News (1326)
To boost its economic growth and enhance its international visibility, Morocco is betting on the development of tourism. In this context, the country is investing in the modernization of its airports, which serve as key gateways to its territory.
The National Airports Authority (ONDA) has launched a strategy called "Décollage 2025," with a key focus on digital transformation, to create a seamless digital experience for travelers by 2025. This initiative was announced by Mohammed Abdeljalil, the Minister of Transport and Logistics.
"The Office has allocated substantial funds for the digital transformation, hiring specialized technical experts to manage its Digital Factory unit. This unit will oversee the implementation of projects aimed at bolstering the digital transformation of the Office across all its activities," explained the minister.
One of the first steps in this plan is the installation of "e-gate" smart portals at Moroccan airports. These automated systems use biometric technology to verify travelers' identities. The self-service devices allow passengers to pass through immigration without an agent, speeding up both boarding and disembarking processes.
The new terminal at Rabat-Salé Airport, set to open in 2025, will serve as a pilot project before the initiative is extended to other major airports, such as Mohammed V and Marrakech-Menara. The strategy also includes implementing a "SMART AIRPORT" information system that will provide real-time monitoring of airport facilities and collect data to enable quick responses in case of operational issues.
These initiatives aim to modernize Morocco’s airport infrastructure ahead of major events like the Africa Cup of Nations next year and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal. The improvements will enhance the travel experience and streamline data coordination.
By integrating e-gates, Morocco is following in the footsteps of many European countries that have successfully adopted this technology. This system marks a significant step toward the digitization of airport services, providing travelers with a more efficient experience while boosting security.
Samira Njoya
In 2023, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) initiated a pilot project to train young people from 24 African countries in cybersecurity. The success of this initial phase has led to the launch of a larger initiative aimed at expanding the program.
The West and Central Africa Regional Bureau of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced Monday, its commitment to training 25,000 young people in cybersecurity across both subregions. To achieve this goal, the UNDP has partnered with Canada's Concordia University and the digital skills academy Give1Project. The training will last five months and will culminate in a certification.
The initiative follows the success of a 2023 pilot phase, which provided a four-month cybersecurity training program for youths from 24 African countries, including two weeks of in-person sessions in Saly, Senegal. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Africa faces a shortage of 100,000 qualified cybersecurity professionals.
In recent years, cybersecurity has become one of the most critical sectors in Africa’s tech landscape. With the continent's digital market expected to reach $712 billion by 2050, the ITU estimates that Africa’s lack of cybersecurity readiness costs its member states an average of 10% of their GDP. Beyond investing in local talent, African countries must also establish robust legal and regulatory frameworks to address cybersecurity challenges.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
The Namibian government has made digital transformation a cornerstone of its socioeconomic development. To ensure the security of individuals and systems, the administration plans to implement robust safeguards.
amibia is on the verge of implementing regulatory frameworks for cybersecurity and data protection. Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Emma Theofelus announced on Monday, September 9, that two draft laws are nearing completion.
Speaking at the launch of the eighth National ICT Summit, Theofelus stressed the importance of these laws in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. "To thrive in this new era, we must not only adapt to technological changes but also build a resilient framework capable of keeping pace with advancements," she stated.
The cybersecurity and data protection laws are part of the National Digital Strategic Plan for 2025-2029. Their development comes amid a fast-paced digital transformation, marked by the rapid adoption and diversification of ICT usage. For instance, mobile internet subscriptions in Namibia rose from 934,000 in Q2 2016 to 1.532 million in Q2 2024, a 64.1% increase. By the end of June, the number of mobile subscribers had reached 2.47 million.
This rapid growth in digital adoption brings new challenges, particularly the rising threat of cybercrime. According to Interpol’s "African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2024," cybercriminals are using increasingly sophisticated methods to exploit vulnerabilities in individuals, organizations, and states.
Strengthening cybersecurity and personal data protection is essential to achieving the Namibian government’s digitalization ambitions. The government aims to leverage digital technologies to drive economic growth, promote social inclusion, and foster overall societal progress.
“From e-government to digital health and education, these technologies offer new ways to enhance service delivery and improve the quality of life for our population. We must harness these technologies to make government services more accessible, efficient, and responsive to citizens' needs,” added Emma Theofelus.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
Digital transformation, particularly in healthcare, is crucial for development. Implementing Digital Health Systems is expected to improve access to medical care and reduce inefficiencies. By tracking pharmaceuticals using digital tools and AI, the government can better manage resources and ensure that essential medicines reach patients, thereby improving public health outcomes.
Zambia has begun rolling out Digital Health Systems in hospitals nationwide to enhance healthcare delivery and ensure the availability of essential medicines. The project was announced on September 4 by the Ministry of Science and Technology. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, it aims to digitize healthcare services and combat drug pilferage.
At the launch of the project in Gwembe, Southern Province, Minister of Science and Technology Felix Mutati highlighted the role of modern technology in transforming healthcare. He noted that hospitals would now use digital tools to extend healthcare access to more Zambians. Additionally, the system will track pharmaceuticals from procurement to patient use, aiming to curb drug theft in healthcare facilities.
Access to basic healthcare services in Zambia is unevenly distributed between provinces and between urban and rural areas. According to the International Insulin Foundation report on Zambia’s Health System, in urban regions, 99% of households are located within 5 kilometers of a health facility, whereas in rural areas, only about 50% of households have similar proximity to healthcare facilities. The digitization initiative aims to bridge this gap by utilizing digital tools to reach more citizens, especially in underserved rural regions
Meanwhile, drug theft has been a longstanding issue in the Zambian health sector whose national drug stock level was 53.1%, below the World Health Organization’s minimum threshold of 70%. Transparency International highlighted the concerns in 2020 when Zambian journalists uncovered irregularities in a US$17 million health kit procurement. By digitizing health services and leveraging AI technologies, the government improves accountability in the pharmaceutical supply chain, ensuring drugs are tracked from procurement to patient use, ultimately boosting transparency and curbing mismanagement.
This move aligns with Zambia’s ‘Health Information Systems Strategy 2022 – 2026’ vision of “a national health information system that harnesses digital innovations to support evidence-based decision making for quality and equitable health services.”
Hikmatu Bilali
Morocco is facing a persistent problem of school dropouts, particularly in rural areas. Efforts are underway to reverse this growing trend.
Orange Maroc Foundation announced on Thursday plans to equip 55 new schools with computer equipment for the 2024-2025 school year as part of its "Digital Schools" program. The announcement came during the launch of the project's second phase.
“This program aims to democratize access to digital technologies in rural primary schools, ensuring equal learning conditions for all students, regardless of their environment. Strengthening our partnership with the Ministry of National Education is further proof of our commitment to supporting the Kingdom in the successful digital transformation of Moroccan schools,” said Hind Lfal (photo), Secretary General of Orange Maroc.
Launched in 2022 in partnership with the Ministry of National Education, the project provides digital equipment, including computers for teachers, tablets for students, and online educational resources. It aims to enhance learning in rural areas, which often face challenges in accessing modern educational tools.
This initiative aligns with Orange Maroc's corporate social responsibility strategy to promote digital inclusion and combat school dropouts. According to the Moroccan Ministry of National Education, 249,458 students dropped out of school in 2022/2023, with 45.5% coming from rural areas. UNESCO estimates the economic impact of this issue in Morocco at $196 million annually.
With this new phase, 55 additional schools will be equipped, 200 teachers will receive training, and 17,000 students will benefit from the initiative. Since its launch, the program has already digitized 16 rural schools, benefiting over 4,000 students and 30 teachers.
Samira Njoya
In September 2023, Burkina Faso's government introduced an online platform for obtaining criminal records. The service was initially launched in Ouagadougou and is expected to expand to all regions of the country.
Justice and Human Rights Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala announced on Friday the nationwide expansion of the country's online criminal record system. The initiative aims to streamline the process of obtaining this vital administrative document for citizens.
The e-criminal record service was initially launched in September 2023 in the Ouaga I and II high courts. Following a successful pilot phase, the government decided to extend the service to all regions of Burkina Faso.
“Online requests have reached around 105,000 since the platform's launch. This demonstrates significant interest, as the system reduces costs, makes justice more accessible, and curbs corruption in the judicial sector,” Minister Bayala explains.
The expansion of the e-criminal record service aligns with the government's National Strategy for the Modernization of Public Administration (SNMAP) 2021-2025. One of the key objectives of the SNMAP is to enhance the accessibility of public services through information and communication technologies.
According to the United Nations' E-Government Development Index, Burkina Faso ranked 166th out of 193 countries in 2022, with a score of 0.3476.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
On September 2, the Egyptian government called on Indonesian companies to invest in the country’s burgeoning tech sector, particularly in data centers and digitalization. This move is part of Egypt’s broader strategy to accelerate its digital transformation.
On September 6, the Egyptian Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) signed a memorandum of understanding with China's state-owned Tsinghua Unigroup. The collaboration aims to establish a $300 million fund to facilitate Chinese investments in Egypt’s tech sector.
Under the agreement, Tsinghua Unigroup and its subsidiaries will provide 60 to 70% of the fund’s capital. While the specific areas of investment were not disclosed, the agreement includes plans to build a data center, establish a research and development center for chip and system design, and develop an AI-based Arabic language model.
This initiative aligns with Egypt’s goal to attract foreign investment to boost its technology sector. In December 2023, Egypt signed an MoU with the United Arab Emirates to build data centers with a combined capacity of up to 1,000 megawatts. Additionally, Telecom Egypt secured a $600 million fiber optic investment from 4iG Group. During the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum on September 2, Egypt also invited Indonesian companies to invest in data centers and digitalization projects.
These investments are set to support Egypt's "Digital Egypt 2030" strategy, which aims to advance the country’s ICT sector and modernize its telecom infrastructure, positioning digital technology as a driver of socioeconomic development.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
Nigeria is projected to need nearly 28 million skilled workers with digital expertise by 2030, according to the World Bank. To address this growing demand across various sectors, the government has implemented multiple training initiatives.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has launched the first phase of its "Digital Literacy for All" (DL4ALL) program, targeting the Nigerian informal sector.
In a social media post on Saturday, the agency announced the partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to equip citizens from all 774 local government areas with basic digital skills.
The DL4ALL program aims to increase digital literacy rates to 70% by 2027. It aligns with NITDA's "Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2024-2027" (SRAP 2.0), which seeks to promote digital transformation and empower Nigerians through technology.
This initial phase will cover twelve states, including the Federal Capital Territory and the states of Kebbi, Jigawa, Yobe, Gombe, Kwara, Ekiti, Osun, Cross River, Bayelsa, Abia, and Ebonyi.
The launch comes at a time of growing demand for digital skills in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to a 2021 World Bank report, Nigeria's workforce will need approximately 28 million digitally skilled workers by 2030.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Social media is a daily staple, but it also poses complex ethical dilemmas. Balancing free speech with the fight against misinformation, hate speech, and harassment is a critical challenge.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has begun talks with a Chinese company to implement a social media surveillance system. The agreement was signed on Wednesday by Augustin Kibassa Maliba, the DRC’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy during the China-Africa Cooperation Forum.
While details are limited on the specifics of that agreement, the government likely aims to regulate online content in response to disinformation, hate speech, and other harmful activities. The DRC's current sociopolitical climate, including armed conflict and tensions with Rwanda, has created fertile ground for misinformation.
According to an analysis by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), this “information war” is having severe impacts on national cohersion.
According to DataReportal, the DRC had 6.45 million active social media users as of January 2024, a growth of 37.2% from the previous year. Of these users, 37.2% were women and 62.8% were men. Facebook was the dominant platform, followed by TikTok (4.44 million users), Facebook Messenger (1.15 million), Instagram (670,000), LinkedIn (620,000), and X (formerly Twitter, 253,000). This growing user base has raised the stakes for managing the flow of information online in the DRC.
In an era where data is a valuable resource, public trust in government and private sector data handling is essential. Building effective data protection frameworks enhances transparency and accountability, which are vital for increasing citizen engagement in digital services and governance.
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) recently welcomed a delegation from Somalia's Data Protection Authority on a study tour, NDPC announced on September 3. The delegation aims to explore Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem and learn from its innovative models.
National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC Vincent Olatunji emphasized the growing importance of independent data protection authorities in the digital era. He also highlighted the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model adopted by the NDPC and outlined the commission's strategic roadmap for strengthening data privacy and protection in Nigeria.
The study tour covered a wide range of topics, including Nigeria's data protection laws, enforcement mechanisms, compliance frameworks, and efforts to raise public awareness of the importance of data security.
The Somali Ambassador underscored the need for knowledge exchange between the two nations. He noted Somalia's keen interest in learning from Nigeria’s experiences in data protection, particularly in legislation, enforcement, and compliance.
Somalia's digital ecosystem, while still in early development, is gradually advancing, with efforts like the Somalia Data Protection Act of 2023 which came into effect on March 23, 2023, with the signing of Law No. 005 of 2023 to fill critical regulatory gaps.
This initiative aligns with the country's growing focus on data governance and is a significant step in its digital transformation. It will play a key role in enhancing digital literacy, governance, and engagement in global digital markets.
Hikmatu Bilali
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Africa has the youngest population in the world, with nearly 60% of its people under 25. Investing in educational technology and equipping young Africans with digital skills are essential for the future workforce. This guarantees that they will become prepared for jobs in the new economy.
Zambia has sought collaboration with Egypt and Malaysia to integrate digital technology into its education system nationwide, announced a press release dated September 4. This was during a Bilateral meeting with Egypt's Minister of Education, Mohamed Abdel Latif, on the sidelines of UNESCO's Digital Learning Week in Paris.
Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary, Noriana Muneku, emphasized Zambia's political commitment, saying: “It’s important to leverage partnerships with countries like Egypt, which have successfully navigated similar challenges. As Zambia prepares to pilot educational technology initiatives alongside five other countries under the Southern African Development Community, this collaboration is timely.”
In a separate meeting, Muneku also engaged Malaysia's Minister of Education, Fadhlina Sidek, outlining Zambia's interest in forming a meaningful partnership to further integrate technology into schools.
Recognizing the need for digital transformation in various strategic sectors, Zambia has launched the National Digital Transformation Strategy 2023–2027. In the education sector, several initiatives aim to enhance digital literacy and skills across all levels. The government has introduced an ICT curriculum in secondary schools to develop citizens' skills and capacity. Additionally, a center of excellence has been established at the Zambia University of Technology to support the growth of ICT professionals.
Many higher education institutions now offer ICT-related training, and the ICT Association of Zambia (ICTAZ) was created to regulate the conduct of ICT professionals. Digital equipment has also been introduced in some schools.
This development is seen as a crucial step toward modernizing Zambia's education system and enhancing digital literacy among students.
Hikmatu Bilali
In the context of digital transformation, African countries have long prioritized high-speed connectivity. However, with the numerous challenges inherent to the digital economy, attention is now shifting towards new areas, including digital sovereignty.
Kenya’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Authority announced on Wednesday, 4 September, the signing of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kenya Network Information Center (KeNIC). The MoU focuses on promoting national digital standards, enhancing the .ke domain name, and training ICT Authority staff on the Domain Name System (DNS) ecosystem and Domain Name System Security (DNSSEC).
Stanley Kamanguya, CEO of the ICT Authority, stated that “this MoU will help us address key issues as we progress in the era of digital transformation, particularly focusing on the training and reskilling of our staff, as well as enhancing digital governance.”
In Kenya, the government has been steadily advancing its digital transformation agenda for nearly two decades. While much of the focus has been on building infrastructure to enhance internet connectivity, efforts have also extended into other key areas. One such initiative is the promotion of the .ke domain, to increase its adoption to elevate Kenya's international visibility and establish a stronger digital identity on the global stage.
According to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) in its statistical report on the national telecoms and digital market, for the first quarter of 2024, 108,338 domain names were registered. Of these, 84.8% were held by businesses, accounting for 91,818 domain names, while government institutions used 752 domain names.
For KeNIC, effectively equipping ICT Authority staff on matters related to the national domain name is a step towards creating a secure local cyberspace that supports the activities of various digital users in the country.
Hikmatu Bilali
Digital transformation is rapidly reshaping Africa, affecting industries across the board. As the continent adopts innovative technologies to fuel its progress, preserving data has become a pressing concern.
Burkina Faso is gearing up to launch BurkinOS, a custom-built open-source operating system designed to meet the specific needs of its national public administration. In preparation for its rollout, the Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts, and Electronic Communications held a training session on Wednesday, September 4, for secretaries and office staff from various government departments.
"The participants received technical training on using and installing BurkinOS and the LibreOffice suite on their workstations. By opting for free and open-source solutions, Burkina Faso is strengthening its technological autonomy with more reliable, secure, and contemporary solutions," the General Directorate of Digital Transformation explained in a statement.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize public administration in Burkina Faso and increase the adoption of electronic services. The goal is to enhance administrative efficiency and responsiveness.
The BurkinOS system, which is expected to be deployed shortly, will offer several key benefits to public administration. In addition to providing complete control over administrative computers and ensuring data security, it will enable centralized management of updates and configurations, streamlining IT system administration. BurkinOS will also promote better interoperability with other national systems, improving the efficiency of information exchange and administrative processes.
Samira Njoya
African countries are increasingly modernizing their digital systems, adopting various technologies to enhance efficiency and transparency. However, the critical issue of digital security is often overlooked.
Ethiopia recently launched a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) system to enhance the security of online transactions. The initiative, inaugurated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (photo) on Saturday, August 31, aims to bolster the country's digital transformation efforts.
"Securing virtual data complements the task of protecting national sovereignty. Today, we officially launched Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) with the Information Network Security Administration. This will facilitate reliable and secure digital data exchange," Prime Minister Abiy stated on X.
The PKI system is part of Ethiopia's broader cybersecurity strategy. Other initiatives include a training program for five million coders and the national digital identification program.
The PKI will be particularly beneficial for Ethiopian public organizations that provide electronic services, such as issuing driver's licenses, passports, and health insurance. It will also contribute to the growth of e-commerce in the country.
A PKI is a cryptographic solution used to secure electronic information transfer. It issues digital certificates that enable encryption and digital signatures, ensuring confidentiality, authentication, integrity, and non-repudiation during online transactions.
Samira Njoya