Tech ministers from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Republic of Congo have unveiled a bold, collaborative digital roadmap aimed at transforming their nations into digitally sovereign, innovation-driven economies.
Speaking at the recently concluded Cyber Africa Forum in Cotonou, the ministers outlined key priorities including youth digital training, robust cybersecurity systems, sovereign data infrastructure, and accelerated startup development. They agreed that a homegrown, African-led digital transformation is vital to reducing dependency on foreign systems and ensuring sustainable growth.
Benin’s Minister of Digital Affairs, Aurelie Adam Soule Zoumarou, emphasized the importance of trust in digital systems, revealing that cybersecurity is embedded at every stage of their digital projects. Benin has invested in interoperable service platforms and created a cybersecurity agency that actively participates in all digital infrastructure projects.
Côte d’Ivoire, meanwhile, is pursuing digital sovereignty by building national data centers, centralising key ministry data, and preparing an artificial intelligence (AI) strategy. Minister Ibrahim Kalil Konaté stressed the need for data to be stored and protected on African soil for meaningful progress.
With over 70% of their population under age 35, the ministers agreed that developing youth capacity in digital skills is crucial. Congo’s Minister Léon Juste Ibombo said over 1,200 young people are already being trained in digital technologies, with plans to scale to 10,000 under the Congo Digital 2030 strategy. Benin has also implemented digital classrooms and early exposure programs in schools, while Côte d’Ivoire passed a Startup Act that supports tech entrepreneurs, enabling them to pitch directly to government and investors and participate in global tech events.
The panel also highlighted cybersecurity as a non-negotiable priority, with Congo recounting its recovery from a major cyberattack on a national bank within 19 hours. Ministers from the three countries pledged greater collaboration to build digital infrastructure and resilience. Looking ahead, they unveiled strategies for national AI governance, African cloud systems, and public-private co-financing models for infrastructure. “We must create our own digital railways,” Congo’s Ibombo declared, “built on our data, powered by our youth, and defended by our institutions.”