• Chad mandated Techso Group to secure and certify its national data center before launch.

• Authorities linked the project to cybersecurity risks and the “Chad Connection 2030” strategy.

• International rankings continue to place Chad among the weakest performers in cybersecurity and e-government.

Chadian authorities assigned Techso Group the task of securing the national data center ahead of its launch. A tripartite agreement was signed on February 5, between the company, the Agency for ICT Development (ADETIC) and the National Agency for Information Security and Electronic Certification (ANSICE).

The partnership covers a security audit and the certification of the site and its equipment to ensure compliance with current standards for critical infrastructure protection. “This aims to guarantee the reliability, integrity and resilience of the national data center,” said Nadjma Saleh Kebzabo, deputy director general of ANSICE.

The agreement also provides for the operational deployment of 100 micro data centers across government institutions. “Interconnected with the national data center, these systems will establish a unified, secure and high-performance digital architecture to support the dematerialization of administrative procedures and improve public service quality,” ADETIC said in a statement.

Authorities launched the initiative amid what they described as “growing challenges related to cybercrime and the protection of sensitive data.” Digital transformation continues to accelerate across Africa as governments integrate information and communication technologies to support socio-economic development. Chad, for example, places digital technology at the core of its national development plan known as “Chad Connection 2030.”

The plan includes $1.5 billion in digital investments. Authorities aim to position the country among Africa’s leading digital economies and significantly expand network coverage to connect most of the population. The program also targets the digitization and interconnection of all public and para-public services to provide full access to e-government services. Authorities also list digital inclusion among their priorities.

However, the International Telecommunication Union said cybersecurity remains a prerequisite for countries seeking to fully leverage ICT opportunities for development. The organization ranked Chad in the second-lowest category, Tier 4, in its 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index. Chad recorded relatively strong results in regulatory frameworks and cooperation but must intensify efforts in technical measures, organizational capacity and skills development.

For now, Chad ranks 189th out of 193 countries in the United Nations E-Government Development Index, with a score of 0.1785 out of 1. The country remains below the African average of 0.4247 and the global average of 0.6382.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM