Digital technologies are driving the rapid transformation of Africa's economy. Recognizing this, African leaders are ramping up efforts to establish high-quality digital services and expand access to high-speed internet.

African Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ministers have set a target to boost the continent’s internet access by 20% within the next five years. This resolution was reached at the Connected Africa 2024 summit, which took place in Nairobi from April 21 to 25. The summit concluded with a declaration aimed at fostering a digitally connected and empowered Africa, setting several ambitious goals for the continent’s digital transformation.

Kenya’s Minister of Information, Communication, and Digital Economy, Eliud Owalo, underscored the significance of collaboration in propelling Africa’s digital transformation during the summit’s closing ceremony. According to the official, by harmonizing digital policies across the continent, the continent can expedite its aspiration to become a leading global trade power under the African Continental Free Trade Area. He also disclosed a plan to equip one million young Africans with digital skills by 2027 ,through capacity building, to advance the collective vision of a digitally empowered Africa by 2030.

The 14 African ICT ministers who attended the Connected Africa 2024 summit will follow a comprehensive digital empowerment roadmap. This roadmap includes agreements, commitments, and political resolutions, such as initiatives to integrate digital skills into educational curricula, develop broadband infrastructure, facilitate digital trade via the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and encourage research and innovation in artificial intelligence.

The fourth edition of the Connected Africa summit is in line with Africa’s Digital Strategy 2063 and the African Union’s Vision 2030. The aim is to synchronize the efforts of African nations to hasten digital transformation and bridge the digital divide across the continent.

Samira Njoya

Posted On jeudi, 02 mai 2024 14:57 Written by

Robust ID systems can curb cybercrime and boost Africa's economic development by enhancing security and trust in digital transactions. Accurate identification enables targeted resource allocation, fostering financial inclusion and driving economic growth.

The Central Bank of Uganda, BoU, recently mandated a government-issued ID presentation for digital transactions exceeding one million Ugandan shillings ($260). The move, announced on April 19, aims to combat digital payment fraud in line with regulatory requirements.

The institution revealed in a tweet that it has “observed a rise in the usage of mobile money platforms for online fraud and scams. Mobile money systems have occasionally been the target of cybercrime carried out by agents working with criminals.”

Bank of Uganda on X: "TRUE: The Bank of Uganda observed a rise in the usage of mobile money platforms for online fraud and scams. Mobile money systems have occasionally been the target of cybercrime carried out by agents working with criminals. Therefore, in compliance with Section 55(1)b of the…" / X (twitter.com)

Valid national IDs or passports are now necessary for transactions surpassing one million Ugandan shillings.

KPMG, in its Africa Cyber Security Outlook 2022 Survey, reveals that East Africa has the highest proportion of cyber-attacks in Africa, with 31% reported incidents. Also, despite 39 out of 54 African countries having cyber security legislation, Africa's adoption of such policies stands at 72%, the lowest globally.

Strengthening cybersecurity measures is crucial to enhance digital resilience and protect financial systems and individuals from future threats.

Hikmatu Bilali

Posted On mardi, 30 avril 2024 17:43 Written by

Morocco becomes the fourth African country to join UNESCO Digital Skills Initiative, Following Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, and Nigeria

On Tuesday, April 23, Moroccan authorities, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Chinese tech giant Huawei, initiated a program aimed at enhancing the digital skills of educators, particularly those teaching literacy. The objective is to boost the digital competencies of 10,000 literacy educators by 2025. The launch was announced last week through press releases from both UNESCO and Huawei.

Literacy is the foundation of lifelong learning and a driver for sustainable and participatory development. In light of the digital transformation, it is essential that literacy instruction leverages the full potential of technology. We are proud to support the Kingdom of Morocco as a member of the UNESCO Global Alliance for Literacy in improving the digital skills of 10,000 literacy teachers by 2025,” stated Isabell Kempf, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL).

This program is a component of the national strategy for the digitization of education, which is part of the Morocco Digital 2030 strategy. The strategy aims to position the kingdom as a regional leader in digital education. In November 2023, the Moroccan government collaborated with American company Oracle to foster digital skills in higher education, thereby providing professors and students with access to training, learning resources, and specialized software.

In essence, the implementation of this initiative will enhance the quality of education in Morocco, better equip students for the digital era, and bridge the digital divide in the kingdom.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

Posted On mardi, 30 avril 2024 12:42 Written by

Faced with the growing enthusiasm for social media, an increasing number of advertisers are turning to these platforms to promote their products. However, many platforms sometimes do not comply with the regulations imposed by the government.

On Thursday, April 24, the Mauritanian Advertising Regulatory Authority (ARP) granted the first 12 permits for ordinary individuals to advertise on social media. This move is part of an initiative to foster a legal, healthy, and organized advertising practice on social media platforms.

At an official ceremony in Nouakchott, Doro Sow, the ARP Administrative and Financial Director, underscored that these new permits do not limit advertising freedom. Instead, they are necessary for ensuring compliance with Mauritania’s advertising laws.

The issuance of these permits is a component of the ARP’s new approach to regulating advertising on social media platforms. This strategy follows the ARP Council’s publication of deliberation No. 01/2024 on March 12, 2024. The deliberation outlines the conditions for authorizing advertising on digital platforms and personal social media accounts, as well as the procedures for revoking these authorizations.

The decision required individuals advertising on social media to comply with the law within a one-month period starting March 13, 2024. The first licenses were consequently issued to individuals who adhered to this procedure.

The ARP’s objective is to regulate digital platforms and ensure adherence to advertising laws across the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The country’s Law No. 2018-017 on advertising stipulates two regimes for conducting advertising activities and related services: the authorization regime and the declaration regime, each depending on the specifics of the activity.

Samira Njoya


Posted On mardi, 30 avril 2024 09:11 Written by

Enhancing digital infrastructure and facilitating cross-border telecommunications can greatly benefit Africa's economic development by improving connectivity and enabling online commerce, fostering innovation and growth across the region.

The Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy of The Gambia has unveiled the US$50 million Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Programme (DTfA/WARDIP) SOP-1. Funded by the International Development Association (IDA) and supported by organizations like the African Union, Smart Africa, and ECOWAS, the initiative, launched on April 24, aims to transform the digital landscape across The Gambia, Guinea Conakry, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania.

Ousman A. Bah, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy of The Gambia highlighted the program's objectives, emphasizing its role in addressing critical digital challenges and unlocking opportunities. The initiative comprises three components: connectivity market development, data market development, and online market development, aimed at fostering cross-border telecommunications, facilitating data-driven services, and enhancing the digital ecosystem for cross-border commerce.

For Lacina Kone, CEO of Smart Africa, the initiative is a milestone in regional digital innovation and integration, emphasizing the importance of collaboration for economic transformation.

Access to the internet and connectivity are crucial for economic development in developing nations. The World Bank's Policy Research Working Paper 9853 highlights that expanding 3G and 4G connections by 10 percentage points can boost the economy by 0.41 percentage points, with 3G contributing 0.02 percentage points and 4G contributing 0.05 percentage points. Overall, increasing internet penetration enhances annual growth per worker by 0.6 percentage points. Yet, despite global mobile broadband coverage, approximately 16% of the population in central and western Africa lacks access, as reported by the ITU Mobile Network Coverage Facts and Figures 2023.

According to World Bank data, The Gambia's internet usage rate was 33% in 2021. However, access to fixed broadband remains significantly below the global average of 13.6, standing at 0.19 per 100 inhabitants. Mobile subscriptions are higher, with 101 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, but 4G uptake remains low, accounting for just 4.5% of all data subscribers.

Hikmatu Bilali

Posted On mardi, 30 avril 2024 08:00 Written by

Data centers are becoming the backbone of cloud services adoption. They provide users with everything they need to get started – online storage, computing power, software, servers, and applications – all accessible over the internet.

From 2012 to 2022, the number of data centers in West and East Africa saw a significant increase, jumping from 9 to 134. This information was highlighted in the "Digital Progress and Trends Report 2023" published by the World Bank in March 2024.

The report explains: “Development funding for data centers is increasing to fill the financing gaps. In Africa, where an estimated annual investment of between US$4 billion and US$7 billion is needed to bridge the region’s data center gap, the US International Development Finance Corporation is providing funding of US$300 million to Africa Data Centers to support the expansion and development of seven existing and greenfield data centers in five African countries.

The ongoing technological revolution in Africa, accelerated by the digital transformation spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, has made digital infrastructures, especially data centers, essential. An increasing number of globally recognized providers have established a presence on the continent, leading to a rise in the number of these infrastructures in Africa.

Several American companies, including Raxio Data Centres, Digital Realty, and Oracle, along with France's Orange and China's Huawei, have set up operations in various African countries. Local entities like Africa Data Centres, Paix Data Centres, Onix Data Centres, and MainOne continue to expand across the continent. In addition to private sector involvement, African governments are also investing in these infrastructures in their pursuit of digital sovereignty.

The "Cloud Computing Market" report published in December 2023 by U.S.-based market research firm MarketsandMarkets projected that the global cloud market would grow from $626.4 billion in 2023 to $1,266.4 billion by 2028, with a compounded annual growth rate of 15.1%. While this growth is promising, Africa and the Middle East hold marginal shares compared to North America, the undisputed leader in the sector, according to the same source.

Adoni Conrad Quenum


Posted On lundi, 29 avril 2024 11:53 Written by

Guinea is working on several digital projects and is seeking experienced partners to effectively bring them to fruition. The West African country is eager to move forward quickly with the implementation of these projects.

Guinea and the United States have expressed a shared interest in digital sector collaboration. Aminata Kaba, Guinea's Minister of Technical Education and Vocational Training, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo discussed this during the Smart Africa ministerial roundtable in Nairobi on Thursday, April 25th.

The meeting centered on the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in Guinea and Africa at large. The need to bolster cooperation in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) between the two nations was also emphasized, as noted by the Ministry overseeing the Digital Economy.

The discussions specifically focused on enhancing ICT cooperation, including an ongoing partnership with U.S. firm Cisco to establish a Networking Academy in Guinea. The dialogue also explored potential joint initiatives between Africa and the U.S. aimed at facilitating access to and adoption of technologies suited to the continent's needs.

Following the meeting, the Secretary of State announced an upcoming initiative that will offer young Africans the chance to participate in immersion experiences within the U.S. startup ecosystem, particularly in Silicon Valley.

The meeting forms part of Guinea's efforts to develop its digital sector through partnerships. For the U.S., it presents an opportunity to seek collaborations that will further the Digital Transformation in Africa (DTA) project. This government initiative seeks to broaden digital access across the continent. As part of this project, the U.S. invested $82 million in 2023 towards new digital infrastructures, digital projects, and technical programs in Africa.

Samira Njoya

Posted On lundi, 29 avril 2024 10:18 Written by

By leveraging satellite broadband services like Starlink, Africa can address connectivity challenges, harness the potential of the digital economy, and accelerate economic development across various sectors.

The National Communications Authority (NCA) has granted Starlink approval to provide satellite broadband in Ghana. This follows the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization's approval of the Satellite Licensing Framework, an NCA press release dated April 25 revealed.

The NCA confirmed Space X Starlink GH LTD's application approval to offer Satellite Broadband Services in Ghana. Administrative procedures for issuing the license are underway, the release added.

This announcement follows Starlink's impending discontinuation of services in Ghana from April 30, 2024, due to a lack of the required license.

The Africa Mobile Infrastructure and Mobile Broadband Market Report 2022 highlights that mobile networks dominate the African telecommunications markets, handling up to 98% of voice and data traffic while comprising the majority of voice and internet connections. Yet, insights from "The State and Future of LEO Satellite Internet Connectivity in Africa" report, released in January 2022, suggest that MIT research predicts satellite technology will bolster internet access in Africa within the next five years, particularly in remote areas hampered by terrestrial-based system limitations. This advancement aims to bridge connectivity gaps and diminish the digital divide.

The approval is timely as Ghana and other West African countries encountered an internet outage on March 18 due to submarine cable disruptions, impacting various sectors such as commerce, academia, economy, and social activities. This incident underscored the significance of satellite broadband services.

Hikmatu Bilali

Posted On lundi, 29 avril 2024 08:03 Written by

Guinea has initiated the digitization of public services. This initiative aims to enable the country to benefit from the digital economy and requires the involvement of workers in this sector.

Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah unveiled two new digital platforms on Wednesday, April 24th. The two platforms dubbed  “e-Learning” and  “e-conseil” aim to boost efficiency through innovative training and management tools for civil servants.

Developed with the National Agency for Universal Telecommunication and Digital Services, "e-Learning" provides online courses, accessible even without internet. These courses will enhance civil servants' skills in various fields and familiarize them with essential computer tools. Participants can earn verifiable certificates upon successful completion of training.

"e-conseil" allows different government departments to automate communication and workflow. This platform facilitates remote collaboration among government officials, allowing them to contribute to inter-ministerial council and cabinet meeting preparations, ultimately saving valuable time. Security is a top priority, with the platform employing robust, internationally compliant solutions. Data is securely hosted by the Regulatory Authority for Posts and Telecommunications (ARPT).

These platforms represent the Guinean government's commitment to digitizing and modernizing its administration. These digital solutions will equip civil servants with the necessary Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills to thrive in the country's ongoing digital transformation. Their launch follows a recent workshop where the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of a unified effort to accelerate the digitization of Guinea's public administration.

Samira Njoya

Posted On vendredi, 26 avril 2024 13:43 Written by

In recent years, Huawei has become a focal point in the trade dispute between China and the United States. This has compelled the company to make a number of strategic shifts, such as overhauling its supply chain and creating a new operating system for its flagship devices.

Chinese tech giant Huawei is calling on developers to create applications for its homegrown HarmonyOS operating system. The announcement came from Eric Xu, Vice Chairman and Rotating Chairman of Huawei, during the 21st Huawei Analyst Summit held April 17-19 in Shenzhen, China.

"We call on all app developers and owners in China to join our HarmonyOS-native app ecosystem as soon as possible, and work together to deliver a better experience to consumers," Xu said. He emphasized strengthening the native app ecosystem as a key objective for 2024. "This is a massive undertaking," he acknowledged, "but we have broad support in the industry and from many app developers."

The development of HarmonyOS stems from US sanctions imposed on Huawei in 2018 and intensified by President Trump in 2021. These sanctions aimed to limit Huawei's access to key technologies, including Google's Android operating system. Facing a market dominated by Android (with 70.79% market share) and Apple's iOS (28.46% share according to StatCounter in March 2024), Huawei needed an alternative solution.

With a goal of exceeding one million applications in its native ecosystem, Huawei has invested in developer training. Over 380,000 developers have already obtained HarmonyOS certification, and the company reports that more than 135 universities in China now offer HarmonyOS courses, as detailed in their annual report published in late March.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

Posted On vendredi, 26 avril 2024 08:47 Written by
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