• Senegal adopts a draft law to replace the CNRA with a new National Media Regulation Council.
• The reform extends regulation to digital platforms and online content creators.
• The government aims to curb disinformation while preserving freedom of expression.

New media platforms, including social networks, blogs, and video-sharing sites, now dominate information consumption among young people in Africa and elsewhere.

Governments face rising challenges from disinformation, hate speech, and other abuses on digital channels that regulators previously overlooked.

Against this backdrop, regulation has become an urgent priority.

At a cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the Senegalese government adopted a draft law establishing the National Media Regulation Council, known by its French acronym CNRM.

The new institution will replace the National Audiovisual Regulation Council, or CNRA, which the government created in 2006.

This reform marks a major overhaul of the legal framework to address digital transformation and evolving information practices.

According to Minister of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Affairs Alioune Sall, the reform aims to “adapt regulation to technological change, protect rights, strengthen accountability among stakeholders, and consolidate democracy.”

The minister said the legal framework will align “with international best practices in media and digital communication regulation, while taking into account recommendations from regional and international bodies.”

Over the past two decades, digitalization, the rise of social platforms, and the growth of independent content creators have transformed Africa’s media landscape, particularly in Senegal.

The reform seeks to extend regulation to a hybrid public space where traditional and digital media increasingly overlap.

Under the new framework, the CNRM will supervise digital platforms and content creators who disseminate information to the public.

This approach aligns with a global trend in which governments attempt to balance the protection of freedoms with digital accountability.

States increasingly target fake news and online opinion manipulation while preserving democratic principles.

“When they participate in the public information space, they must comply with principles of responsibility, just like traditional media,” said Habibou Dia, director of communication at the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Affairs.

The policy aims to establish a level regulatory playing field, promote shared ethical standards, and combat disinformation while safeguarding freedom of expression.

The cabinet’s adoption of the draft law represents an initial step in the legislative process.

The government will soon submit the bill to the National Assembly for review and final approval.

Implementation of the law would mark Senegal’s transition to a new phase of media regulation based on an integrated and digital-economy-oriented model.

• Guinea launched Univ Connect to interconnect higher education institutions through a national fiber-optic network.
• Authorities connected 13 university sites, with 9 fully operational and 4 under activation, and plan to reach 17 institutions.
• The project targets nearly 80,000 students, researchers, and lecturers under the Simandou 2040 digital strategy.

Under the leadership of Rose Pola Pricemou, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and the Digital Economy, Guinea officially launched “Univ Connect” in late December 2025. The National Agency for Universal Telecommunications and Digital Services (ANSUTEN) leads the fiber-optic interconnection project, which aims to equip higher education institutions with faster, more stable, and more secure Internet infrastructure.

“This initiative marks a decisive step in supporting the digital transformation of Guinea’s education sector and will enable our institutions to deliver academic services that meet international standards,” ANSUTEN said.

On the operational front, authorities have already connected 13 sites to the national fiber network, according to information released at the launch. Nine sites now operate fully, while four sites remain under commissioning. In addition, authorities announced four more sites in the deployment phase. Ultimately, the program plans to connect and interconnect 17 higher education institutions to form a nationwide high-speed and secure academic network.

According to ANSUTEN, the project aligns with the government’s broader digital transformation drive under the Simandou 2040 sustainable socio-economic development program. Authorities aim to strengthen access to modern and reliable digital infrastructure for public and private universities across Guinea.

Beyond Internet access, the government seeks to create a full “academic network” that enables institutions to share resources and modernize services. Univ Connect will expand access to digital libraries, online learning platforms, and research tools while improving exchanges among nearly 80,000 teachers, researchers, and students.

The interconnection will also enable more intensive uses, including videoconferencing, hybrid courses, inter-university collaboration, access to scientific databases, and hosting of educational applications. Over the medium term, this digital backbone could support national research and innovation platforms.

However, sustainability remains a key challenge. The network’s long-term impact will depend on equipment maintenance, the resilience of internal campus networks, energy availability, and the implementation of cybersecurity standards. In other words, fiber infrastructure forms only the foundation, and durable governance will determine whether Guinea reaches its targeted international standards.

This article was initially published in French by Muriel EDJO

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has called for expanded local production of telecom equipment and development of data centers and cloud services.
• Egypt’s telecommunications sector accounts for about 6% of GDP and posts annual growth of 14%–16% for the seventh consecutive year.
• Egypt has attracted nearly $200 million in telecom manufacturing investments and aims to raise mobile phone output to 15 million units per year.

Since launching its “Vision 2030” development strategy in 2016, Egypt has positioned digital transformation as a central pillar of economic growth. The country has relied on the expansion of ICT infrastructure and the promotion of digital inclusion as key drivers of this strategy.

On Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi emphasized the need to open new horizons for the telecommunications and digital industries. He instructed officials to study opportunities to develop data centers and cloud computing services, expand local production of telecommunications equipment, and establish effective mechanisms to support and promote locally manufactured products.

Officials discussed these issues during a meeting that included Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat, and National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) Executive President Mohamed Shamroukh.

Amr Talaat said the telecommunications sector now contributes about 6% of Egypt’s gross domestic product and records annual growth ranging between 14% and 16% for the seventh consecutive year. He also reported that digital services exports have risen to $7.4 billion, compared with $3.3 billion seven years earlier.

By investing in the development of data centers, Egypt strengthens the security of strategic state data and data from key domestic market sectors. At the same time, the country attracts international companies by building infrastructure credibility, which supports its ambition to position itself as a regional hub for high-performance digital services.

Telecommunications currently represent one of the pillars of Africa’s digital economy, particularly in Egypt. Strengthening local equipment manufacturing reduces network transformation costs for telecom operators and supports further investment. Locally produced mobile phones, offered at more affordable prices, are expected to improve accessibility and expand the use of value-added digital services among a larger share of the population.

According to Amr Talaat, Egypt has increased mobile phone production capacity from 3.3 million units in 2018 to 10 million units in 2025, with local value added estimated at around 40%. The government aims to raise annual production capacity to 15 million units. Through industrial localization efforts launched in 2016, supported by several incentive schemes, Egypt has already attracted 15 international brands, including Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and Nokia, as well as nearly $200 million in investment.

Muriel EDJO