• Senegal launches online access to key administrative documents via e-senegal.sn.

• The rollout marks the operational phase of the government’s “New Deal technologique.”

• Authorities aim to expand digital services while tackling connectivity and inclusion gaps.

Senegal accelerates the implementation of its “New Deal technologique.” One year after launching the strategy, the government rolled out on Tuesday, March 24, the digitization of several critical administrative procedures.

Authorities now provide criminal records, nationality certificates, and certificates of non-membership in the civil service online through the e-senegal.sn portal.

This first wave of online services marks the start of a broader expansion. The single-window platform will soon integrate services related to urban planning, including building permits, as well as civil registry and land administration documents.

Moreover, the government aims to centralize interactions between the state and citizens on a secure platform. Authorities seek to significantly reduce processing times and transaction costs for individuals, businesses, and the diaspora.

Senegal improved its position in the United Nations e-government development ranking, moving to 135th place in 2024 from 143rd in 2022. However, the country still faces structural barriers to digital adoption.

To prevent exclusion, authorities plan to deploy hybrid connectivity combining terrestrial and satellite networks, notably through Starlink. The government aims to provide free internet access to one million citizens to ensure that digital services reach rural areas. According to DataReportal, internet penetration in Senegal reached 60.6% at the end of 2025.

The success of this digital transition depends on the administration’s ability to ensure system interoperability and protect personal data. Beyond the technical platform, the government must support adoption through digital literacy campaigns and public access points in local communities. Therefore, authorities aim to build a fully connected and user-centric administration.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Burkina Faso prioritizes local languages to build inclusive artificial intelligence systems.

• Authorities launch work on linguistic datasets for four national languages.

• The initiative aligns with a broader African push to integrate local languages into AI.

The Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications launches work on Tuesday, March 24 to structure linguistic foundations for AI solutions. It focuses discussions on formalizing resources that AI models can use.

Specifically, the ministry targets four local languages: Mooré, Dioula, Fulfulde and Gulmancema. These linguistic resources support the development of applications such as speech recognition, machine translation and text-to-speech systems. These technologies play a key role in expanding access to digital services in a country with strong linguistic diversity.

“Through the integration of national languages into emerging technologies, Burkina Faso affirms its commitment to building inclusive, accessible artificial intelligence adapted to its socio-cultural context. This workshop fully aligns with the 12 major digital transformation projects by 2030, particularly the initiative dedicated to artificial intelligence serving all Burkinabè,” the ministry states.

This initiative fits into a broader trend across Africa. Several countries launch programs to integrate local languages into artificial intelligence technologies.

In Benin, the “JaimeMaLangue” project advances efforts to give local languages a digital presence. In Nigeria, authorities launch N-ATLAS v1, an open-source language model developed in partnership with Meta. This system supports multiple local languages, including Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo, alongside Nigerian English. It aims to reduce linguistic barriers that hinder technology adoption across the continent.

At the same time, international technology companies increase their focus on this issue. Google’s Africa-focused artificial intelligence division launches the Wazal project to improve support for African languages in AI models.

The project collects linguistic data and develops translation systems. Its database covers 21 African languages, including Hausa, Yoruba, Luganda, Acholi, Swahili, Igbo and Fulfulde.

In Burkina Faso, authorities prioritize the production of local data to build a more sovereign AI ecosystem. They collaborate with public institutions and research organizations to create reliable corpora. These datasets remain essential for training effective AI models and ensuring long-term technological independence.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Kenya launched a real-time digital system to track births under the 2026–2028 “Every Mother, Every Newborn Everywhere” initiative.

• Authorities aim to use real-time data to detect complications and allocate healthcare resources more efficiently.

• The system supports broader health digitalization and universal health coverage, with over 30 million people already registered.

Kenya is accelerating the digitalization of its healthcare system to improve maternal and neonatal care. Aden Duale, Cabinet Secretary for Health, announced on Monday, March 23, the launch of a real-time birth tracking system.

The government introduced the system on the sidelines of an international conference on maternal health. Authorities deployed the initiative under the “Every Mother, Every Newborn Everywhere” program covering the 2026–2028 period.

pic.twitter.com/KYS8EUWJGS

— Hon. Aden Duale, EGH (@HonAdenDuale) March 23, 2026

The system integrates digital tools to monitor women during childbirth and newborns during their first days of life, which represent a critical phase. Authorities aim to detect complications quickly and direct interventions where needs are most urgent.

The system forms part of the national digital health strategy known as Digital Health Superhighway, which seeks to strengthen data-driven decision-making in healthcare.

Authorities can now access real-time information on births, healthcare facilities, and the causes of complications or deaths.

“We can now say, in real time, how many mothers have delivered, which facilities handled them and, in case of complications, identify the cause and context. This level of precision allows us to respond immediately and allocate resources where they are most needed,” the minister said.

Moreover, the initiative aligns with broader public service digitalization efforts in Kenya. The country recently launched a digital birth registry that allows hospitals to register children at birth, improving data reliability and access to essential services.

The rollout of these tools coincides with expanding health coverage in Kenya. More than 30 million people are currently registered with the Social Health Authority, which provides access to primary healthcare services.

This expansion is improving access to healthcare, particularly for vulnerable populations. Early trends show increased use of prenatal services and assisted deliveries, along with reduced financial barriers for low-income households.

Authorities are also implementing targeted, high-impact interventions, particularly in managing obstetric emergencies, postpartum hemorrhage, and critical neonatal care.

However, maternal and neonatal mortality remain major challenges in Kenya, as in many countries. The introduction of digital monitoring aims to reduce preventable deaths by improving the quality and speed of care delivery.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum