He develops tools to help companies monitor their online presence or digital reputation. With data-and media-driven projects, he's making a name for himself in Morocco's tech sector.
Anas Acherrat is a Moroccan entrepreneur specializing in marketing, technology, and artificial intelligence. He is the co-founder and CEO of Petalens, a startup focused on media monitoring, data analysis, and brand reputation tracking. Founded in 2022, Petalens offers a platform that allows companies to capture, track, and analyze real-time mentions of their brand, products, or competitors across all media channels. Powered by AI tools, the platform converts this data into actionable insights for crisis management, trend monitoring, and decision-making for marketing, communications, and executive teams.
Petalens provides detailed reports, sends instant alerts for significant changes in digital reputation, and offers a comprehensive view of a brand or sector’s media landscape. Its services cater to both large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to manage their image and optimize communication strategies through data-driven insights tailored to their needs.
The startup participated in the Orange Fab acceleration program in Morocco. Orange also selected Petalens as one of three Moroccan startups to represent the country at the 2025 edition of Viva Technology, the global innovation and startup event held in June.
Anas Acherrat also co-founded Creastation in 2020, a company specializing in IT services and digital marketing. In the same year, he co-founded Mouhim, a content aggregation platform and app that allows users to access articles and books based on their interests.
Acherrat earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance from Al Akhawayn University in Morocco in 2016. He then received a master’s in strategic marketing from Imperial Business School in the UK in 2018. That year, he worked as a marketing consultant for Group Lotus in Norwich, England, a company known for developing technologies for the automotive industry. He then joined BPG Group, a marketing agency in Dubai, as an account executive, a position he held until 2019.
Melchior Koba
• My Afro Origins platform is dedicated for Afro-descendants seeking citizenship under a new return law recognizing descendants of enslaved Africans.
• Move aligns with global diaspora initiatives like Ghana’s “Year of Return” and Guinea-Bissau’s citizenship program.
• Platform offers application tools with a $100 fee, aiming to strengthen diaspora ties and development.
Benin officially launched My Afro Origins, a digital platform designed to accept applications for Beninese nationality from Afro-descendants. The portal went live on Friday, July 4, 2025.
The platform supports the implementation of Law No. 2024-31, passed on September 2, 2024, which for the first time guarantees the right of return and citizenship to descendants of sub-Saharan Africans who were deported during the slave trade and the transatlantic triangle trade.
“Our brothers and sisters in the diaspora, forcibly uprooted during the dark hours of the transatlantic slave trade, must reclaim their place within the African community,” said Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari. “It is time to heal these wounds and recreate that sacred bond with those who, though physically distant, carry Africa in their hearts.”
The announcement comes as many Afro-descendants, especially African Americans and Afro-Caribbeans, seek to return to Africa, reconnect with their heritage, and contribute to the continent’s development. It also aligns with the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent from 2015 to 2024, which promotes human rights, justice, and development for people of African heritage living outside the continent.
Benin has launched several initiatives to encourage the return of Afro-descendants and strengthen ties with its global diaspora. The Vodun Days festival has become a major event for the African diaspora, attracting visitors from Haiti, the United States, Brazil, and increasingly from Guadeloupe, all seeking to reconnect with their roots.
This initiative follows similar efforts in other countries, such as Ghana’s Year of Return in 2019 and Guinea-Bissau’s recent decision to grant citizenship and issue national passports to an initial group of people of African descent.
Beyond granting Beninese nationality to Afro-descendants, the program offers opportunities for economic, cultural, and educational development.
The My Afro Origins platform allows users to access information, prepare their application, and pay the $100 processing fee.
Lydie Mobio
Algeria is turning to its growing start-up ecosystem to help modernize its infrastructure and strengthen national innovation.
On July 9, the government created a joint commission linking the Ministry of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure with the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Start-ups, and Micro-enterprises. The goal: involve start-ups in designing and executing large-scale infrastructure projects.
The collaboration aims to build a structured framework for start-ups to contribute to projects in railways, guided transport systems, and smart construction site management. At the center of the strategy lies digital innovation, applied research, and knowledge management.
To operationalize this, the government plans to launch exchange platforms and co-development workshops. These will connect start-ups with infrastructure stakeholders early in the process—from planning and monitoring through to project execution. Authorities want to embed local, agile, and cost-effective solutions into the fabric of national infrastructure.
This initiative forms part of the knowledge economy strategy introduced in 2020. Since then, Algeria has created a dedicated Ministry for Start-ups, a "Start-up" label, the Algerian Start-up Fund (ASF), and several incubators and support programs.
Currently, Algeria counts between 5,000 and 8,000 start-ups, with more than 1,200 having received the official “Start-up” label from the National Labeling Commission.
By involving these companies in strategic infrastructure development, the government aims to boost homegrown innovation, reduce technological dependence, and build national capacity. The wider ambition is to create skilled jobs and anchor entrepreneurship around the real needs of the domestic market.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
The new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marks a significant milestone in advancing Morocco’s digital transition strategy while supporting broader regional development objectives.
Morocco’s Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has signed a new cooperation agreement aimed at accelerating inclusive digital transformation across the Arab States and Africa. The event took place on the sidelines of the National Conference on Artificial Intelligence, held on July 1-2 in Rabat at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University campus.
The conference brought together over 2,000 participants, including national and international experts, under the theme “An Efficient and Ethical AI Strategy Serving Our Society.” It also featured the signing of agreements with various public and private partners.
Commenting on the agreement, Marina Walter, Deputy Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at UNDP, said, “This partnership underscores our shared commitment to harnessing digital transformation as a powerful enabler of sustainable development and regional integration.”
The partnership focuses on strengthening digital public services, promoting responsible artificial intelligence (AI) use, and building institutional and regulatory frameworks to enable robust digital ecosystems that support sustainable development.
It reaffirms Morocco’s ambition to position itself as a regional hub for inclusive and rights-based digital transformation, contributing to UNDP’s global mission to shape equitable, secure, and development-driven digital cooperation.
Morocco’s rapid digital growth makes it a natural partner for the UNDP in driving inclusive digital transformation across the Arab and African regions. With major tech players like Oracle, Naver, Nokia, and Cisco investing heavily, Morocco has quickly become a leading technology hub, supported by strong infrastructure, strategic location, and a skilled workforce.
Its Digital 2030 strategy — targeting over 240,000 new digital jobs by 2030 and widespread public service digitization — aligns closely with the UNDP’s goals of sustainable, inclusive, and rights-based digital growth. The country provides a strong foundation to scale digital public services and responsible AI. This makes it an ideal anchor for the partnership, helping deliver tangible development outcomes and advance the Sustainable Development Goals.
Hikmatu Bilali
Lara Dendy Young discovered the tourism industry while working at a lodge in South Africa, where she witnessed how travel could both support local communities and protect the natural environment.
A South African entrepreneur with a focus on ecotourism and technology, Dendy Young co-founded Conservio, an innovative online booking platform dedicated to nature-based travel experiences.
Launched in 2020, Conservio makes it easier for travelers to access natural destinations while contributing to environmental preservation. Partner accommodations commit a portion of their revenue to support local conservation initiatives, employment creation, and circular economy efforts.
The platform actively promotes responsible tourism practices among its partners and ensures that each booking delivers tangible benefits to nearby communities. Conservio currently lists more than 500 accommodations—including lodges, cabins, farms, floating houses, and glamping sites—spread across South Africa, Mozambique, and Namibia.
“By selecting sustainable and stylish accommodations, from intimate cabins and farm stays to luxury lodges in nature reserves, Conservio offers travelers access to getaways beyond city limits, where every booking directly supports nature conservation,” explains Lara Dendy Young.
In January 2025, Conservio raised $1 million in a funding round led by E4E Africa, with participation from Volve Capital, Living Hope Ventures, and several angel investors.
Lara Dendy Young holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Hartwick College (2015, United States) and a master’s in the same field from the African Leadership University (2021).
She began her career in 2012 as operations manager at Deluxe Coffeeworks. In 2015, she joined Classic Portfolio, a network of independent lodges and camps in Africa’s wild regions, as an international sales executive. In 2019, she was promoted to head of sustainability, a position she held until founding Conservio in 2020.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
He is interested in complex systems and how they function. He focuses on tools that optimize teams’ time and resources.
Ghassen Menaouar, a Franco-Tunisian tech entrepreneur and expert in creating and developing digital solutions, founded Guepard, a startup specializing in simplifying database management for businesses.
Guepard is developing a platform that allows databases to be cloned, tested, versioned, and deployed in seconds without physically duplicating the data. This optimizes resource usage and streamlines the work of development, data, and DevOps teams.
The platform applies a Git-like logic to databases, offering isolated, traceable environments. It provides the ability to create branches, snapshots, and instantly switch between different versions using a "time travel" function. This approach shortens development cycles, speeds up testing, ensures data compliance, and reduces both storage costs and time spent on operations.
Ghassen Menaouar is an alumnus of Orange Digital Center in Tunisia. In June 2025, he participated in Viva Technology, the annual gathering dedicated to tech innovation and startups.
Before founding Guepard, Menaouar launched Kreatik in 2017, an IT architecture and development consulting firm he led until 2022. He is also a founding partner of Adservio IT Quality Experts, established in 2021, which assists companies in building their digital experience.
Menaouar earned a degree in computer engineering from the École Supérieure Privée d’Ingénierie et de Technologies (ESPRIT). He also holds a master’s in intelligent systems and data management from Paris Dauphine University (PSL). His professional career began in 2010 in France at Linedata, a tech company, where he worked as a software engineer.
In 2011, he joined automaker Renault Group as a product analyst. In 2013, he worked as a systems analyst at GMF Assurances before being appointed software consultant at Monceau Assurances. Between 2012 and 2017, he served as an auditor and expert at RATP, a global urban transport operator. From 2020 to 2022, he was a performance expert and auditor for GRDF, France’s main gas distributor.
Melchior Koba
McKinsey estimates that artificial intelligence (AI) could contribute as much as $1.2 trillion to Africa's economy by 2030. Unlocking this potential will largely depend on strategic talent development, a path Cameroon is now strongly pursuing.
Cameroon aims to train 60,000 artificial intelligence (AI) specialists by 2040, including 40% women, as part of its National AI Strategy (SNIA). Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Minette Libom Li Likeng recently unveiled this initiative, which is part of a broader vision to position the country as an African hub for artificial intelligence.
The strategy's key objectives include creating 12,000 direct jobs, developing 12 sovereign solutions with significant socioeconomic impact, and anticipating an AI contribution to national GDP of between 0.8% and 1.2%. Special attention is being given to linguistic diversity, with efforts to develop AI models that incorporate national languages. This is seen as a crucial way to boost digital inclusion and promote local cultural heritage.
To achieve these ambitions, however, Cameroon must address several critical gaps. The country still lags significantly in digital infrastructure, particularly in deploying modern data centers, developing secure cloud platforms, and ensuring consistent broadband connectivity, especially in rural areas.
This reality is reflected at the continental level in the latest ranking by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Cameroon scored 46.3 out of 100, placing 30th out of 42 African countries. This result falls below the continental average of 56, underscoring the need for the country to accelerate its efforts.
Addressing Talent Shortages and Promoting Inclusion
Training qualified talent remains one of the main challenges. A shortage of engineers, researchers, and AI specialists is holding back sectoral growth. To address this, Cameroon will need to invest heavily in creating centers of excellence, establish schools and institutes focused on advanced technologies, and integrate AI training programs into secondary and university curricula. Structuring partnerships between universities, tech companies, and public institutions will be essential to align educational content with market needs.
In addition, it will be crucial to implement continuing education and professional retraining programs to equip a broad segment of the population with the digital skills needed for tomorrow’s economy. Expanding access to high-speed internet, especially in remote areas, must accompany this momentum, as should the stimulation of an innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem capable of attracting investors and fostering the emergence of local solutions.
The goal of training 40% women is ambitious and commendable. Achieving it calls for proactive measures such as awareness campaigns, mentoring, support for women’s careers in tech, and efforts to combat gender stereotypes in science-related fields.
Despite these challenges, encouraging signs are emerging. The recent adoption of a data protection law and the first national consultations on AI reflect a clear political will to establish a robust regulatory framework. This is an essential condition for structuring the sector and building trust among stakeholders.
Samira Njoya
- Somali officials held talks with international leaders during the WSIS+20 meeting in Geneva
- Discussions focused on digital inclusion, youth training, e-governance, and cybersecurity
- Somalia ranks low on global digital development indexes but is taking early steps to improve
Somalia is aiming to boost international cooperation in digital development, according to government statements made on the sidelines of the WSIS+20 review held in Geneva from July 7 to 11. The event marked 20 years since the launch of the World Summit on the Information Society.
Mohamed Adan Macallin, Somalia’s Minister of Telecommunications and Technology, met with Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau. He also held talks with his counterparts from Malaysia and Djibouti, Fahmi Fadzil and Ridwaan Abdulaahi Bahdoon.
Discussions covered key areas such as digital inclusion, training in digital skills for youth and civil servants, digital governance, and cybersecurity.
These efforts are part of Somalia’s broader push to promote technological progress and digital access as drivers of social and economic development. However, the country still faces significant challenges. In the United Nations 2024 E-Government Development Index (EGDI), Somalia ranked 191st out of 193 countries, with a score of 0.1468 out of 1—well below the African average of 0.4247 and the global average of 0.6382.
In terms of cybersecurity, Somalia was placed in category 4 out of 5 in the ITU’s 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index, indicating only a basic level of commitment. The country scored 37.38 out of 100, highlighting the need to improve technical measures, legal frameworks, and capacity building.
For now, the talks in Geneva remain at the discussion stage, with no formal agreements signed. However, in May, Somalia took a first concrete step by signing a memorandum of understanding with Malaysia’s national cybersecurity agency, a country widely recognized for its leadership in this field.
Cameroonian tech entrepreneur Bill Agha is building a dynamic ecosystem for innovation, education, and entrepreneurship across his country. He runs contests, workshops, and training programs to meet the real needs of students and young tech project leaders.
Agha graduated in computer science from the University of Bamenda in 2019. In 2020, he founded the Tech Innovation Center (TiC) Foundation, a nonprofit that leverages technology to develop solutions tailored to African communities.
Since its launch, TiC Foundation has focused on nurturing tech talent and boosting digital entrepreneurship. The organization offers tools, training, and guidance adapted to Cameroon’s local realities.
TiC Foundation operates three main programs. The TiC Startup Accelerator Program (SAP) mentors early-stage startups, connects them with experts, and provides business training. The TiC Summit, a national innovation competition for high school students, blends project pitches with design thinking, prototyping, and entrepreneurship workshops. The third, TiC Bootcamp, delivers hands-on training to prepare young people for careers in tech.
Beyond TiC, Bill Agha serves as president of the Golden Toastmasters Club and works as technical lead and regional program coordinator at Open Dreams Educational, an organization that helps students in Cameroon and South Africa access international scholarships.
Agha combines his passion for technology and education to empower the next generation. Through TiC Foundation and Open Dreams, he has trained thousands of youths and supported more than 100 startups, playing a key role in shaping Cameroon’s emerging tech landscape.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Personalization, Data, Planning: How AI Is Transforming African Education
Africa faces a deep education crisis. Student numbers surge, teachers are scarce, and infrastructure lags behind. In 2024, UNESCO reported that 58% of adolescents aged 15 to 17 in sub-Saharan Africa do not attend school. The continent counts 98 million children outside the education system. Many schools lack electricity, internet, and basic resources.
AI Offers a Lifeline for Overworked Teachers
Teacher shortages cripple African classrooms. UNESCO says Africa needs to recruit more than 16.5 million teachers by 2030 to keep up with population growth. AI cannot replace teachers, but it can help them. Automated grading, custom teaching materials, and lesson planning tools lighten the load. In Kenya, teachers use the Kalasik assistant—a chatbot that generates lesson plans and automates repetitive tasks.
AI Delivers Personalized and Inclusive Learning
AI adapts learning to each student’s needs. Overcrowded classrooms make individual attention impossible, but smart systems change that. Students access interactive exercises, tutorials, and tailored feedback—even after school hours. Personalized learning keeps students engaged and cuts dropout rates, especially in rural and marginalized communities.
In West Africa, the Kwame for Science assistant tutors science students in 11 countries. It boasts an 87% accuracy rate for its top-three answers and serves 750 users over several months.
Data-Driven Decisions Shape Education Policy
AI gives education leaders real-time data. Ministries of Education spot low-enrollment regions, forecast teacher demand, and allocate resources where they matter most. Predictive analytics shifts planning from reactive to proactive, using demographic and school data.
Governments Put AI at the Heart of Education Strategy
Several African nations now weave AI into their education plans. Kenya launched a national AI strategy for 2025–2030 with UNESCO, focusing on digital skills in schools. Zambia and Côte d’Ivoire have also prioritized education in their AI strategies, promoting data analysis and personalized learning. Nigeria develops AI skills and integrates AI in education through partnerships with universities and private companies. Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Congo have added AI in education to their digital roadmaps.
Major Hurdles Remain
Despite these advances, African education systems face steep challenges in scaling AI. To begin with, poor digital infrastructure slows down deployment in many regions. Moreover, Teacher training on digital tools remains insufficient. Finally, data privacy and ethics are often under-regulated and sustainable funding models for EdTech remain elusive.
AI solutions need heavy investment and a solid business model. Protecting student data requires strict ethical rules. Tools must fit local languages and cultures. Above all, governments, partners, investors, and the private sector must commit long-term support to move beyond pilot projects and build a sustainable education system.
Samira Njoya
More...
• Hamet Sow’s startup Intersip International uses AI and voice tech to deliver services via mobile
• The platform offers real-time, localized info through SMS, voice calls, and APIs across West Africa
• Sow combines tech, data collection, and youth training to drive digital inclusion and social impact
Senegalese entrepreneur Hamet Sow (pictured) is using artificial intelligence to improve access to information in West Africa, with a focus on making mobile technology a tool for daily life and development. He sees strong potential in these everyday digital habits to structure access to services and data across the region.
Sow is the CEO and founder of Intersip International, a company he launched in 2023 to focus on AI and natural language processing with a strong social impact mission. The company develops tools that promote digital inclusion, open access to information, and help train young Africans in digital skills.
One of Intersip’s main innovations is a platform that delivers real-time, personalized services through SMS, voice calls, and APIs. It is designed to reach West African communities and supports multiple local languages through a conversational AI called FatimAI, which is accessible via voice calls.
In addition to information delivery, the platform supports field data collection, tracks indicators, monitors surveyor activity, geolocates responses, and performs real-time quality checks.
Hamet Sow holds a PhD in international development from Paris Dauphine University in France. He began teaching numerical analysis in 2015 at Gaston Berger University and later joined the UN Population Fund in Senegal in 2019, where he led monitoring, evaluation, and learning efforts. Between 2021 and 2024, he worked as a research analyst at the International Food Policy Research Institute and later at the World Bank.
A former participant in the Orange Corners Senegal startup incubator, Sow won second prize at the 2024 Dakar Innovation Days for his work with Intersip International.
The rapid rise of remote work has fueled the phenomenon of digital nomads, creating new opportunities for African countries. With growing appeal, developing infrastructure, and policies still taking shape, the continent could very well become a major player in this new global work landscape.
Since 2020, the way people work has been changing in deep but often unnoticed ways. In only a few years, digital nomadism has evolved from a niche concept into a global trend. This rise has been fueled by the digital shift in many jobs, the growth of remote work, and a growing demand for more flexible living. While it first took hold in large Western cities, the movement is now spreading across Africa, a region with the potential to unlock billions of dollars in economic value if it takes the right steps.
A Global Movement with Local Impact
Digital nomads are workers who use a laptop and an internet connection to work from anywhere in the world. It could be a freelance marketer living in Nairobi for six months, a Senegalese developer dividing her time between Dakar and Bali, or an American designer spending the summer in Zanzibar.
According to 2025 data from Nomads.com, a global digital nomad community platform, there are now more than 80 million digital nomads worldwide—and the number keeps rising. Their financial footprint is significant. On average, a digital nomad earns $124,000 annually and spends between $1,000 and $3,000 per month in their host country on housing, food, entertainment, coworking spaces, and transport. This provides a steady stream of income for local economies, without the strain of mass tourism. Americans make up the largest share, with 46 million nomads. About 88% of global digital nomads come from countries outside Africa.
|
Category |
Subcategory |
Value |
|
Age |
53% are between 31 and 39 years old |
|
|
|
Men |
91% |
|
Gender |
Women |
7% |
|
Other genders |
2% |
|
|
Education |
90% have higher education |
|
|
|
Per city |
63 days |
|
Average length of stay |
||
|
Per country |
167 days |
|
|
Average annual income |
$124,304 |
|
|
|
Full-time employees |
38% |
|
Work Status |
Startup founders |
18% |
|
Freelancers |
18% |
|
|
Top Sectors (Men) |
Software development |
35% |
|
Web development |
28% |
|
|
Startup founders |
28% |
|
|
Marketing |
16% |
|
|
Top Sectors (Women) |
Marketing |
16% |
|
Creative industry |
15% |
|
|
Startups |
12% |
|
|
Software development |
10% |
|
|
Motivations |
Work setting + getaways in Africa |
Africa Steps Into the Spotlight
Africa is starting to gain recognition as an appealing destination for remote workers. Cities like Cape Town, Johannesburg, Marrakech, Accra, Dakar, Abuja, Luanda, Libreville, and Cotonou are seeing growing interest. These places attract a new wave of remote workers seeking authentic experiences, lower living costs, and meaningful social connections. Many of these cities offer reliable high-speed internet, electricity, modern accommodation and workspaces, and access to food, transport, and healthcare—making it possible to balance productive workdays with tourist exploration.
This trend is not limited to foreign visitors. A growing number of young Africans in digital fields—web development, design, content creation, community management—are also embracing a mobile lifestyle, often within the continent. This intra-African nomadism is supported by countries offering full or partial visa exemptions, such as Senegal, Benin, Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda. These policies are reshaping how professionals move and work in Africa’s digital age.
Billions in Economic Opportunity
According to global immigration firm Newland Chase, the 35 million digital nomads counted in 2021 contributed $787 billion to the global economy. Although detailed data for Africa is lacking, a modest projection suggests the continent could earn $6 billion per year if it hosted 500,000 foreign digital nomads spending $1,000 monthly. If Africa attracted just 2% of the world’s estimated 80 million nomads in 2025—that is 1.6 million individuals—the continent could bring in close to $20 billion annually through direct local spending.
Beyond daily spending, digital nomadism can fuel growth in sectors such as short-term housing, food and hospitality, internet services, local transport, and leisure activities like hiking and tourism. Thousands of small businesses—especially in urban areas—stand to benefit from this expanding market.
Early but Promising Initiatives
Some African countries have already started tailoring offers to digital nomads. In 2020, Mauritius introduced its Premium Visa. It is free, valid for one year (renewable), and available to citizens of 114 countries. Applicants must prove that their main income is earned outside Mauritius and show a minimum monthly income of $1,500.
Cape Verde launched a similar visa in 2020, targeting both tech and tourism. The visa lasts six months (renewable) and requires payment. Digital nomads in Cape Verde are exempt from income tax and local taxes. While there is no official income threshold, applicants must show an average bank balance of at least €1,500 over the previous six months.
In 2024, South Africa joined in with its digital nomad visa, allowing stays from three months to three years. Applicants must provide three months of bank statements showing a gross annual salary of at least 650,796 rand (about $36,782).
Other countries like Namibia and Kenya also launched digital nomad visas in 2024 to attract skilled professionals and boost their economies. However, Africa still lags behind Latin America and Southeast Asia, which already offer nomad visas, tech hubs, tax incentives, and tailored services.
Challenges That Remain
Africa has clear potential to benefit from digital nomadism. Internet coverage is improving across the continent. According to the International Telecommunication Union, 4G now covers 71% of the population, while 3G covers 86%. However, 5G still only reaches 11%. In urban areas, 4G covers 73% and 5G reaches 25%. Countries like South Africa, Senegal, Mauritius, Nigeria, Botswana, Ethiopia, Seychelles, Tunisia, and Lesotho already offer 5G access in their capitals. In rural areas, coverage is lower—49% for 4G, 26% for 3G, and 14% for 2G. While major cities usually offer stable internet, many secondary regions do not.
Another barrier is cost. The cheapest mobile data plan (2GB) costs 3.9% of the average monthly gross national income (GNI) per person, while fixed internet (5GB) costs 13.4% of GNI. These rates are considered high, exceeding the United Nations target of 2% of GNI for affordable access. Globally, the average cost is closer to 1% of GNI for mobile and 2.3% for fixed internet.
Other obstacles include political and security concerns, especially in areas affected by instability—although these are a minority. The lack of a clear legal status for digital nomads also makes many destinations less appealing. Tourist visas are not designed for extended stays and lack tailored benefits. To change this, digital nomadism needs to be integrated into national policies on tourism, entrepreneurship, and youth employment.
Digital nomadism is not just a trend or a lifestyle for Western elites. It reflects a deep shift in how the world works. Africa has a real chance to play a leading role—if it invests, plans, and innovates wisely.
• Cape Verde is exploring digital cooperation with South Korea after a recent technical mission
• Talks focus on data governance, public service digitization, and cybersecurity
• No agreement yet, but South Korea is seen as a key potential partner
Cape Verde's government is exploring a partnership with South Korea in digital transformation. To advance this initiative, a delegation led by the Directorate General of Telecommunications and Digital Economy recently completed a technical mission to South Korea.
In a statement released Monday, July 7, the Ministry of Digital Economy explained that discussions focused on how integrated data governance, the digitization of public services, and cybersecurity can strengthen citizens' trust, boost the digital economy, and improve state efficiency.
This initiative aligns with Cape Verdean authorities' ambition to make digital technology a cornerstone of socio-economic development in the coming years. In a recent interview with the economic news agency Ecofin Agency, Pedro Lopes, Secretary of State for Digital Economy, explained that digital technology can accelerate economic transformation despite limited natural resources. He stated, "We are also modernizing tourism, the blue economy, and agriculture through digital solutions, and we are supporting our youth to create globally competitive startups."
South Korea appears to be a strong ally in achieving these goals. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) considers South Korea a global model in cybersecurity. Regarding digital transformation, it ranked fourth worldwide in the United Nations' 2024 E-Government Development Index (EGDI), with a score of 0.9679 out of 1.
In the same EGDI index, Cape Verde ranks 111th globally, with a score of 0.6238 out of 1. This result is above the West African average but slightly below the global average, which stands at 0.6382. In cybersecurity, Cape Verde falls into the fourth of five categories, according to the ITU's Global Cybersecurity Index. While it performs well on regulatory aspects, the country still needs to strengthen its technical and organizational frameworks, improve international cooperation, and invest in developing human skills.
It is worth noting, however, that talks between South Korea and Cape Verde are still in the early stages. Although Cape Verdean authorities say they have identified concrete opportunities for future collaboration, no formal agreement has yet been signed or announced. Further developments will be needed to assess whether this rapprochement will lead to a genuine partnership and to measure its potential impact.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
Digital health is reshaping access to care across Africa. With mobile platforms and community networks, solutions are reaching underserved regions—one of the strongest examples being Mobiklinic, led by Ugandan entrepreneur Andrew Ddembe.
Ddembe, a law graduate from Cavendish University Uganda, founded Mobiklinic in 2019. As CEO, he has steered the healthtech firm toward one goal: bring healthcare to rural and disadvantaged communities in East Africa.
Mobiklinic operates through a hybrid model that combines digital platforms with community-based care. Community health workers, equipped with a mobile app, collect patient data, provide follow-ups, consult doctors remotely, and refer severe cases to nearby health facilities.
The app uses biometric identification to manage medical records, streamlining continuity of care and enabling better vaccination tracking, maternal care, and child health monitoring.
Since launch, Mobiklinic has reached over 120,000 patients. Its network of 1,500 trained agents works closely with local clinics, NGOs, and universities to strengthen services like chronic disease treatment and family planning programs.
Ddembe also runs the Mobiklinic Foundation, which predates the startup. Founded in 2018, the foundation designs digital tools for training and primary healthcare delivery. His influence has extended beyond the region—Ddembe is a member of the WHO Civil Society Commission.
His work hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2024, Ddembe won the Global Citizen Prize in New York, and Forbes Africa named him to its 30 Under 30 list, spotlighting young leaders in social innovation.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum