- Project aims to boost transparency and revenue collection
- Full national rollout planned for January 2026
Gabon is set to launch, on October 30, a pilot project to digitize its social security and tax collection systems, according to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Innovation. The move follows a recent meeting with key institutions responsible for social contributions and public revenue.
The initiative involves rolling out an integrated digital system to automate the collection of social security and tax payments, enable real-time transaction monitoring, and improve financial transparency. The pilot, which runs until December 15, will be followed by a full rollout in January 2026. The ministry said the technical platform is already operational and will serve as the foundation for modernizing fund management systems.
The project is part of broader efforts to streamline public administration and improve oversight of financial operations. Social funds — notably the National Health Insurance and Social Guarantee Fund (CNAMGS) and the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) — have long faced problems such as payment delays, slow manual processing, and limited traceability. Digitization is seen as a long-term solution to strengthen the collection and redistribution of social funds.
The reform supports the “Digital Gabon” strategy led by Transitional President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who has made digital technology a key driver of public sector reform. The Digital Economy Ministry has already launched complementary projects, including digitizing the civil service payroll system and linking financial management agencies through the SIGFiP platform, which is now being deployed.
In the long term, digitizing these systems is expected to enhance transparency in public fund management, boost revenue mobilization, and reduce the costs associated with manual processes. It will also give the government a comprehensive view of its institutions’ finances, helping to strengthen public and business confidence in state services.
Samira Njoya
He's developing digital platforms that allow Tunisian students and undergraduates to access courses and educational resources. His initiatives create a structured, interactive online learning environment tailored to school and university needs.
Rayen Bouajaja, a Tunisian entrepreneur specializing in digital education, is the founder and CEO of Lyceena Academy, an online learning platform for high school students.
Founded in 2015, Lyceena Academy offers affordable tutoring courses aligned with the national curriculum. Its teaching team, made up of Tunisian educators, delivers weekly interactive classes and video lessons covering all subjects, from literature to the sciences.
The platform uses proprietary technology that gives students access, via computer or smartphone, to video lessons, interactive quizzes, and live Q&A sessions with teachers. This system gives students a balance of flexibility and personalized support.
Bouajaja is also the co-founder and CEO of Faccna.tn, launched in 2020. The platform serves Tunisian university students, providing access to opportunities and offering academic and career guidance through resources, practical advice, and testimonials.
In 2016, he founded BIL Bizerte, a youth-led participatory event. Bouajaja holds a bachelor’s degree in law (2022) from the Faculty of Legal, Political and Social Sciences in Tunis. He also completed a computer programming course at GOMYCODE, an online school specializing in digital skills.
Melchior Koba
He's designing digital tools that are changing how Algerians organize their stays and trips. His approach aims to simplify every step, from choosing accommodation to making payments.
Algerian engineer and tech entrepreneur Amara Amaouz is the co-founder and CEO of Namlatic, a startup founded in 2019 to bring digital solutions to Algeria’s hospitality sector.
Namlatic operates an online platform for booking hotels across the country and also offers ferry bookings between Algeria and Spain. The company aims to modernize tourism and hospitality through an integrated online booking and payment system tailored to the Algerian market, with an interface in French, Arabic, and English.
To make the service more user-friendly, the platform accepts several payment methods, including national cards (CIB and Edahabia), international cards (Visa and Mastercard), bank transfers, and cash on arrival. Users can modify or cancel their reservations directly through the website.
Amaouz holds an engineering degree in Artificial Intelligence and Decision Systems from Saad Dahlab University in Blida (2005) and a master’s degree in the same field from Pierre and Marie Curie University in France (2007).
He began his career in 2005 as a developer at Telematis, an Algerian firm later acquired by the SATEC Group, a systems integration specialist. From 2007 to 2011, he worked as a business intelligence consultant at RT Consulting, a firm specializing in data-driven decision systems. He currently works as a freelance business intelligence consultant.
Melchior Koba
- Rwanda, Slovakia sign MoU to boost bilateral cybersecurity cooperation
- Pact includes joint training, threat response, and tool sharing
- Rwanda eyes cyber ecosystem growth; Slovakia expands global ties
The Rwanda National Cyber Security Authority (NCSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Slovak National Security Authority (NBÚ) on Monday, Oct. 20, during a visit to Bratislava. The pact establishes a framework for bilateral collaboration on cybersecurity.
The agreement focuses on sharing best practices for threat detection and response, jointly strengthening training capacity, and exchanging tools and methodologies between the two national authorities. Rwanda showed particular interest in "CyberGame," a incident simulator developed by NBÚ to train teams in dealing with real-world cyberattacks. Slovakia views the partnership as an opportunity to expand its role as a reliable international partner in the cyber domain.
This collaboration comes as both nations seek to solidify their cybersecurity postures. In November 2024, Slovakia revised its national law to comply with the European NIS2 Directive, bolstering its resilience against cyber threats. The country's market for cyber solutions is also growing rapidly, estimated to be worth nearly $76 million in 2025, according to Statista.
Rwanda launched its National Cybersecurity Strategy in 2024, enhancing its mechanisms for protecting critical infrastructure and training experts. The country is also among the first in Africa to achieve the "Role Model" designation on the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Global Cybersecurity Index, with a score between 95% and 100%, underscoring its continental leadership in the field.
By strengthening cooperation, Slovakia and Rwanda are paving the way for increased expertise exchange, joint training programs, and the standardization of their practices. This partnership could ultimately help Rwanda accelerate the development of its cyber ecosystem while offering Slovakia an expanded technological presence in Africa, aiming for a safer and more interconnected cyberspace.
Samira Njoya
- TAHA launches HortiMarket to digitize Tanzania’s horticulture trade
- Platform links producers, buyers via web, app, WhatsApp, and USSD
- Low rural internet access may hinder platform’s wide adoption
The Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) has launched a new digital platform to connect producers, buyers, exporters, and service providers within the horticulture sector. The platform, named HortiMarket, is accessible via a website, a mobile application, a WhatsApp chatbot, and a USSD code, local media outlet Tanzania Invest reported on Monday, Oct. 20.
The new digital portal will serve as a centralized online marketplace where horticultural value chain actors can interact, exchange information, and complete transactions. HortiMarket is designed as a strategic response to persistent market access challenges that hinder the growth and competitiveness of Tanzania's horticulture sector.
According to TAHA, the digital service will enable stakeholders to access new opportunities, make informed decisions, and improve supply chain coordination, thereby boosting the overall efficiency and profitability of horticultural trade.
This pursuit of more efficient marketing channels is part of a broader strategy to grow the sector's export segment. In June, TAHA announced its goal to increase fruit and vegetable export revenues to $2 billion by 2030. This figure is nearly five times the annual average of $382 million generated by the sector between 2021 and 2024, according to data compiled by the country's central bank.
A key challenge for TAHA will be effectively integrating the over 500,000 smallholder producers active in the local horticulture industry through the new digital platform. The deployment of a digital service in the agricultural sector raises concerns about accessibility in rural areas, where the use of the internet and smartphones remains limited.
Data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) shows that 31.9% of the population in Tanzania has internet access, suggesting that nearly two-thirds of the population remain unconnected. This digital divide could limit the platform’s adoption, particularly as nearly 60% of Tanzanians live in rural areas where agriculture is essential to their livelihood, according to World Bank data.
Stéphanas Assocle
Strategically located between Europe and Africa, Morocco has leveraged its geographical position and its well-educated youth to develop its services economy. The digital sector is now a major beneficiary of this approach, offering considerable opportunities for international businesses.
Exports of digital and outsourced services have emerged as a quiet engine of Morocco’s economy, reaching 26.2 billion dirhams ($2.8 billion) in 2024. According to Morocco’s foreign exchange office, Office des Changes, this is a slight 0.2% increase from 2023. The sector’s growth momentum was confirmed in the first half of 2025, with exports hitting 13.4 billion dirhams, a 3.5% rise compared with 12.9 billion dirhams during the same period in 2024.
The sector’s growth momentum was confirmed in the first half of 2025, with exports hitting 13.4 billion dirhams
Digital service exports involve specialized Moroccan teams providing services to foreign companies and clients. These local teams execute advanced digital tasks, or international companies outsource support and customer service activities to Moroccan providers to reduce operating costs. Digital services are the most dynamic and in-demand component, generating the majority of the sector's export revenue.
The sector is predominantly driven by Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM). In 2024, IT and technology services, which encompass development, maintenance, and cybersecurity, accounted for 40.3% of the total. CRM and call center activities, which handle assistance and multilingual support, followed closely at 37.4%. Together, these two segments represent 78% of total digital service exports.
Other key segments contribute to the growth: Engineering Services Outsourcing (ESO), which includes design and systems integration, accounted for 13.2% of revenue. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), covering back-office functions like accounting and data entry, made up 8.9%. Meanwhile, Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO), which focuses on high-value tasks such as financial analysis and business intelligence, was the smallest component at 0.2%.
Despite global tensions, including inflation and exchange rate volatility, Engineering Services Outsourcing (ESO) revenues grew, a sign of Morocco’s gradual move up the value chain. ESO receipts rose from 3.2 billion dirhams in 2023 to 3.4 billion in 2024, already reaching 2.5 billion dirhams in the first half of 2025.
Despite global tensions, including inflation and exchange rate volatility, Engineering Services Outsourcing (ESO) revenues grew, a sign of Morocco’s gradual move up the value chain
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) also grew, rising from 1.9 billion dirhams to 2.3 billion dirhams between 2023 and 2024, with 1.3 billion dirhams generated in the first half of 2025. Conversely, Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) experienced a sharp decline, falling from 78 million to 48 million dirhams, and totaled 21 million dirhams in the first half of 2025.
The sector’s stability in 2024 and positive signals in 2025 support Morocco's foreign exchange earnings and its export diversification beyond goods. The acceleration of engineering services demonstrates that Morocco is asserting itself as an engineering hub near Europe, offering reduced lead times and compliance with international standards, rather than solely a call center platform.
The growth in outsourced digital services translates into stable revenue and qualified jobs for the Moroccan economy. Call centers and support activities recruit young people with strong language and interpersonal skills. IT and technology services, however, stimulate demand for more technical and better-paid profiles. The Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform reported the sector already supported 141,000 jobs in 2023, up from 130,000 in 2022 and 100,000 in 2020.
The acceleration of engineering services demonstrates that Morocco is asserting itself as an engineering hub near Europe, offering reduced lead times and compliance with international standards, rather than solely a call center platform
To better manage this growth trajectory, the Office des Changes and the Ministry of Digital Transition have launched a project to modernize monitoring indicators for digital service exports. The goal is to obtain more granular data to target training, regional attractiveness, and promising niche markets. This work is part of the Digital Morocco 2030 strategy.
To maintain this growth, Morocco must tackle three key challenges: adapting to the era of automation by ensuring continuous upskilling to maintain competitiveness against artificial intelligence; guaranteeing high quality service, robust cybersecurity, and impeccable business continuity to compete internationally; and finally, developing talent and infrastructure across the country. Attracting higher value-added projects requires a broader pool of skilled talent and a regional network of infrastructure extending beyond major cities. Coordinated execution of these reforms across government actors will be key to success.
Muriel Edjo
- GSMA, African operators set $30–$40 4G smartphone standard
- Coalition urges tax cuts, bulk orders to lower device costs
- Affordable smartphones key to bridging Africa’s digital divide
The GSMA, the global telecom industry body, and six major African mobile operators, including Orange, are joining forces to expand smartphone access across the continent. On Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Mobile World Congress in Kigali, Rwanda, the coalition announced a basic technical standard for affordable 4G smartphones. The standard defines key components such as memory, screen, battery, and camera, aiming to ensure a reliable and durable 4G experience at a target price between $30 and $40.
According to the GSMA, the physical components of a smartphone—the screen, processor, memory, radio, and battery—account for 50% to 70% of its total cost. The group says lasting price cuts require optimizing component costs, achieving economies of scale through mass production, and streamlining expenses such as patents, logistics, and distribution margins.
Standardization is central to this approach: by allowing all carriers to order the same model, component suppliers can lower prices for large orders. The GSMA hopes to consolidate demand around a single design, giving manufacturers confidence to produce at scale and cut costs.
In the coming months, the GSMA plans to work with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and tech firms to define the core requirements and gain their support for affordable 4G devices.
To make this vision a reality, the coalition is focusing on two main strategies. In the coming months, the GSMA plans to work with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and tech firms to define the core requirements and gain their support for affordable 4G devices. At the same time, it is urging African governments to cut taxes on smartphones priced below $100. South Africa, for example, removed excise duties on phones costing under 2,500 rand ($136) in March 2025 to make devices more affordable for low-income households.
The GSMA notes that in some countries, VAT and import duties can raise handset prices by more than 30%, pushing up costs for consumers and slowing digital inclusion. “Access to a smartphone is not a luxury – it is a lifeline to essential services, income opportunities and participation in the digital economy,” said GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath. “By uniting around a shared vision for affordable 4G devices, Africa’s leading operators and the GSMA are sending a strong signal to manufacturers and policymakers. This is an important step toward bridging the digital divide and enabling millions more people to benefit from mobile connectivity.”
For Africa, the main obstacle to mobile service access is no longer network coverage but handset cost.
For Africa, the main obstacle to mobile service access is no longer network coverage but handset cost. Over the past decade, operators have invested heavily to extend coverage. As a result, by 2024, the continent’s mobile coverage reached 86% for 3G, 71% for 4G, and 11% for 5G, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Yet only 52% of Africans were connected to mobile broadband.
GSMA Intelligence estimates that a $40 smartphone could bring another 20 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa online, while a $30 device could connect up to 50 million more.
The GSMA defines affordability as a price equivalent to 15–20% of average monthly income. The World Bank estimates that in low- and middle-income countries, an entry-level smartphone costs about 18% of a typical adult’s monthly income—but this rises to 73% for the poorest 40% of households in Sub-Saharan Africa.
For telecom operators, making smartphones more affordable is strategically vital: it means a broader internet user base and higher data revenue.
Beyond technology and tax policy, genuine smartphone accessibility requires a mix of measures to ease entry and promote lasting use.
Beyond technology and tax policy, genuine smartphone accessibility requires a mix of measures to ease entry and promote lasting use. Financing is key: offering installment payments through operators or microcredit adapted to irregular incomes, with clear pricing and insurance, makes devices easier to obtain. After-sales service also matters: a local repair network, available spare parts, and capped prices extend device lifespans, reduce waste, and protect consumers’ budgets.
Building digital skills is equally important. Many still see smartphones as a luxury simply because they don’t know how to use them. Training users on basic features improves autonomy and increases the perceived value of the device relative to its cost.
Combined, these factors make a smartphone a genuine investment — a tool for work, education, and access to essential services. To sustain this progress, policymakers and industry must design end-to-end solutions — from purchase to maintenance — ensuring smartphones become a lasting driver of digital inclusion.
Muriel Edjo
- Digital Telecom, AS Datel partner on African land digitization
- E-cadaster to boost tax, transparency, and resource tracking
- Geospatial tech market in region set to hit $69.7B by 2030
Digital Telecom, an Abidjan-based subsidiary of Digital Afrique Telecom (DAT), announced a partnership on Wednesday, Oct. 22, with Estonia’s AS Datel, a geospatial technology firm. The agreement aims to deploy advanced satellite and digital cadastral solutions across Africa to modernize land management, detect illegal construction, and track illegal mining.
“By partnering with AS Datel, we are bringing world-class satellite and e-governance systems to Africa,” said Simplice Anoh, CEO of Digital Telecom. “This is more than just technology; it’s about empowering governments to protect their resources, ensure transparency, and increase revenue that can be reinvested in public services.”
The partnership focuses on deploying an advanced e-cadaster system — a centralized, fully digital platform that will integrate updatable cadastral maps, automated property tax modules, and tools to secure and manage data exchanges. The innovation will enable local and national authorities to maintain accurate property records, streamline tax collection, and improve transparency for citizens and investors.
Estonia’s AS Datel comes from a country renowned for its excellence in e-governance and secure digital systems. The company brings proven expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Earth observation. For Digital Telecom and its parent company, the initiative aligns with African governments’ drive to modernize land systems, improve resource management, and strengthen fiscal transparency.
The project comes as the geospatial technology market rapidly expands in the region. According to Grand View Research, the sector in the Middle East and Africa is projected to reach $69.7 billion by 2030, driven by growing adoption of geolocation, remote sensing, and spatial analysis tools in agriculture, resource management, and urban planning.
Ultimately, the partnership is expected to transform how African authorities register assets, enforce property taxes, and combat illegal activities. By equipping states with reliable digital tools, it paves the way for more transparent governance, higher public revenues, and stronger protection of environmental resources.
Samira Njoya
- UNICEF and GSMA unveiled the Africa Taskforce on Child Online Protection at MWC25 Kigali.
- Africa has one of the world's fastest rates of children coming online. Young users face cyberbullying, exploitation, harmful content, and AI-driven threats.
- From Policy to Action: The Taskforce implements the GSMA's June 2025 whitepaper recommendations.
In a move to address the growing risks facing Africa's young internet users, UNICEF and the GSMA have launched the Africa Taskforce on Child Online Protection (COP), marking what it says is the continent's first coordinated, multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to digital safety for children.
The initiative, unveiled at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 Kigali, brings together mobile operators, technology companies, regulators, law enforcement agencies, and civil society organizations to implement comprehensive child protection strategies across Africa's rapidly digitalizing landscape.
"As Africa's children step boldly into the digital world, their safety must come first," said Etleva Kadilli, UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa. "The Africa Taskforce on Child Online Protection is a uniquely African platform to ensure technology shields children from harm while opening doors to learning, play, and growth."
The Taskforce comes as Africa experiences one of the world's fastest rates of digital adoption among young people. GSMA data shows 527 million mobile subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa by end-2023, representing 44% of the population.
However, this digital revolution brings significant risks. Children across Africa increasingly face cyberbullying, online exploitation, exposure to harmful content, and misinformation – challenges amplified by the continent's mobile-first internet landscape and the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence technologies, says UNICEF.
The Taskforce builds directly on recommendations from the GSMA's June 2025 whitepaper, Enhancing Child Online Protection in Sub-Saharan Africa, developed with UNICEF and regional partners. That report called for coordinated action from governments, industry, civil society, and youth to create safer digital environments.
The Taskforce's founding members represent a cross-section of Africa's digital ecosystem, including major telecommunications operators MTN Group, Orange, Safaricom, Vodacom Group, and Axian Telecom, alongside international organizations such as INTERPOL, the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC), Internet Watch Foundation, and Child Helpline International.
By centering African voices, particularly young people who represent the continent's demographic majority, the Taskforce aims to develop contextually appropriate interventions that balance protection with the transformative opportunities digital access provides for education, economic participation, and social connection.
The initiative positions Africa to potentially lead global conversations on child-centered digital governance, offering models that prioritize both safety and access in mobile-first, youth-majority populations – characteristics increasingly relevant worldwide.
As the Taskforce begins its work, its success will likely depend on sustained commitment from all stakeholders, adequate resourcing for implementation, and genuine integration of youth perspectives into decision-making processes.
Hikmatu Bilali
- €12M EU funding pledged for Nigeria’s tech talent training
- Nigeria eyes digital leap, Denmark leads global e-governance ranks
Nigeria and Denmark have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation on digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI), connectivity, and innovation.
The agreement was signed by Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and Lina Gandløse Hansen, Denmark’s State Secretary for Trade and Investment, during the fourth annual Nordic Nigeria Connect event held in Lagos on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
“We will work together to scale broadband infrastructure, pilot smart digital governance solutions, and facilitate pathways for Nigerian tech talent to contribute to Danish companies both remotely and in person,” Tijani said in a statement posted on X on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
He added that Denmark has pledged €12 million in funding, provided through the European Union, for Nigeria’s 3MTT program, which aims to train 3 million tech talents.
Tijani described the MoU as proof of Nigeria’s drive to build partnerships and tailor global best practices to local realities.
The move comes as Nigeria works to narrow its wide digital gap. Denmark tops the United Nations’ e-Government Development Index (EGDI), ranking first among 193 countries with a score of 0.9847, far above the global average of 0.6382. Nigeria is ranked 144th with a score of 0.4815.
Denmark also ranks in Tier 1 of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI), scoring a perfect 20/20 across all five assessment areas. Nigeria is classified in Tier 3, showing it must step up efforts in organization, capacity building, and cooperation.
The signing of the MoU marks progress after months of talks, but it does not yet guarantee effective cooperation. Neither side has given a timeline for a formal agreement or for implementing the deal.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
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Over the past year, artificial intelligence (AI) and its transformative potential have captured global attention. AI's capacity to help achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is now well established. For Africa, fully embracing this technology has become an urgent necessity.
The GSMA, the global association for mobile operators, has partnered with six of Africa’s major mobile companies (Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, MTN, Orange, and Vodacom) to launch an ambitious pan-African collaboration.
The initiative, dubbed "AI Language Models in Africa, By Africa, For Africa," was unveiled on Tuesday, Oct. 21, in Kigali, Rwanda, on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress. Its mission is to develop inclusive language models designed for and by the continent, ensuring African languages, cultures, and knowledge are properly represented in the global digital future.
"Africa’s diversity of languages and cultures is one of our greatest strengths, yet it has too often been overlooked in the development of global AI systems," said Angela Wamola, Head of Africa at the GSMA. "This initiative is about turning that challenge into an opportunity – building African-led AI capacity, empowering innovation across local industries, and ensuring Africa shapes the digital future on its own terms. By working together, we can make AI more inclusive, more relevant, and more reflective of the world we live in."
Orange, which is ahead of the coalition on this issue, will play a decisive role. On Nov. 27, 2024, the French company signed a partnership with OpenAI and Meta to develop AI capable of recognizing and interacting with African languages. The results of that collaboration are expected to allow Orange to improve customer service in African vernacular languages, enhancing user experience, while also contributing to non-commercial projects in sectors like public health and education.
Addressing the Language Gap in Digital Technology
The coalition, which includes digital players, research labs, and innovative startups such as the African Population for Health Research Center (APHRC), Cassava Technologies, Masakhane African Languages Hub, The World Sandbox Alliance, Lelapa AI, Pawa AI, and Qhala, intends to close a critical gap in data, computing power, talent, and public policy.
The vast majority of today's dominant language models are trained on a limited number of "global" languages, leaving Africa's rich linguistic diversity, which comprises thousands of languages, severely underrepresented. This existing "AI language gap" marginalizes billions of potential users. Without adapted models, African populations cannot fully benefit from AI advances in essential areas like education, health, agriculture, or public services.
A growing proportion of the population is connected and uses mobile Internet, with smartphone penetration expected to reach 88% by 2030. While Africa accounts for only 2.5% of the global AI market, recent estimates suggest AI could boost the African economy by $2.9 trillion by 2030, equivalent to a 3% increase in annual gross domestic product growth.
A feasibility study conducted by the GSMA and its partners confirmed the technical and economic viability of locally designed language models. The key to success lies in coordinating efforts to prevent energy dispersion. The coalition will organize itself into thematic working groups, covering data, computing, talent, and policy, and will make its progress public at future GSMA events.
Beyond its symbolic value, the initiative represents a strategic imperative for the continent's development and digital sovereignty. Mastering the data, foundational models, and technical standards is crucial for reducing dependence on external platforms and technologies.
Crucially, models trained on African data will enable the development of applications rooted in local realities. This includes potential applications such as voice assistants that understand Wolof, Swahili, or Amharic, medical triage tools adapted to local contexts, contextualized educational content, or public service agents accessible to all, including in the most widely spoken languages. The GSMA noted that "in Africa alone, more than 2,000 languages are spoken, yet only a fraction are supported in digital systems or AI models. This lack of inclusion risks widening existing digital and economic divides."
Clear Strategy and a Call for Industry Cooperation
The alliance's strategy rests on four essential pillars, each presenting unique challenges. First, data involves collecting millions of words and phrases across African languages, strictly adhering to consent and anonymization rules, and including major languages, local dialects, and spoken language without favoring only cities or elites. Second, computing power for training these AIs requires pooling resources among partners to reduce costs and ensure information security. Third, talent requires training African AI experts and offering attractive careers to retain them on the continent and grow the new industry. Finally, governance requires governments to create a clear legal framework that encourages innovation and investment while protecting citizen data and ensuring the new technologies benefit everyone.
The expected effects are structured across three timeframes: short-term prototypes and region-specific benchmarks; medium-term concrete sectoral applications such as customer service bots and tools for creators; and long-term emergence of autonomous African AI capacity, capable of supporting local champions and enriching the entire ecosystem.
Identified prerequisites for success include transparent governance, funding beyond the prototype stage, strong technical interoperability to prevent isolated efforts, and absolute transparency regarding model performance and biases.
The coalition is issuing a formal call to the entire ecosystem, startups, universities, creative industries, civil society, donors, and major technology companies, to contribute to this collective effort through data, computing power, skills, use cases, or financial support.
Muriel EDJO
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Gabon boosts 2026 digital budget by 156% to 82B CFA francs
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Funds target infrastructure, literacy, and e-governance expansion
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Country scores low in cybersecurity despite digital policy gains
Gabon’s Ministry of Digital Economy, Digitalization, and Innovation has announced a budget of 82 billion CFA francs for 2026, representing a massive 156.2% increase from the 32 billion CFA francs allocated in 2025. Minister Mark-Alexandre Doumba presented the budget to the National Transition Assembly on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025.
The significant increase "reflects the government’s commitment to accelerating the country's digital transformation through the strengthening of the digital entrepreneurial ecosystem, the deployment of digital infrastructure, and the promotion of a genuine digital literacy across the country," the ministry said in a statement released on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
While the statement did not specify the projects planned for 2026, the government has launched several digital infrastructure initiatives in recent months. These include signing an agreement with an American technology company to construct a national data center. Private partners such as Cisco, Tech 41, Visa, Huawei, Moov Africa Gabon Telecom, and Afrastructure SAS have also been approached. Discussions have focused on expanding the national fiber optic network, strengthening universal service, telecom infrastructure sharing, 5G deployment, and connecting the country to a new submarine cable.
In digital transformation policy, the government recently issued an ordinance that mandates public administrations to digitize their services, interconnect their systems, and fully integrate the national private sector to establish digital sovereignty.
Gabon is currently ranked 121st out of 193 countries on the United Nations E-Government Development Index, scoring 0.5741 out of 1. This places it above the average for Central Africa (0.3354) and Africa (0.4247), but below the global average (0.6382). The country’s lowest score, 0.3188 out of 1, was recorded in the online services indicator, while its highest, 0.8263, was in the telecom infrastructure indicator.
This result aligns with the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) 2024 ICT Development Index, where Gabon scored 76.1 out of 100, ranking 11th out of 42 African nations.
However, Gabon faces challenges in cybersecurity. The ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 placed the country in the fourth and second-to-last category (Tier 4), with an overall score of 39.86 out of 100. While the country achieved the maximum score of 20 in the legal measures pillar, significant progress is still required in the areas of technical, organizational, and cooperation measures.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
Smart data utilization has become a strategic imperative for organizations. The South African entrepreneur offers a technological solution that is redefining decision-making in the age of artificial intelligence.
Matimba Julian Nkuna, a South African entrepreneur and artificial intelligence specialist, is the founder and CEO of Timbuk2, a startup that develops custom AI-based data solutions.
Founded in 2023, Timbuk2 positions itself as a company specializing in enterprise-scale generative artificial intelligence solutions. Its primary offering is an Insights Engine, an analytics platform designed to extract and transform data into actionable strategic information. The goal is to help businesses guide their decisions using relevant analyses tailored to their operational needs.
Timbuk2 targets organizations seeking to base their strategic choices on data. The firm provides large-scale market analyses and offers decision-making support. Its solutions are designed for professional use and produce measurable, directly applicable results.
Before Timbuk2, Nkuna founded Bantubyte in 2020, a startup specializing in artificial intelligence, data science, and the development of digital solutions for African and international companies. That initiative addressed the data science skills gap on the continent by combining advanced technologies with an understanding of the local context.
His first venture, Grikwa, founded in 2012, was an online notice board platform for universities. Nkuna holds a bachelor's degree in Geomatics and a master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Cape Town. He began his career between 2012 and 2015 as a trainee geospatial analyst at South Africa's National Geo-Spatial Information.
In 2016, he joined the retail group Pick n Pay as a research scientist. Two years later, he became a data scientist at Sensor Networks, a startup specializing in smart technology for home energy and risk management. In 2019, he moved to the e-commerce sector as a data scientist at Takealot.com before joining The Shoprite Group of Companies between 2021 and 2023, where he served successively as a data scientist and then a technical product manager.
Melchior Koba
He has established himself as a key player in South Africa's job market. His initiatives show how technology can reshape the connection between employers and candidates for entry-level positions.
Christiaan van den Berg, a South African entrepreneur and chartered accountant, is the co-founder of Jobjack, an online recruitment platform established in 2018. Jobjack focuses on hiring for entry-level positions, aiming to simplify the recruitment process for both employers and job seekers, particularly in high-turnover sectors such as retail, hospitality, logistics, and manufacturing.
Job seekers can apply for multiple offers without incurring any fees or travel costs. They create an online profile, complete psychometric assessments, and navigate an entirely digital application process. Once selected, candidates receive interview notifications and can accept job offers directly through the platform.
Jobjack operates as an automated Software as a Service, or SaaS, solution that significantly reduces recruitment time and administrative tasks for employers. It integrates validated psychometric assessments, credit and risk checks, and screening tools based on location and job requirements. These features allow employers to quickly identify candidates who match their specific needs.
Since its inception, Jobjack has helped more than 30,000 people in South Africa find employment. The company has received multiple accolades, including the National Technology Award at the South African Small Business Awards in 2021, the Future of Work 2023 prize at the Startup Club ZA Awards, and the Youth Entrepreneur award at the South African Future Trust Awards in 2024.
Van den Berg is also the co-founder and director of Harris Berg, a company established in 2014 that specializes in the retail of clothing and fashion accessories in South Africa. He graduated from Stellenbosch University in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in accounting.
Melchior Koba