Djiboutian authorities are stepping up initiatives to transform the country into a digital hub by 2035. This includes exploring support from other countries and international organizations.

Djibouti is ramping up efforts to implement its digital transformation roadmap, with the goal of becoming a technology hub by 2035. As part of this strategy, Mariam Hamadou Ali, Minister of Digital Economy and Innovation, met with representatives from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) during a workshop on Monday, February 3.

In recent months, Djibouti has already engaged with several countries and international organizations, including the European Union, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), India, and Qatar. Talks with Qatar have particularly focused on developing and strengthening cybersecurity partnerships.

The government's ambitions include expanding digital services, promoting ICT adoption, and creating a favorable investment climate for the private tech sector. However, Djibouti still faces challenges in its digital development.

According to the ITU, Djibouti currently ranks 17th in Africa out of 47 countries for ICT development, with a score of 61.6 out of 100. This marks a slight decline from 2023, when the country ranked 16th with a score of 63.6. Additionally, the United Nations e-Government Development Index (EGDI) places Djibouti in the "intermediate development" category, with a score of 0.2911 out of 1. On cybersecurity, the ITU classifies Djibouti in Tier 4 out of 5, grouping it with nations that demonstrate only basic government-driven cybersecurity initiatives.

International cooperation presents an opportunity for Djibouti to leverage the expertise of more advanced nations in digital transformation. However, most discussions remain at a preliminary stage, and it remains to be seen whether they will result in concrete agreements.

By Isaac K. Kassouwi,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji