but import the components, he said.

“We are actually the first who are doing manufacturing. We are making the motherboards, we are making the sub-boards during the entire process,” he said. “There are over 1,000 pieces per phone.” Thakkar said the plant had cost $24m and could make 1,200 phones per day.