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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
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Tunisian entrepreneur Sana Boubaker co-founded Slayton, an AI-powered omnichannel customer relationship management platform targeting African businesses and public institutions.
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Slayton centralises calls, emails, WhatsApp messages and social media interactions into a single interface to improve customer management efficiency.
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The platform uses artificial intelligence to automate repetitive tasks, generate suggested responses and route requests to appropriate departments.
Tunisian entrepreneur Sana Boubaker has positioned herself at the centre of that transition as co-founder and chief executive of Slayton, a start-up specialising in customer relationship management solutions.
Through its platform, the company provides an omnichannel solution tailored specifically to African businesses, government administrations and institutions.
Slayton launched the platform to modernise interaction management by centralising communication channels into a single interface. The system integrates phone calls, emails, WhatsApp messages and social media conversations.
The approach gives teams a 360-degree customer view through a complete interaction history, enabling smoother follow-up and reducing information loss. To improve operational performance, Slayton integrated artificial intelligence into its platform.
The technology automates repetitive tasks, generates suggested responses, summarises conversations and classifies requests before directing them to the appropriate departments. As a result, the platform aims to maximise team productivity while streamlining customer service operations.
Alongside her entrepreneurial activities, Sana Boubaker also works with French company Roundesk, which develops telecommunications and customer relationship management solutions. Roundesk recruited her in 2021 as customer relations manager. She subsequently rose through the company’s ranks to become chief operating officer.
Sana Boubaker built her career on a background in economics, finance and customer relations. She graduated from the Institut supérieur de gestion de Tunis in 2016 with a degree in economics and international finance.
Two years later, she earned a research master’s degree in banking, finance and strategy from the École supérieure de commerce de Tunis. She began her professional career in 2017 as a customer assistant at ISE Holdings, a financial services company. Between 2018 and 2021, she worked as a sales adviser for French insurance company Filiassur.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
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Moroccan entrepreneur Hicham Benyebdri co-founded hospitality technology start-up Userguest in 2018 to help hotels increase direct bookings.
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Userguest provides advertising campaign management and website personalisation tools designed to reduce hotels’ dependence on third-party booking platforms.
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Benyebdri previously worked at Expedia and co-founded digital agency Swell Hotel Marketing before launching Userguest.
Moroccan entrepreneur Hicham Benyebdri has positioned himself in that market through Userguest, a hospitality technology start-up that he co-founded in 2018 alongside Ahmed Chami and Assil Bernossi. The company helps hotels increase direct bookings through their own websites.
Userguest developed a platform designed to help hotels attract more travellers to their websites and reduce dependence on third-party booking platforms. The company focuses on two key challenges for hotel operators: attracting visitors with booking intent and converting those visitors into customers.
The company’s first solution centres on managing advertising campaigns for hotels. Userguest handles the creation, launch and optimisation of campaigns across multiple digital platforms. The approach aims to help hotels reach travellers who are more likely to book directly through official hotel websites.
The company’s second solution focuses on improving the online experience of hotel website visitors. Userguest displays personalised messages based on users’ behaviour or preferences. For example, the platform can highlight specific offers or encourage visitors to complete immediate bookings.
Hicham Benyebdri launched other ventures before founding Userguest. In 2015, he co-founded Swell Hotel Marketing, a digital agency dedicated exclusively to the hospitality industry. He served as the company’s chief executive until 2019. Benyebdri graduated from Université du Québec à Montréal in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and administration.
He also earned a master’s degree in international marketing from London South Bank University in 2010. He began his private-sector career in 2011 as a paid media analyst at Greenlight, a British agency later acquired by Brave Bison. Between 2012 and 2015, he worked as partner marketing manager at U.S. travel company Expedia.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
Egyptian proptech startup Byit announced last week its expansion into the United Arab Emirates. Its AI-powered platform helps independent brokers match homebuyers with available properties. The expansion aims to connect Egyptian developers with Gulf investors. The company, which says it already has 40,000 brokers on its platform, is also planning to launch in Saudi Arabia soon.
Fintech company M-KOPA said on Wednesday it had extended more than 1.2 billion cedis (about $82 million) in credit to over 550,000 customers since launching operations in Ghana in 2021. Using a flexible daily payment model, the company enables low-income users to acquire smartphones and access the internet. For the first time, the devices also include health insurance. M-KOPA said the initiative has helped more than half of beneficiaries increase their income and improve their quality of life.
Nigerian fintech company Moniepoint will host a demo day on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, to conclude the second edition of its intensive coding bootcamp. Over nine weeks, young African developers were trained to build professional software applications while receiving a stipend. The best projects will be presented during the event, giving participants exposure to potential employers.
- 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
- South African startup MILLI charges a fixed fee of 1,000 rand ($60) instead of taking a percentage of donations.
- The platform enables individuals, communities and organizations to launch fundraising campaigns within minutes.
- Co-founder Dario Eugenio wants to strengthen local solidarity through technology-driven community financing tools.
South African entrepreneur serves as chief executive officer of MILLI, a crowdfunding platform he co-founded in 2023 alongside his professor, Peter Konhäusner.
MILLI allows individuals, communities and organizations to launch fundraising campaigns within minutes through a simplified three-step process. Users first tell their story, then define a financial target and finally illustrate the project with images.
Once campaigns go live, users can share them through email, messaging applications and social media platforms to increase visibility. In addition, the platform enables users to monitor contributions in real time and transfer funds directly into bank accounts.
Unlike traditional crowdfunding platforms that deduct a percentage from each donation, MILLI applies a single flat fee of 1,000 South African rand, or about $60, regardless of the amount raised. The company says this model allows project owners to retain nearly all collected funds.
Beyond the financial model, the startup seeks to strengthen national solidarity by relying on an active donor community willing to support social, humanitarian and community-development causes.
“We do not simply host campaigns, we actively contribute to funding them through our audience and partners,” Dario Eugenio told Disrupt Africa. “The platform revolves around storytelling, video and social-media sharing, enabling users to create compelling campaigns and distribute them effectively. Our core belief remains simple: better stories generate more funding.”
To improve accessibility, MILLI also operates through mobile applications on iOS and Android devices. The application allows users to manage fundraising campaigns directly from smartphones, monitor donations, receive instant notifications and communicate with supporters.
Dario Eugenio holds a multidisciplinary academic profile. He graduated from the University of Pretoria in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and international relations. He completed a second bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2021 at the South African College of Applied Psychology.
He also earned a master’s degree in leadership for digital transformation in 2023 from the GISMA University of Applied Sciences.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- 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
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- 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
- Buddy Learning connects students with personalized tutors and educational resources through a digital learning platform.
- The startup integrates an AI-powered educational assistant, BuddyAI, directly into WhatsApp to improve accessibility.
- Founder Tshaamano Mabuba aims to reduce financial, linguistic and technological barriers to education.
South African entrepreneur Tshaamano Mabuba founded and currently leads Buddy Learning, an edtech startup focused on academic support services and access to education.
Founded in 2022, the company develops learning solutions for students, parents, schools and businesses. The startup aims to simplify education and expand skills-development opportunities for a broad range of users.
Buddy Learning designed its platform as a comprehensive educational ecosystem. The platform offers educational resources adapted to all academic levels, from kindergarten to university.
The company structures content through an intuitive interface that allows families to identify tools matching each stage of the educational journey quickly.
One of the platform’s core features connects families with qualified tutors known as “Buddies.” The mentoring service targets students who struggle academically as well as those seeking to improve performance. In addition, the platform allows parents to select tutors that best match their children’s academic needs.
To address financial, linguistic and technological barriers, Buddy Learning also developed BuddyAI, an educational assistant integrated directly into WhatsApp.
The tool allows students to ask questions, receive explanations and complete interactive exercises directly from mobile phones. Consequently, the company seeks to expand educational access among users with limited digital resources.
Alongside her entrepreneurial activities, Tshaamano Mabuba also works as a television presenter for SuperSport Schools, a media company focused on producing and broadcasting school sports content.
Tshaamano Mabuba graduated from the University of Cape Town with a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science in 2022. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in data science and business analytics in 2025 from the University of London.
Her professional background reflects a multidisciplinary profile. She started her career in 2019 as an administrative assistant at Super Group, a logistics and mobility company.
More recently, between January 2025 and March 2026, she taught mathematics at the Jeppe High School for Girls, where she applied her analytical expertise to education.
This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
- EduBridge Africa provides digital support services for African students seeking admission to foreign universities.
- The platform centralizes university applications, academic guidance, visa assistance and mentorship services.
- The company says it has enrolled more than 5,700 students, operates with over 11 mentors and covers more than 54 countries.
Based in Kampala, EduBridge Africa launched in 2019 under the leadership of founder Winnie Chimwedzi. The company wants to improve African students’ access to international universities through a digital platform that centralizes academic guidance, counseling and administrative services.
The platform provides support across several stages of the student journey, including university selection, application preparation, academic orientation and administrative assistance. In addition, the company supports students through visa-related procedures.
EduBridge Africa primarily targets students interested in universities located in Europe, North America and selected Asian countries.
One of the main challenges the startup addresses involves the information asymmetry that still characterizes Africa’s student mobility market. Many applicants continue to face limited access to information regarding available programs, admission procedures and financing opportunities.
At the same time, students often face risks linked to informal intermediaries and document fraud. Consequently, the startup seeks to digitize academic counseling services to improve accessibility and transparency.
EduBridge Africa aims to centralize interactions between students, advisors and partner institutions while reducing administrative complexity. The platform also highlights mentorship and personalized support services designed to prepare candidates for academic integration abroad more effectively.
The growth of companies such as EduBridge Africa reflects the broader rise of African edtech platforms specializing in educational guidance and international mobility.
As demand for overseas higher education increases, several startups across the continent now seek to digitize services that historically remained fragmented and largely offline.
The Ugandan edtech company says it currently supports more than 5,700 enrolled students, works with over 11 active mentors and covers more than 54 countries.
This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum
Facebook parent Meta is laying off about 8,000 employees worldwide as it shifts its focus to artificial intelligence (AI), with engineers bearing the brunt of the cuts. At the same time, the company is reassigning 7,000 employees to teams working on next-generation technologies. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has made AI the company’s top priority, even at the cost of reducing headcount to fund digital infrastructure.