In recent years, Africa has witnessed the launch of numerous smart city projects aimed at bridging the technology gap affecting the continent. 

Brigadier General Bonjean Rodrigue Mbanza, Gabon's Minister of Digital Economy and New Information Technologies, made an official visit to Cameroon on Tuesday, July 2 to explore technologies for a Smart City project in Gabon. The visit aimed to examine existing technologies and draw inspiration to support the development of the project.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Digital Economy, the visit included an inspection of the National Command Center for Video Surveillance and the Data Center in Yaoundé. This visit is part of the Gabonese government's efforts to seek partners and expertise for implementing Smart City projects in several Gabonese municipalities. In April, the minister also visited Shenzhen, China, where he met with Huawei executives and toured the tech giant's advanced infrastructure.

By exploring various technological solutions offered by multiple partners, Gabon aims to select the most suitable one for its needs. Similar to Smart City projects already deployed in several African cities, the Smart City initiative in Gabon aims to address complex urban challenges by creating intelligent urban ecosystems. These ecosystems will focus on areas such as planning, infrastructure, population management, and more.

This ambitious initiative demonstrates Gabon's commitment to integrating cutting-edge technologies into its urban development strategy. The project seeks to improve the quality of life for its citizens and position the country as a regional leader in smart cities.

Samira Njoya