Tech (969)
• Algiers airport to deploy AI systems from December 2025
• Upgrades include facial recognition, smart gates, contactless travel
• Plan aims to make airport a major African and global hub
Algerian authorities plan to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into services at Algiers International Airport starting this December. The modernization effort aims to elevate the airport's service quality to meet international standards.
Mokhtar Mediouni, CEO of the Algiers Airport Services and Infrastructure Management Company (SGSIA), announced the initiative on Sunday, September 14, at a press conference reported by the Algeria Press Service (APS). The upgrades will include facial recognition, body scanners, contactless travel, and smart gates. Mediouni said these technologies will optimize the use of airport spaces like halls, parking lots, and boarding areas while simplifying passenger entry and exit procedures.
This digitalization effort is part of a broader strategy to transform Algiers International Airport into a "regional hub". The goal is to leverage Algeria's strategic location near Europe, positioning the airport as a major transit point for global passenger and cargo traffic. The ambition is also to elevate the airport to a leading African hub, serving as a gateway for travelers from the continent to Asia, the Americas, and Europe while offering modern services.
Algiers International Airport is the country's main airport. Authorities projected it would handle around 10 million passengers in 2024, following 7.3 million in 2023 and 6.5 million in 2022. The airport is also central to the African and global expansion strategy of the national airline, Air Algérie.
In April 2025, the state-owned airline announced the launch of new direct routes to six destinations in Africa and Asia starting this winter. The new routes include Guangzhou (China), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), N'Djamena (Chad), Zanzibar (Tanzania), Libreville (Gabon), and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). By the end of 2024, Air Algérie was already serving 25 African destinations with a passenger flow of 179,000 people.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
• Chad plans integrated digital platform for licenses, permits, and vehicle papers.
• Project seeks to cut costs, improve traceability, and reduce delays for users.
• Country ranks 189th out of 193 on UN’s 2024 E-Government Development Index.
Chad is preparing to modernize its transport-related administrative services through an integrated digital system. The initiative was discussed on September 9 during a meeting chaired by Transport Minister Fatima Goukouni Weddeye, focused on digitizing financial services within her department.
The project aims to centralize all services offered by the ministry into a single platform. These include the issuance of vehicle registration cards, driver’s licenses, technical inspection certificates, transport licenses and permits, and the mandatory consignment note (LVO). The goal is to make services more accessible, ensure traceability, and reduce both processing times and costs for users and businesses.
This plan aligns with a broader national push to modernize public administration and digitize government services. Chad has already taken steps such as partially digitizing administrative procedures and creating online platforms to track official documents.
However, the country still lags in digital governance. According to the United Nations, Chad scored 0.1785 out of 1 on the 2024 E-Government Development Index, ranking 189th out of 193 countries. This underlines the urgent need to accelerate digital transformation to make public services more effective, reliable, and accessible.
The rollout of an integrated digital system could address key challenges. It would simplify administrative processes, cut costs, reduce fraud and document loss, and strengthen efficiency in the transport sector. In the long term, it is expected to boost competitiveness, improve access to services for citizens, and reinforce transparency in public operations.
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Algeria to sign digital cooperation deal focused on youth
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Plan includes digital hubs, innovation programs, and training
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Part of 2030 strategy for inclusion and digital transformation
Algeria's Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and Ministry of Youth will soon sign a framework agreement to strengthen cooperation, officials announced following a meeting on Wednesday, September 10. The accord aims to place youth at the heart of the country's national digital strategy.
The new agreement is expected to lead to the creation of dedicated digital spaces for young people, provide better support for the digital transition, and increase their participation in the country's modernization efforts. It is designed to stimulate innovation, encourage entrepreneurship, and reinforce the role of youth as key players in national digital development.
The announcement was made after a meeting between Minister of Post and Telecommunications Sid Ali Zerrouki and Minister of Youth Mustapha Hidaoui. Their discussions focused on developing programs to enhance youth skills, creativity, and innovation. The two ministers stressed the importance of concrete projects that combine the digital and technological expertise of the telecommunications sector with the initiatives of youth centers.
This collaboration is part of Algeria’s 2030 National Digital Transformation Strategy, which prioritizes human capital and digital inclusion. The government has already launched several initiatives, including incubators and training programs, to support young entrepreneurs and develop startups. Authorities now aim to extend this momentum to youth facilities, transforming them into hubs for inclusion and innovation.
Samira Njoya
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Officials meet in Tunis to explore cooperation in digital technology and postal sector
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Talks focus on training, technical expertise, and start-up collaboration
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Tunisia ranks 9th in Africa on ICT index, while Palestine seeks to bridge digital gap
Tunisia and Palestine have reaffirmed their interest in strengthening cooperation in information and communication technologies (ICT) and in the postal sector. The commitment was made during a meeting on September 9 in Tunis between Sofiene Hemissi, Tunisia’s Minister of Communication Technologies, and Houda Wahidi, Palestine’s Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Economy, in the presence of Palestinian Ambassador Rami Qaddoumi.
Talks centered on deepening bilateral ties through training, knowledge sharing, and technical expertise. Both sides also expressed interest in fostering collaboration between Tunisian and Palestinian start-ups to drive innovation and enhance the competitiveness of their digital ecosystems.
The initiative aligns with both countries’ vision of consolidating their digital sectors as a way to diversify their economies. Tunisia is already well positioned, ranking 9th in Africa with an ICT Development Index score of 79.6 out of 100, according to the International Telecommunication Union’s July 2025 report. Palestine, constrained by structural challenges, scored 69.1, signaling room for convergence.
A partnership could deliver multiple benefits. For Palestine, it could expand digital access in schools, government services, and rural areas, helping reduce the digital divide. For Tunisia, the cooperation would create opportunities to export its technological know-how, open markets in the Middle East, and strengthen its start-up ecosystem by exposing it to new and demanding environments.
The talks remain at a preliminary stage. While general directions have been outlined, specific terms have not yet been agreed, and no formal deal has been signed so far.
• South Korea launches $15M project to modernize Egypt’s education
• Five-year plan covers 54 schools, boosts ICT, teacher skills
• Initiative aligns with AU Agenda 2063 digital education goals
South Korea announced on Monday a $15 million project to modernize education in Egypt. The announcement was made during a meeting in Cairo between the Korean Ambassador to Egypt, Kim Yonghyon, and Egypt's Minister of Education and Technical Education, Mohamed Abdel-Latif.
The five-year project, officially set to begin in 2027, will cover 54 public middle schools across all 27 of Egypt's governorates. It will involve implementing educational programs that integrate information and communication technologies (ICT), strengthening teachers' digital skills, upgrading infrastructure like computer labs and internet connectivity, and modernizing administrative and evaluation systems. Preparatory studies will be conducted throughout 2026 to define technical and educational needs.
This partnership extends 30 years of diplomatic relations between Egypt and South Korea. In addition to education, the two countries already cooperate in industry, energy, and infrastructure.
Beyond bilateral cooperation, the initiative aligns with a continental trend. The African Union has made digital education a priority of its Agenda 2063, which aims to equip African youth with the skills needed for the global knowledge economy. Given its demographic size and geopolitical role, Egypt could become a key regional hub for this effort. South Korea, a global leader in digital education and the integration of ICT in teaching, already shares its expertise with several countries through KOICA cooperation programs and EdTech partnerships.
As artificial intelligence and digital technologies transform the job market and lifestyles, a country's ability to train its youth in digital skills is becoming a key factor in its competitiveness. By partnering with South Korea, Egypt hopes to provide its younger generations with modern educational tools and prepare the country for better integration into the global knowledge economy.
Samira Njoya
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Morocco’s UM6P has launched a Global Hub in New York and Cambridge to link Africa with global innovation networks.
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The hub will support joint research, student exchanges, start-up funding, and cross-border entrepreneurship.
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The move is part of UM6P’s international expansion, with campuses already in Canada and France.
Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) announced on Monday, September 8, the official launch of its Global Hub in the United States, with offices in New York and Cambridge. The hub is designed to connect African talent with leading international ecosystems in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
“The goal of this new hub is to directly address Morocco’s and Africa’s urgent challenges by combining rigorous scientific research with practical, scalable solutions, helping the Kingdom build pathways toward technological sovereignty,” said UM6P president Said Hicham El Habti.
The U.S. Global Hub is structured as a two-way platform. It will promote joint research projects, student exchanges, and cross-border entrepreneurial collaborations. The center also provides African start-ups with privileged access to venture capital and North American tech networks, while helping adapt U.S.-developed innovations to African realities. In addition, immersion programs will expose African leaders to international innovation practices.
This move is part of UM6P’s broader global expansion strategy, which already includes new campuses in Canada and France. It also reflects Morocco’s ambition to position itself as Africa’s anchor point for research and scientific investment.
Since its creation in 2017, UM6P has enrolled nearly 7,300 students from 40 nationalities, including 1,000 doctoral candidates. Its entrepreneurial ecosystem has supported more than 1,000 project holders and forged over 200 international partnerships with institutions such as MIT, Stanford, Columbia Business School, and Arizona State University. The U.S. hub strengthens this mission by engaging the African diaspora as a strategic resource to co-develop innovative projects across both continents.
Beyond academic cooperation, UM6P’s American hub aims to tackle three key weaknesses in Africa’s innovation ecosystem: limited global visibility in research, underutilization of the diaspora as a strategic lever, and difficulties in translating international technological advances into solutions tailored to local realities. The challenge now lies in turning this ambition into tangible, inclusive results that bring real value to African societies.
Samira Njoya
- Kenya pledges support for digital creators via Meta, Google deals
- Part of "Digital Super Highway" to expand tech infrastructure
- Africa’s creator economy valued at $5.1B, rising to $30B by 2032
The Kenyan Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy announced a new commitment on Monday, September 8, to support digital content creators. The initiative aims to help creators monetize their work through strategic partnerships with digital platforms like Meta and Google while expanding access to training and support programs for young talent.
The Ministry of Information, Communications and The Digital Economy is committed to supporting creators to monetize their content in a concerted effort to grow the Digital Economy. pic.twitter.com/aOKK4FNA5C
— Ministry of Info, Comms & The Digital Economy KE (@MoICTKenya) September 8, 2025
According to John Tanui, Principal Secretary for Digital Economy and ICT, the government is taking concrete actions to accelerate digital transformation. These include extending the fiber optic network, establishing digital hubs, installing public Wi-Fi hotspots, and implementing supportive policies. The goal is to create a secure and reliable environment that fosters business growth for content creators.
This decision is part of the "Digital Super Highway," a key pillar of the national digital strategy. The program intends to modernize the country's technological infrastructure and stimulate related sectors, such as content creation, which is seen as a key driver of economic diversification. The content creator economy in Africa is estimated at $5.1 billion in 2025 and could reach nearly $30 billion by 2032, according to the firm Coherent Market Insights.
By investing in its digital creators, Nairobi hopes to boost its digital economy and generate new income opportunities for its youth. However, this ambition must contend with persistent challenges, including account hacking, a tax burden deemed too heavy, demonetization, and a dependence on major foreign platforms.
Samira Njoya
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Nigeria, Cape Verde launch African Digital Corridor initiative
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Program trains 500 students in coding, AI, and innovation
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Business mission set to deepen tech, trade cooperation in 2025
Nigeria and Cape Verde have launched the African Digital Corridor (ADC), an initiative designed to strengthen their digital, trade, and innovation ties. The project, unveiled last week in Abuja, is a strategic step toward defining cooperation priorities in artificial intelligence, youth empowerment, and bilateral development.
"This initiative demonstrates that innovation diplomacy can produce tangible results," said Christiana Onoja, co-founder and CEO of SheCode.ai, the organization behind the project. "When governments, innovators, and the private sector collaborate, concrete programs and partnerships become a reality."
As part of the initiative, the "Code the Future – Cabo Verde Rising" program will train over 500 high school students on three islands in coding, AI, and digital innovation. The program also plans to provide STEM tools in Portuguese, offer educational training for teachers, and will conclude with a national showcase highlighting student projects.
Beyond education, the ADC is founded on developing human capital and modernizing infrastructure. For Nigeria, the continent’s largest economy, the digital sector already accounts for about 18% of GDP and is a key driver of economic diversification. Cape Verde sees the initiative as a way to boost its competitiveness and regional integration. With an internet penetration rate estimated at 73.5% at the beginning of 2025, the archipelago plans to leverage its agile digital economy strategy and infrastructure like the TechPark CV, a special technology zone.
Bilateral cooperation will be further solidified by a Nigeria-Cape Verde Business and Innovation mission scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025 in Praia. The mission aims to connect 20 to 25 Nigerian companies with Cape Verdean partners in key sectors, including digital technology, renewable energy, and tourism.
The corridor is expected to ultimately enhance digital inclusion, foster the growth of local startups, support innovation in strategic sectors, and build lasting bridges between education, technology, and the economy. However, its success will depend on both countries’ ability to sustain investment, ensure connectivity, and adapt their infrastructure to local needs.
Samira Njoya
• Gabon enacts digital law to modernize public services, boost transparency.
• Framework stresses inclusion, data security, local private sector role.
• Gov’t targets higher UN e-gov ranking, job creation and investment inflows.
Gabon has introduced a legal framework to accelerate the digital transformation of its public administration, part of efforts to boost competitiveness and modernize services.
The ordinance, signed by transitional President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and published in the country’s official gazette on Sept. 7, sets out guiding principles for e-government reforms. The measures aim to improve efficiency and transparency, curb corruption through process traceability, and foster economic growth via digital innovation.
The framework emphasizes universal access to technology, interoperability of systems, data security and privacy, and digital inclusion to narrow the digital divide. It also calls for greater participation from local private-sector players, including a preference clause for domestic firms in public tenders related to digitalization.
Gabon currently ranks 174th out of 193 countries in the United Nations’ e-government development index (EGDI), with a score of 0.5741. Authorities say the reforms are designed to close that gap and position the country among Africa’s leaders in digital governance.
The initiative is expected to stimulate the local tech ecosystem, create jobs and attract investment in a sector considered vital to diversifying Gabon’s economy beyond oil.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
• Mauritius launches $13M nationwide E-Health digital records project.
• "One patient, one file" system to unify medical data.
• UNDP partners; rollout underway with pilot hospital training.
Mauritius has launched a nationwide "E-Health" project to digitize medical records and modernize its public healthcare system. The large-scale initiative aims to improve the efficiency and quality of patient care through digital transformation.
Dubbed "E-Health," the project is built on the principle of "one patient, one file," which will provide every citizen with a single electronic medical record accessible across all hospitals and health centers. The rollout is already underway, with hospital staff receiving training at several pilot facilities. Authorities say the system will be highly secure and accessible only to authorized professionals, which is expected to reduce lost paper records and streamline patient care pathways.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is partnering on the initiative, which is estimated to cost 600 million Mauritian rupees, or nearly $13 million.The data will be housed in the government's national data center, protected by international security protocols and continuous monitoring. The system will also allow patients to access their records via an online portal and a mobile application, paving the way for more interactive and connected healthcare.
This project is part of a broader push to digitize public services in Mauritius. For several years, the government has pursued numerous e-government initiatives in areas ranging from civil registration to tax administration and business formalities. E-health is now a strategic pillar aimed at bolstering the quality and efficiency of services provided to citizens.
While the project faces challenges related to digital inclusion, particularly for the elderly or those less familiar with digital tools, it is expected to profoundly transform the relationship between patients and doctors. Simplified access to medical data, reduced administrative procedures, and optimized hospital management are all seen as key to building a more modern, transparent, and responsive healthcare system.
Samira Njoya
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Without structured cooperation, cybercrime investigations remain fragmented, leaving gaps for attackers to exploit. This makes partnerships like the NITDA-Kaspersky MoU vital for strengthening Nigeria’s cyber defence capacity.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) announced on September 3 that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global cybersecurity company Kaspersky to strengthen Nigeria’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
The agreement was formalised at GITEX Nigeria 2025 in Lagos, with NITDA’s Director General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi and Chris Norton, General Manager for Africa at Kaspersky, representing both parties.
Under the partnership, Kaspersky will support capacity-building programmes to develop local cyber talent, collaborate on public awareness campaigns such as NITDA’s Cybersecurity Alphabet initiative, and engage in joint research and analysis to boost nationwide cyber defence literacy.
The MoU also opens the door for intelligence sharing on threats and attacks targeting Nigerian citizens, government institutions, and digital infrastructure. In addition, Kaspersky will provide strategic advisory services to guide NITDA in developing frameworks and standards for securing the country’s critical information infrastructure, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s national security priorities.
Cybersecurity threats are on the rise in Nigeria, where digital adoption is accelerating. According to INTERPOL’s 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report, cybercrime accounts for more than 30% of all reported crime in Western and Eastern Africa. Notable incidents have included hacks of Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), while ransomware attacks alone surged to 3,459 cases in 2024. The report also revealed that cybercrime investigations increasingly depend on private sector collaboration, yet 89% of African countries said such cooperation needed “significant” or “some” improvement due to unclear engagement channels, low institutional readiness, and other barriers.
This challenge is highlighted by findings from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), which estimates that weak cybersecurity preparedness costs African states an average of 10% of GDP—about $4 billion annually—due to cybercrime.
Recognizing this urgency, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in building stronger cyber resilience. By working with telecom operators, internet service providers, and technology companies, the NCC is promoting information sharing, capacity building, and joint initiatives to counter rising cyber threats.
These findings underscore the significance of the NITDA-Kaspersky MoU. With cyber threats rising in scale and sophistication, the partnership represents a critical step toward building a resilient, collaborative, and globally competitive cybersecurity ecosystem in Nigeria and across Africa.
Hikmatu Bilali
• Guinea launches .gn domain under national control
• Move ends decades of foreign management by PSGNet
• Part of “Simandou 2040” plan to boost digital economy
Guinea has formally launched its national top-level domain, .gn, ending decades of management from abroad and marking a step toward digital sovereignty.
The extension, first introduced in 1994 and until recently administered by UK-based PSGNet, will now be managed locally by the National Agency for State Digitalization (ANDE), the government said Sept. 4. Sub-domains such as .com.gn for businesses, .gov.gn for government, and .edu.gn for schools will provide greater visibility and credibility for national institutions online.
Officials said the move aligns with Guinea’s long-term “Simandou 2040” strategy, which aims to leverage the country’s vast mineral wealth for sustainable growth while placing digital infrastructure at the center of economic diversification. The government expects the localized domain management to strengthen cybersecurity, encourage e-commerce and digital services, and reinforce the country’s identity in the global internet space.
Samira Njoya
• Somalia launches national e-visa platform to simplify travel.
• System integrates security checks, boosts fiscal transparency.
• The move aligns with EAC integration and digital reforms.
Somalia has rolled out a national electronic visa platform as part of its broader digital transformation drive, the government said.
The portal, launched on Sept. 1 and accessible via evisa.gov.so, allows travelers to apply online without visiting embassies. Developed with support from the International Organization for Migration, the system integrates security checks and centralized monitoring to better control entry amid ongoing security concerns linked to Al-Shabaab.
Officials said visa fees will now be collected directly into state accounts, strengthening fiscal transparency and supporting public finances. The government also hopes the e-visa will improve investor confidence, support the country’s nascent tourism industry, and facilitate regional integration as Somalia prepares to finalize its accession to the East African Community.
The launch follows other recent digital initiatives, including a national QR code standard for mobile payments and the introduction of wearable NFC-enabled devices for contactless transactions.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
The research initiative represents a strategic launchpad toward a digital future that empowers citizens and transforms sectors across the economy.
Nigeria will launch 75 new research projects on October 1, 2025, as part of a broader push to deepen its digital ecosystem, foster innovation, and establish the country as a leading tech hub in Africa.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, announced the plan at GITEX Nigeria 2025 being held from September 1-4. The initiative, coordinated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), targets researchers, startups, corporates, and the Nigerian diaspora.
“On October 1, there will be a research scheme that will support another 75 research projects. Such investments will reinforce Nigeria’s position in the global digital economy,” Tijani said. He added that startups and corporates should leverage government support to contribute to national and global innovation.
Tijani emphasized that robust digital infrastructure is now a vital national priority. He called for a shift in strategy beyond catching up with others to fostering resilient systems that sustain long-term innovation.
The October 1 research rollout continues a legacy of impactful initiatives from NITDA. In 2022, NITDA launched a blockchain scholarship program in partnership with Domineum Blockchain Solutions, training 30,000 Nigerians in blockchain technologies and offering top participants incubation opportunities in London.
At the 2024 Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge, NITDA awarded ₦16 million in prizes. Top winner InfraMappers developed an AI-powered mapping solution to optimize healthcare facility distribution nationwide.
NITDA’s Research & Development Department, established in 2022, actively promotes emerging technologies — including AI, blockchain, and IoT — through collaboration, funding, and commercialization strategies. These successes underscore NITDA’s capacity for maximizing impact through research investments.
By investing in targeted research — especially in AI, fintech, e-health, and agri-tech — Nigeria can accelerate homegrown innovation that addresses real-world needs and boosts global competitiveness.
Supporting researchers, startups, and diaspora talent positions Nigeria to build a more inclusive and resilient digital ecosystem. The October research initiative represents a strategic launchpad toward a digital future that empowers citizens and transforms sectors across the economy.
Hikmatu Bilali