Tech (1262)
On Sunday, May 3, Côte d’Ivoire’s official government website published an interview with Stéphane Kounandi Coulibaly, Director of Innovation, Startups and the Private Sector at the Ministry of Digital Transition. In the interview, he outlined the country’s ambition to become a regional innovation hub. Yet significant challenges remain, particularly in cybersecurity. In that context, We Are Tech Africa spoke with Babel Balsomi (pictured), an ethical hacker, AI researcher and CEO of Hiero Digital, to examine some of the key issues.
We Are Tech Africa: Ivorian authorities have stepped up their cybersecurity ambitions with the creation of the National Agency for Information Systems Security (ANSSI) and the launch of a Security Operations Center (SOC). On the ground, do these ambitions match the scale of the vulnerabilities being observed?
Babel Balsomi: The creation of ANSSI is a real structural step forward. Bringing the National Computer Security Incident Response Center (CI-CERT), the Cybercrime Fighting Platform (PLCC), and the Directorate of IT and Digital Forensics (DITT) under a single authority helps address the fragmentation that had weakened the government's ability to respond quickly to incidents. The political will is clearly there, and that matters.
But there is still a major gap between these institutional ambitions and the reality experienced by businesses and ordinary users. The situation on the ground looks very different.
WAT: How would you assess the cybersecurity posture of SMEs in Côte d’Ivoire today — in terms of infrastructure, practices and awareness among business leaders?
BB: Starting with infrastructure, a large share of the systems supporting Côte d’Ivoire’s digital economy — corporate networks, servers and network equipment — is outdated. During audits at SMEs, including accounting firms, logistics companies and private clinics, I still regularly find servers running Windows Server 2008 or 2012, even though Microsoft stopped supporting those systems years ago.
Yet these machines remain connected to the internet and continue handling client data, including financial information, often without properly configured firewalls, network segmentation or isolated backups. Expanding digital services on top of that kind of infrastructure simply increases the attack surface without improving security.
A large share of the systems supporting Côte d’Ivoire’s digital economy — corporate networks, servers and network equipment — is outdated.
As for practices and awareness, the lack of cybersecurity culture is often profound, but not deliberate. I frequently meet business owners who discover during our first discussion that cybersecurity is a field in its own right. Yet these companies process payments through mobile money platforms, store customer data and form the backbone of the Ivorian economy. They are real targets — they just do not realize it yet.
WAT: In large companies, why is cybersecurity still struggling to become a strategic priority at the executive level?
BB: In large companies, the problem is different from what we see in SMEs. Operational teams are often aware of the risks, but that awareness usually runs into the same obstacle at management level: cybersecurity is still treated as a cost rather than a strategic issue.
I have seen technical teams identify critical vulnerabilities, produce detailed remediation plans, and then watch those plans get pushed aside because executives considered them non-essential. In some cases, incidents followed a few months later.
A lot of infrastructure today is effectively surviving on luck. Some companies have exposed systems accessible from outside networks with inadequate protection.
WAT: Beyond technical weaknesses, what human and organizational barriers are slowing cybersecurity progress in Côte d’Ivoire?
BB: The first is internal protectionism. Some teams see outside expertise as a threat and resist initiatives that could improve security because they fear losing influence or exposing internal weaknesses.
The second is the lack of continuous training. Cybersecurity evolves constantly, yet many teams are not investing enough in keeping their skills up to date. Over time, they lose touch with how threats are changing.
The third barrier is the failure to integrate young talent. There are highly capable and motivated cybersecurity professionals in Côte d’Ivoire, but organizations still struggle to recruit and retain them. The problem is not necessarily deliberate exclusion. Hiring structures, salary policies and management culture are simply not designed to attract these profiles.
We developed the Cybermétéo — a bulletin designed to assess a company’s vulnerabilities and identify leaked data — precisely to provide organizations with an objective view of their security posture. One in three companies refuses the exercise. Not because of cost, since it is free and confidential, but because many organizations still see transparency about vulnerabilities as a threat in itself. That says a lot about the gap between institutional ambition and operational reality.
WAT: You often speak about the lack of a cybersecurity culture within organizations. How can employee behavior become a major vulnerability?
BB: Beyond budgets and infrastructure, cybersecurity is also a cultural issue. It is still not seen as a shared responsibility.
An employee clicking on a phishing link, coworkers sharing passwords, or confidential documents being sent through personal messaging apps — these are the kinds of everyday behaviors that create openings for attackers.
I have conducted phishing simulations in Ivorian companies where between 70% and 80% of employees clicked on malicious links. That is not a question of intelligence. It is a question of awareness and exposure to the right information.
An employee clicking on a phishing link, coworkers sharing passwords, or confidential documents being sent through personal messaging apps — these are the kinds of everyday behaviors that create openings for attackers.
This kind of culture has to be built over time through training, leadership and clear internal policies. Right now, it remains largely absent.
WAT: Ordinary citizens are also increasingly exposed. Why do you describe connected users as the weakest link in the digital chain?
BB: More and more people are using fintech services every day as mobile adoption expands rapidly across the country. But most users are operating without any real protection.
WhatsApp scams, fake giveaways, identity theft on social media and fraudulent applications collecting personal data affect thousands of people every day. Most users simply do not have the tools or instincts needed to detect these threats.
Today, ordinary citizens are the most exposed and least protected part of the chain. At a time when mobile payments are becoming mainstream, public services are moving online and health and identity data are being collected at scale, the lack of cybersecurity awareness among users is no longer a secondary issue. It is a systemic risk.
WAT: Before artificial intelligence even enters the picture, what are the most common and effective cyberattacks targeting organizations in Côte d’Ivoire today?
BB: The threat landscape can broadly be divided into three levels, each reflecting a different degree of inadequate preparedness.
The first is phishing, and it is causing serious damage. Large companies, mid-sized firms and SMEs are targeted daily by phishing campaigns. What makes these attacks successful is not necessarily technical sophistication, but the absence of basic cybersecurity habits.
It can be a fake Treasury Department email requesting updated banking information, a WhatsApp message impersonating a CEO to request an urgent transfer, a fraudulent link imitating the CNPS portal or a local bank, or a fake telecom invoice with altered banking details. These situations occur every week.
In the simulations I have conducted, click rates on malicious links regularly exceed 70% to 80% of employees tested. In Europe, those figures would trigger serious concern. Here, they are often treated as normal.
Many companies have no business continuity plans, no reliable backups and no incident response contracts.
The second category is Business Email Compromise, or BEC, and these incidents are becoming increasingly common. A company receives what appears to be a legitimate email from a supplier announcing new banking details, and the accounting department sends money to a fraudulent account.
This technique has existed for more than a decade and does not rely on advanced technology. It works because many organizations still lack basic verification procedures, dual approval systems for transfers and sufficient staff awareness. This is not primarily a technology problem. It is a culture problem.
There is also the issue of data encryption. I have audited private clinics where patient records were stored on unencrypted local drives with no offsite backup, on Wi-Fi networks shared by doctors, administrative staff and visitors.
The third category is ransomware. Given the weaknesses we have discussed, even relatively simple ransomware attacks could paralyze a large number of organizations. Many companies have no business continuity plans, no reliable backups and no incident response contracts.
Hospitals, corporations and critical infrastructure operators in Europe and the United States have already been crippled by ransomware attacks for weeks at a time. Organizations in Côte d’Ivoire face the same threats with far fewer resources to respond and recover.
WAT: Is Côte d’Ivoire prepared for the new threats associated with artificial intelligence?
BB: No. And the threats linked to AI are fundamentally different.
One of the first risks is prompt injection. AI agents are autonomous systems capable of carrying out tasks with limited human intervention — accessing databases, sending emails, interacting with third-party systems and making certain decisions.
A prompt injection attack works by inserting malicious instructions into the data processed by the AI system, whether through a document, a form or an email. The objective is to hijack the system and make it perform unauthorized actions without operators realizing it.
For example, if a government agency deploys an AI agent to process citizen requests, a compromised form could instruct that system to quietly exfiltrate entire databases. The danger lies in the same qualities that make AI agents useful: autonomy, speed and operational capacity.
The danger lies in the same qualities that make AI agents useful: autonomy, speed and operational capacity.
The second category is training data poisoning. If an AI model is trained on compromised data, its outputs and decisions can gradually become distorted without anyone immediately detecting the manipulation. The model continues operating normally, but its reasoning has been compromised at the source. Since Côte d’Ivoire aims to develop models adapted to local realities, this risk is particularly important.
The third category involves mutating AI-driven attacks and prompt flux. Today, attackers can use large language models to generate hundreds of malware variants automatically. Each version differs slightly from the previous one, allowing it to evade antivirus systems based on known signatures. It works like a fast-mutating virus that changes more quickly than defenses can adapt.
Prompt flux pushes this even further. Malicious instructions change continuously and unpredictably in real time, making conventional filtering systems far less effective because every attack appears differently. These attacks can also destabilize AI models themselves and turn them into attack surfaces.
What is important to understand is that even the most advanced countries are still struggling to defend against these threats. Standards are still evolving, tools remain under development and expertise is limited.
If a prompt flux attack targeted a bank, telecom operator or government agency in Côte d’Ivoire today, the consequences could be severe. Many organizations still lack reliable backups, incident response teams, behavioral detection systems and crisis management procedures. In some cases, there is also deep distrust toward external cybersecurity experts. The result is that systems could remain compromised long before anyone realizes what happened.
Africa has the chance to avoid some of the mistakes made elsewhere, where digital ecosystems were built without integrating security from the beginning. But this opportunity will not remain open indefinitely.
The talent needed to build these capabilities exists in Côte d’Ivoire. I see it during cybersecurity competitions and within technical communities. But organizations still struggle to integrate and retain these profiles. That represents a direct loss for national resilience.
WAT: The country wants to deploy AI in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and education. Can these initiatives scale safely without stronger digital foundations?
BB: Let me be very clear: deploying artificial intelligence across Africa is a historic opportunity, and the continent needs to move now, not in five years.
Africa has the chance to avoid some of the mistakes made elsewhere, where digital ecosystems were built without integrating security from the beginning. But this opportunity will not remain open indefinitely. Global technology firms, investors and regional competitors are already moving quickly.
So the real issue is not choosing between AI and cybersecurity. The challenge is advancing both simultaneously. Right now, however, that is not what I see in practice.
Take the example of AI systems used in public hospitals to manage patient records or assist with diagnosis. These systems must connect to hospital networks, databases and multiple staff workstations.
Yet in many environments, I still find unsegmented networks where doctors, administrative staff and visitors share the same infrastructure, login credentials shared between users, and sensitive data left unencrypted both during transmission and storage.
In that environment, AI does not simply increase the value of the system. It also increases its exposure to attacks.
An attacker who compromises such a system could block access to medical records during an emergency, alter patient data or steal information belonging to thousands of people. Similar attacks have already severely disrupted hospitals in France, the United Kingdom and the United States. Africa will not remain immune indefinitely.
Karen Diallo said it clearly during the Cyber Africa Forum: many organizations still do not see the need to invest in digital security until it is too late.
An AI system that is secure by design can be deployed faster and adopted more broadly because users trust it. Conversely, a major incident involving an insecure system could damage confidence for years among users, investors and institutional partners.
The Safe AI Label was launched with positive intentions, but it still raises a key question: what technical standards actually support it? A label without independent audits, enforceable requirements or penalties for non-compliance is not a security guarantee. At this stage, it is mainly a statement of intent.
I am not arguing against AI deployment. Quite the opposite. Security should be treated as a condition for acceleration, not as an obstacle.
An AI system that is secure by design can be deployed faster and adopted more broadly because users trust it. Conversely, a major incident involving an insecure system could damage confidence for years among users, investors and institutional partners.
My position is straightforward: no AI deployment in critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture or education should move forward without a mandatory pre-deployment security audit. That is not a conservative approach. It is the minimum requirement for turning this technological opportunity into a lasting advantage rather than a large-scale vulnerability.
WAT: Beyond the broader discourse around digital transformation in Africa, what message would you like to send to decision-makers in Côte d’Ivoire and across the continent?
BB: The message is simple: digital transformation cannot succeed sustainably if security is treated as an afterthought.
Digitization without cybersecurity is like building a city without doors or locks. The larger the system becomes, the more vulnerable it grows.
The ambitions outlined by the Ministry of Digital Transition are real. Expanding the startup ecosystem, deploying AI in public services and positioning Côte d’Ivoire as a regional technology hub are important goals that deserve support.
But cybersecurity is still too often absent from these discussions. That omission matters because it reveals a structural blind spot. Governments are digitizing services, connecting agencies and opening public contracts to startups without building the security mechanisms needed to protect the ecosystem at the same pace.
Every digital service launched without adequate security measures creates a new vulnerability. Every database assembled without encryption increases the risk of future breaches. Every connected agency without proper network segmentation becomes a possible entry point into wider government systems.
The consequences are already visible. Startups in Côte d’Ivoire increasingly have access to public contracts, which is positive. But many of these companies still lack strong cybersecurity practices while handling sensitive government data and connecting directly to state information systems.
Every digital service launched without adequate security measures creates a new vulnerability. Every database assembled without encryption increases the risk of future breaches. Every connected agency without proper network segmentation becomes a possible entry point into wider government systems.
That creates opportunities for supply chain attacks, where attackers compromise smaller or less protected organizations to gain indirect access to larger targets. I have already documented this type of pattern in Côte d’Ivoire.
Digital transformation creates value, but it also increases systemic dependencies. If those connections are not secured, they become systemic vulnerabilities.
There is also an important human dimension that remains underestimated. Internal rivalries, resistance to change and managers reluctant to integrate younger talent continue slowing both cybersecurity progress and digital transformation more broadly.
These factors are holding the country back at a time when both digital transformation and cyber threats are accelerating simultaneously.
What decision-makers need to do is involve private-sector actors, SMEs and operational experts directly in the design of digital transformation strategies — not just cybersecurity strategies.
These are the people confronting vulnerabilities every day. They understand where systems fail, where digitized processes generate unexpected risks and where local talent can strengthen resilience.
Digital transformation has to be built with the people living these realities on the ground.
Interview by Adoni Conrad Quenum
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African governments are expanding unified digital platforms to centralize public services and improve administrative efficiency
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Countries including Senegal, Rwanda, Kenya, Benin and Burkina Faso have launched or expanded online portals for government services
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Despite progress, many countries still face challenges linked to weak infrastructure, fragmented systems and cybersecurity risks
Unified public service platforms are gaining ground across Africa as governments accelerate efforts to digitize administrative services and centralize them on single online portals. Inspired by e-government models developed in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, several countries are seeking to make public services easier to access, reduce administrative delays and improve efficiency as internet adoption expands rapidly across the continent.
Recent initiatives illustrate the trend
Burkina Faso recently launched a centralized digital public services platform aimed at progressively bringing together a wide range of online government services. The platform already provides 1,672 information sheets and 95 online procedures, while connecting 183 public institutions.
Senegal is also stepping up the rollout of digital public services through its “New Deal Technologique” strategy, which seeks to connect more government agencies and simplify access to online services. The country launched its unified public services portal, known as “e-Senegal,” in March.
Rwanda remains one of Africa’s most advanced digital administration models through its Irembo platform, which gives users access to several hundred government services, including civil status documents, permit applications and public payments.
Other African countries have also expanded similar initiatives in recent years. Kenya developed the eCitizen portal, which has become one of the country’s main gateways for online government services. In Benin, authorities have strengthened the national public services portal, allowing citizens to complete some procedures online related to administrative documents and tax services. The government says more than 10.5 million digital documents were issued in 2025 and that 75% of public services are now available online.
Uneven progress across the continent
The acceleration reflects broader efforts by African governments to modernize public administration and improve service delivery. According to the United Nations’ 2024 E-Government Survey, Africa’s E-Government Development Index rose from 0.4054 in 2022 to 0.4247 in 2024, an increase of 4.8%. The continent recorded the world’s second-fastest improvement after Asia.
Despite that progress, major disparities remain between countries. Rwanda, South Africa, Mauritius and Morocco rank among Africa’s most advanced digital administrations, supported by sustained investment in digital infrastructure and online public services. Many other countries continue to lag in the digitization and integration of government services.
Cameroon, for example, still faces significant fragmentation across public platforms, with many procedures remaining largely manual despite several digital transformation programs launched in recent years. Chad, the Central African Republic and South Sudan continue to struggle with weak telecommunications infrastructure, limited internet connectivity and low administrative capacity. In some countries, existing platforms remain underused because agencies are not fully interconnected or because internal government procedures have not been sufficiently digitized.
Security and trust become central issues
Unified digital platforms now serve purposes that go beyond administrative modernization. Governments increasingly view them as tools to improve tax collection, strengthen transparency, reduce certain forms of administrative corruption and simplify interactions between public authorities, citizens and businesses.
At the same time, data protection and platform reliability have become growing concerns as governments manage expanding volumes of sensitive information linked to identity systems, taxation and social services. African states are under increasing pressure to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities and protect public platforms against fraud, hacking and personal data breaches.
Samira Njoya
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Morocco is expanding online public services by introducing new digital procedures linked to its electronic national identity card
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Citizens will be able to complete much of the ID renewal process online, including applications, document uploads, and electronic payments
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Authorities also plan to launch a mobile digital ID app as part of broader efforts to modernize and secure public services
Morocco is accelerating the modernization of its public administration with the rollout of new online procedures linked to the electronic national identity card (CNIE). The General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) announced the upcoming launch of several digital services during an open house event held from May 18 to May 22 in Rabat. The agency said the measures are aimed at simplifying administrative procedures and easing pressure on registration centers.
The main reform concerns the renewal of the electronic identity card. Citizens whose CNIE is nearing expiration will be able to complete much of the process online through the DGSN’s digital platforms, including the Epolice.ma portal and the cnie.ma website. Users will be able to pre-fill applications, upload certain supporting documents, track residency certificate requests, and pay stamp duties electronically before a final in-person appointment for biometric verification.
Moroccan authorities say the initiative forms part of the country’s broader strategy to digitize public services. Divisional Commissioner Loubna Kikou, quoted by state news agency MAP, said the reform is designed to reduce unnecessary travel for citizens and shorten processing times, particularly during peak periods such as the summer holidays.
The project also includes the planned launch of a digital version of the identity card through the “Mon e-ID” mobile application. The application will allow citizens to store a secure digital copy of their identity document on their smartphones, including devices without NFC technology. The DGSN said it has also strengthened cybersecurity measures to protect personal data and secure online administrative transactions.
The initiative is part of a wider drive to digitize Morocco’s public administration in recent years. The country has expanded digital platforms across several sectors, including justice, taxation, civil registry services, and business administration. Morocco is among Africa’s leading countries in e-government. According to the United Nations’ “E-Government Survey,” the country recorded an e-government development index (EGDI) score of 0.6841 in 2024, ranking 90th globally and among the continent’s most advanced digital administrations.
Authorities are also seeking to keep pace with rising digital adoption. According to the National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT), Morocco had 39.9 million internet subscriptions at the end of March 2025, representing a penetration rate of more than 108%, according to a report published in June 2025. With internet use continuing to expand, the digitization of identity procedures is viewed as a strategic step toward streamlining interactions between citizens and public services while strengthening the security of online government services.
Samira Njoya
- Yango Group launched its B2B unit, Yango Tech, across several African markets with a focus on AI and digital infrastructure.
- The company targets sectors including healthcare, transport, finance, commerce and public services with automation and data-management tools.
- McKinsey estimates generative AI could generate up to $103 billion in annual economic value in Africa, while the GSMA projects the mobile economy could contribute $270 billion to Africa’s GDP by 2030.
Yango Group has launched its enterprise-focused technology division, Yango Tech, in several African markets. The company, which already operates mobility and delivery services in Africa, now wants to position itself in the market for enterprise, smart city and public-sector technology solutions. Yango Tech will offer services centered on artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and organizational digital transformation.
Yango Tech aims to support African companies and institutions in automating operations and modernizing digital systems across sectors including healthcare, transportation, commerce, finance and public services.
The company’s offering includes generative AI platforms, intelligent data-management tools, urban mobility solutions and strategic advisory services focused on AI governance and executive training. In addition, the group wants to help organizations assess the return on investment of AI projects and accelerate the deployment of large-scale digital services.
The expansion comes as digital adoption gains momentum across Africa. According to McKinsey & Company, generative artificial intelligence could generate up to $103 billion in economic value annually across the continent. Meanwhile, the GSMA estimates that Africa’s mobile economy could contribute as much as $270 billion to continental GDP by 2030, driven by the growth of digital services, cloud computing and AI-based technologies.
Yango Tech already relies on pilot projects launched outside Africa, particularly in intelligent emergency-service management and real-time ambulance tracking systems in Central Asia.
In Africa, the group has started initial deployments in Mozambique and South Africa before gradually expanding into other strategic African markets. Consequently, the company joins a growing list of international technology firms seeking to establish positions in Africa’s emerging AI sector, where demand for automation, data analytics and digital infrastructure continues to accelerate rapidly.
Moreover, Yango Tech’s expansion reflects intensifying competition in Africa’s AI and digital infrastructure markets. Although the continent still faces deficits in connectivity, computing capacity and specialized skills, companies and public administrations continue to increase demand for automation and data-analysis solutions. This momentum continues to attract international players seeking exposure to a fast-growing but still underpenetrated market.
Samira Njoya
- PayPal expanded its PYUSD stablecoin to 70 global markets, including several African countries.
- The company aims to reduce the cost and settlement time of cross-border payments through blockchain-based transactions.
- The World Bank estimates that Sub-Saharan Africa remains the world’s most expensive region for remittances, with average transfer costs above 7% for sending $200.
PayPal announced on Wednesday, May 20, that it had expanded its PayPal USD stablecoin, known as PYUSD, to 70 markets worldwide, including several African countries. The U.S. digital payments company wants to enable individuals and businesses to conduct faster and lower-cost international transfers through the dollar-backed digital currency.
PYUSD will become directly accessible through eligible users’ PayPal accounts. Users will be able to buy, hold, send and receive stablecoins, while also transferring funds to third-party digital wallets or converting balances into local currencies.
For businesses, PayPal primarily highlighted faster cross-border settlements, with transaction times reduced to minutes instead of several days through traditional banking channels.
“Offering PYUSD in Africa delivers tangible value to the people and businesses driving growth across these dynamic markets. Individuals gain a flexible and stable way to transfer funds faster, while businesses can streamline cross-border payments, improve settlement times and create new growth opportunities,” said Otto Williams, senior vice president and managing director for the Middle East and Africa at PayPal.
The initiative comes as digital payments and cross-border transfers continue to grow rapidly across Africa. According to the World Bank, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the world’s most expensive region for remittances, with average transfer costs exceeding 7% for sending $200.
Consequently, stablecoins continue to attract growing interest from fintech companies and payment providers, which increasingly view blockchain-based assets as alternatives to traditional financial rails that many users consider slow and expensive.
The international expansion of PYUSD also reflects intensifying competition in the market for dollar-backed digital currencies. Since launching the stablecoin in the United States in 2023, PayPal has sought to expand PYUSD usage across e-commerce, international transfers and digital financial services.
According to specialized platform Odaily, global stablecoin supply recently reached a new record above $323 billion, driven largely by growing adoption in digital payments and digital assets across emerging markets.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berr Quenum
- Ivory Coast plans to deploy Huawei’s “Smart Agriculture” platform to improve farm productivity, crop monitoring and climate resilience.
- Agriculture contributes 15% of GDP and employs about 46% of the country’s workforce.
- Authorities aim to strengthen traceability systems in cocoa and cashew supply chains amid tighter European environmental regulations.
Ivory Coast plans to strengthen the digitalization of its agriculture sector. Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production Minister Bruno Nabagné Koné met a delegation from Huawei Côte d’Ivoire in Abidjan on Tuesday, May 19.
Acting Managing Director Benoît Wu led the delegation. The discussions focused on the “Smart Agriculture” project, which Huawei launched in 2023 during the International Exhibition of Agriculture and Animal Resources (SARA). The initiative aims to modernize farming practices through digital technologies.
Digitalisation de l'agriculture : le Ministre Bruno Koné échange avec Huawei Côte d'Ivoire
— MINADRPV (@minadrpv) May 19, 2026
Le Ministre de l'Agriculture, @Bruno_N_Kone, a reçu ce mardi 19 mai, à son cabinet, une délégation de Huawei Côte d'Ivoire, conduite par son directeur général par intérim, M. Benoît Wu.… pic.twitter.com/YzcW9JAl3o
The project notably includes the deployment of a digital platform capable of mapping agricultural plots, monitoring crop development and providing farmers with data on inputs, yields and weather conditions. Authorities believe these tools could improve agricultural productivity, strengthen farm monitoring and support producers’ decision-making in response to climate-related risks.
Moreover, Minister Bruno Koné gave preliminary approval to support the initiative, which he described as a strategic lever for accelerating the modernization of Ivory Coast’s agricultural sector. The government also wants to establish closer cooperation with Huawei Côte d’Ivoire to support the operational rollout of the project across the country.
The initiative comes as several African countries accelerate the digitalization of agriculture to improve yields and strengthen sector resilience. In Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer and a leading cashew producer, traceability and agricultural data collection have become increasingly important. New environmental requirements imposed by international markets, particularly the European Union, continue to drive this trend. Several plantation geolocation and digital supply-chain monitoring programs already operate within the cocoa sector.
Beyond farm modernization, Ivorian authorities also want to use digital technologies to strengthen food security, improve farmers’ access to agricultural information and support the structural transformation of the sector. The government now considers digital technology a key tool for improving the competitiveness of Ivorian agriculture and attracting additional investment into agricultural value chains.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- TikTok removed 820,552 videos in Kenya between October and December 2025 for violating community guidelines.
- The platform said artificial intelligence systems detected 99.9% of removed Kenyan videos before users reported them.
- TikTok suspended 108,752 Kenyan accounts during the quarter, including 93,704 accounts linked to suspected users under 13 years old.
Chinese social media platform TikTok removed 820,552 videos in Kenya between October and December 2025 for violating community guidelines, according to the company’s latest quarterly transparency report published on Tuesday, May 19.
The report detailed the platform’s global content moderation operations as digital platforms face growing criticism over harmful content management and the protection of underage users.
TikTok said artificial intelligence and machine-learning systems automatically detected 99.9% of the removed videos in Kenya before users reported them.
The company also said moderators removed 98.4% of content classified as violating platform rules within 24 hours after publication. The removals included misinformation, hate speech, violent content and online safety violations.
In addition, TikTok said it suspended 108,752 accounts in Kenya during the same period. Among those accounts, 93,704 allegedly belonged to users younger than 13 years old, which falls below the platform’s minimum age requirement.
The company said those measures formed part of its strategy to protect minors and strengthen digital safety as several countries tighten regulations targeting social media platforms.
The increase in moderation activity comes as digital usage and social media adoption continue to expand rapidly across Africa. According to DataReportal, Kenya counted more than 18 million active social media users by the end of 2025, driven by strong growth in mobile video consumption.
TikTok ranks among the most popular applications for young Kenyan users, particularly through short-form entertainment, music and news content.
Globally, TikTok said it removed more than 175.3 million videos during the fourth quarter of 2025, representing about 0.5% of all content published on the platform during the period.
The company said artificial intelligence tools automatically detected more than 152 million of those videos. However, TikTok also restored about 8.4 million videos after human review, highlighting the limitations of automated moderation systems.
Samira Njoya
- Representatives from 24 African countries adopted a common 2026-2030 roadmap on personal data governance in Abidjan.
- Regulators called for stronger national data protection authorities and stricter compliance mechanisms for companies and public institutions.
- African regulators linked data security and digital trust to the continent’s projected $721 billion digital economy by 2050.
African personal data protection authorities want to accelerate the harmonization of digital regulations across the continent. Representatives from 24 African countries adopted a new roadmap covering the 2026-2030 period during the 9th conference of the African Network of Personal Data Protection Authorities (RAPDP) held this week in Abidjan.
African Network of Personal Data Protection Authorities organized the discussions with support from Ivory Coast Telecommunications and ICT Regulatory Authority. The participants sought to define a common African position on personal data governance, cybersecurity and the regulation of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
The declaration adopted after the meeting urged African states to treat personal data protection as a strategic digital sovereignty issue rather than a purely administrative or legal matter.
Consequently, regulators called for stronger national data protection authorities, improved coordination among African countries and stricter compliance mechanisms for both public institutions and private companies.
In addition, participants discussed the need to adapt African regulatory frameworks to the rapid growth of digital financial services, biometric technologies, global digital platforms and artificial intelligence applications.
The initiative comes as several African countries accelerate digital transformation projects linked to e-government services, digital payments and digital identity systems.
However, regulators warned that rapid digitalization also increases exposure to cyberattacks, personal data exploitation and technological dependence on large foreign platforms.
Therefore, African authorities aim to secure the long-term development of the continent’s digital economy while strengthening trust in digital systems.
Beyond regulatory concerns, African states also want to safeguard the expansion of the continent’s digital economy.
According to African Continental Free Trade Area, Africa’s digital economy could reach $721 billion by 2050 if governments and businesses sustain large-scale investments and digitalization efforts.
Regulators now consider digital trust and data security essential conditions for the development of e-commerce, digital financial services and public digital platforms across the continent.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Tunisia Customs integrated an artificial intelligence module into its national customs selectivity system to improve fraud detection and cargo screening.
- The system uses machine learning algorithms to analyze customs data and identify high-risk transactions automatically.
- Tunisian authorities recorded nearly 4,000 customs cases in the first quarter of 2026, involving seized goods worth more than 51 million Tunisian dinars ($17.6 million).
Tunisia Customs has continued its digital transformation by integrating an artificial intelligence-based module into the country’s national customs selectivity system, as authorities seek to modernize border controls and improve trade processing efficiency.
The Directorate General of Customs announced the measure in a statement published on Saturday, May 16, following a meeting of the central customs risk management commission held in Tunis.
The new system relies on machine learning algorithms capable of processing large volumes of customs data to identify transactions that present elevated fraud risks automatically.
In practice, the platform analyzes several variables, including the nature of goods, their origin, declared value, import histories and the profiles of economic operators.
Through those predictive models, customs authorities aim to improve the accuracy of suspicious cargo targeting, reduce systematic manual inspections and accelerate the processing of compliant shipments.
The initiative comes as Tunisian authorities pursue a broader modernization of the customs chain to support foreign trade and improve administrative efficiency.
The Directorate General of Customs is also developing “Sinda 2,” a next-generation digital platform designed to connect the various government agencies involved in customs operations. Authorities expect the first phase of the project to enter service by the end of 2026.
At the same time, Tunisia has expanded international partnerships to accelerate customs digitalization efforts. In April, Tunisia Customs launched, in cooperation with South Korea, an integrated electronic system project aimed at further digitizing customs procedures and strengthening transparency in administrative exchanges with economic operators.
The modernization effort also reflects growing economic and security concerns. According to data released by Tunisia Customs, authorities registered nearly 4,000 customs-related cases during the first quarter of 2026. The value of seized goods exceeded 51 million Tunisian dinars ($17.6 million).
Authorities seized foreign currencies, gold, cartridges, clothing and smuggled goods during those operations. Through the integration of artificial intelligence, Tunisian authorities aim to improve customs risk management, reduce processing times and strengthen the country’s logistics competitiveness.
The initiative also reflects a broader trend across customs administrations, where automated analytics technologies increasingly serve as strategic tools to secure trade flows while facilitating legitimate commerce.
Samira Njoya
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Between 4,000 and 5,000 parcels transit Mauritius each day, a volume driven by online purchases and international e-commerce platforms.
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Junior Finance Minister Dhaneshwar Damry and MRA Director General Rohit Ramnawaz met with a Korean Customs Service delegation on Friday, May 15, to discuss risk management systems and advanced parcel-processing technologies.
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The Mauritius Revenue Authority is rolling out advanced scanning systems to detect drugs, weapons and prohibited goods, alongside automated risk management tools.
Mauritius is moving to tighten control over its postal flows through digital tools, as the country grapples with a sharp rise in e-commerce parcels and a growing wave of illicit trafficking.
The issue dominated a meeting held Friday, May 15, between junior Finance Minister Dhaneshwar Damry, Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) Director General Rohit Ramnawaz, and a delegation from the Korean Customs Service.
The discussions focused on strengthening risk management systems and integrating advanced technologies into the processing of incoming parcels. Mauritian authorities want to sharpen detection capabilities for drugs, weapons and fraudulent goods through scanning equipment and automated analysis. "The government's vision is to digitalize government services in order to improve their efficiency and effectiveness, while managing the growing risks linked to drug trafficking and illicit products," Damry said after the meeting.
This cooperation comes against the backdrop of fast-rising e-commerce activity on the island. According to customs authorities, between 4,000 and 5,000 parcels transit Mauritius each day, a volume pushed higher by online purchases and international e-commerce platforms. That growth complicates the work of control services, which now face increasingly sophisticated fraud methods — particularly the under-valuation of goods and the concealment of prohibited products inside postal shipments.
The initiative builds on years of government investment in modernizing customs and tax services. The Mauritius Revenue Authority has launched several projects covering the automation of clearance procedures, digital risk management and tighter control of incoming parcels. The agency is also working on advanced scanning systems designed to detect drugs, weapons and other prohibited goods more effectively. Beyond domestic efforts, the authorities are relying on international cooperation to modernize control infrastructure, speed up the processing of goods and secure trade flows.
Samira Njoya
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- Algeria launched the “77.7” digital empowerment program targeting citizens from ages 7 to 77.
- The initiative combines in-person and remote training through seven regional Skills Centers with an annual target of up to 30,000 learners.
- The program forms part of the broader “Digital Algeria 2030” strategy aimed at developing ICT skills and reducing youth unemployment.
The Algerian government announced last week the launch of a digital empowerment program called “77.7.” The initiative aims to train Algerian citizens across all age groups and provide digital skills needed to meet modern technological demands and support the country’s digital transformation agenda.
Sid Ali Zerrouki announced the initiative on Saturday, May 17, during the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
The government is implementing the program in partnership with Algérie Télécom and Mobilis, while authorities plan to integrate additional partners in later phases
Authorities describe the “77.7” initiative as the country’s most comprehensive national digital-skills program.
The initiative targets seven distinct age groups through seven customized educational tracks.
The tracks range from “Technology Explorers” for children aged 7 to 10 to programs such as “Technology Layers,” “Innovators” and “Professional Technology” designed for youth and students.
The initiative also includes “Technology for Growth,” “Digital Empowerment” and “Technology Seniors” programs aimed at adults and elderly citizens up to age 77.
The training content follows a modular and progressive structure adapted to each age category, ranging from introductory digital literacy to advanced technology mastery.
Cybersecurity forms a mandatory component across all programs. The curriculum notably covers phishing prevention, online fraud awareness, disinformation risks and personal data protection.
Operationally, the initiative relies on a hybrid model combining in-person and remote learning. Seven Skills Centers located in the wilayas of Algiers, Oran, Annaba, Sétif, Chlef, Saïda and Adrar will support implementation. Each center can host around 1,000 learners annually. During the first year, the ministry expects to train between 25,000 and 30,000 citizens.
National Skills Development Strategy
The initiative forms part of broader efforts by Algerian authorities to strengthen digital skills development nationwide. The government said it wants to invest in human capital as an “essential foundation” for adapting to rapid technological changes.
Authorities have launched several related initiatives in recent months. In April 2026, Algiers launched a 12-week national artificial intelligence training program.
In May 2025, the government introduced the “Chabab Tech” program to train young people in cloud computing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things.
Earlier that year, authorities had already begun deploying Skills Centers across the country.
These initiatives fall under the “Digital Algeria 2030” strategy, which identifies skills development as one of its five main pillars. The roadmap aims to train up to 500,000 ICT specialists and significantly reduce the emigration of qualified talent.
Authorities are also presenting the initiatives as a structural response to persistent unemployment, particularly among young people. According to the 2024 “Activity, Employment and Unemployment” survey by the National Statistics Office (ONS), Algeria’s overall unemployment rate reached 9.7%.
Meanwhile, the World Bank estimated youth unemployment at 29.4% in 2024, compared with 29.9% a year earlier.
Beyond employment prospects, the digital training initiatives also aim to accelerate adoption of digital services, strengthen digital inclusion and improve user protection in an increasingly connected environment.
This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Guinea unveiled nine strategic projects aimed at digitizing public services and modernizing administrative governance.
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The initiatives fall under the broader Simandou 2040 roadmap, which now includes digital, governance and infrastructure reforms.
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Authorities expect the reforms to improve transparency, streamline administrative procedures and strengthen the business environment.
Guinea is accelerating the modernization of its public administration. The Ministry of Public Administration Modernization and Civil Service presented nine strategic projects on Friday, May 15, in Conakry. The initiatives aim to strengthen the digitization of public services, improve administrative management and modernize state governance tools.
The projects notably focus on digitizing public services through the One-stop shop for public services (GUSP), modernizing human resources management systems and deploying digital equipment across government institutions.
In addition, the program includes a detailed mapping of the public administration system, an inventory of IT systems currently used for personnel management and expanded digital-skills training for civil servants.
Authorities also plan to rehabilitate and modernize the Gouv-Lab, restructure public administrative institutions and rationalize state intervention in order to improve administrative coordination.
Moreover, the government intends to strengthen digital tools, including the FUGAS platform dedicated to public-sector human resources management.
According to the ministry in charge of the civil service, the projects should reduce administrative bottlenecks, strengthen transparency and improve access to public services for citizens and businesses.
The initiative forms part of the Simandou 2040 program, which authorities describe as Guinea’s new economic and institutional roadmap for the next 15 years.
Although the program initially centered on the massive Simandou mining project, it now includes reforms linked to digitalization, public governance and infrastructure development.
Through the initiative, authorities aim to build a more efficient and results-oriented administration as several African countries accelerate the digital transformation of public services.
The new projects come as Guinea has already launched several e-government initiatives in recent years. The country now operates a national public services portal that provides online access to administrative procedures including passport applications, visa requests, civil registry documents and biometric permits.
The government has also launched digital platforms such as eTax for online tax filing and payment services. At the same time, the National Agency for State Digitalization (ANDE), established in 2022, is overseeing several projects related to interconnection between government administrations, development of public digital solutions and deployment of the Conakry metropolitan fiber-optic network.
Beyond administrative modernization, the reforms also carry broader economic objectives. Guinea aims to improve the business climate, strengthen the efficiency of public action and facilitate interactions between government agencies, citizens and companies.
Authorities also believe that digitalizing procedures could reduce administrative delays, improve operational traceability and strengthen transparency in public management.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Morocco signed a partnership with CDG and CDG Incept to deploy a digital road transport platform under the “Digital Morocco 2030” strategy.
- The platform will include a digital chronotachograph system capable of tracking vehicle speed, driving times and geolocation data in real time.
- Moroccan authorities aim to improve road safety, modernize logistics management and digitize administrative services for transport operators.
Road transport handles the majority of freight exchanges in Morocco, and authorities are accelerating the sector’s digital transformation to modernize logistics management and improve road safety.
Sector data show that road transport accounts for more than 75% of freight flows in Morocco and remains a key pillar of the country’s logistics industry. At the same time, rising trade volumes and growing traffic are pushing Moroccan authorities to digitize the sector in order to modernize administrative services, strengthen transport monitoring and improve road safety.
Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics signed a partnership agreement on Thursday, May 15, in Rabat with Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (CDG) and its subsidiary CDG Incept. The agreement aims to support the implementation of the road transport digital roadmap under the national “Digital Morocco 2030” strategy.
The partnership includes the development of an integrated digital platform dedicated to road transport operations. The system will incorporate a digital chronotachograph capable of tracking several categories of vehicle data in real time, including speed, distance traveled, driving time and the geolocation of trucks and buses.
According to Transport and Logistics Minister Abdessamad Kayouh, the solution will allow drivers and transport companies to monitor operations more accurately through digital tools while simplifying access to administrative services.
In addition, users will be able to complete certain procedures remotely through a centralized platform instead of traveling to ministry offices.
Moroccan authorities also intend to use the new digital tools to strengthen road safety enforcement. Morocco still records several thousand road accidents every year.
According to the National Road Safety Agency (NARSA), the country registered more than 143,000 traffic accidents involving injuries in 2024, resulting in more than 4,000 deaths.
Authorities expect digital monitoring of driving times and vehicle movements to help reduce violations linked to driver fatigue, speeding and breaches of traffic regulations.
The digital transformation also aligns with Morocco’s broader logistics modernization strategy. According to the Ministry of Transport, the sector contributes about 5% of national GDP and plays a strategic role in the kingdom’s trade exchanges with Europe and Africa.
Moreover, the expansion of port infrastructure, particularly around the Tanger Med complex, has increased demand for digital solutions capable of improving cargo traceability and logistics-chain efficiency.
For CDG, the project represents an initial phase in the ministry’s broader administrative digitalization process. The implementation work is expected to last about six months.
Ultimately, Moroccan authorities aim to build a digital ecosystem capable of improving road transport governance, streamlining operations and bringing public services closer to businesses and citizens.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- Chad launched a digital platform for its Official Gazette to centralize legal and administrative documents.
- The portal provides access to more than 68 years of government archives dating back to 1958.
- The European Union financed the project, while the United Nations Development Programme supported implementation.
The Chadian government officially launched a digital platform dedicated to the Official Gazette of the Republic on Thursday, May 14, in N'Djamena.
The portal, accessible through journalofficiel.td, aims to modernize access to legal and administrative documents, strengthen transparency in public administration and improve the dissemination of official information to citizens, businesses and institutions.
💻 68 ans d’archives gouvernementales désormais accessibles en ligne 🇹🇩
— PNUD TCHAD (@PNUD_Tchad) May 14, 2026
Honorés d’avoir accompagné le Secrétariat général du Gouvernement dans la conception et la mise en place du portail numérique du Journal Officiel.
Lois, décrets et textes réglementaires sont désormais plus… pic.twitter.com/xqvVd3pgAC
The new platform now centralizes laws, decrees, official statements, public tender notices, approved procurement contracts and various regulatory texts published by the state. The portal also provides access to more than 68 years of administrative and regulatory archives covering the period from 1958 to the present day.
The European Union financed the project, while the United Nations Development Programme supported implementation. The initiative forms part of broader government efforts to accelerate the digital transformation of Chad’s public administration.
Authorities aim to secure and preserve the country’s administrative memory while ensuring faster and broader access to official documents. The government also seeks to improve transparency around public procurement and strengthen the reliability of administrative information distributed to citizens.
The initiative comes as several African countries accelerate the digitization of public services to improve governance, reduce administrative delays and facilitate access to public information.
Governments increasingly view the dematerialization of official gazettes as a tool to strengthen legal certainty and simplify procedures for citizens, investors and legal professionals.
Beyond administrative modernization, Chad also aims to improve access to legal information and strengthen the country’s attractiveness to investors.
Authorities consider national control over digital infrastructure and administrative archives a strategic priority in efforts to build a more efficient, transparent and accessible public administration across the country.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum