• Six Central African states advance plans to create a regional digital agency
• Meeting in Kinshasa finalizes CADNAC’s founding act and regional strategy framework
• Initiative aims to strengthen digital sovereignty and support economic growth

A Conference of Public Entities for Digital Development in Central Africa (CADNAC) is being formed. The drafting of the organization’s founding texts was the focus of a meeting held this week in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Alongside the host country, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, the Central African Republic, Burundi, and Chad took part in the discussions.

During two days of work, the delegations made progress on several major issues, including the finalization of CADNAC’s founding act and the development of a framework for a subregional digital strategy. They also held in-depth discussions on pooling sovereign digital solutions and harmonizing regulatory frameworks. These elements are considered essential to strengthening digital sovereignty in Central Africa.

“CADNAC represents a historic opportunity for Central Africa to position itself in the continent’s digital landscape. It is urgent for our countries to speak with one voice and build ambitious and realistic strategies for digital development,” said Zaki Sabit, director of studies and planning at Chad’s Agency for the Development of Information and Communication Technologies (ADETIC).

According to ADETIC, creating CADNAC marks a strategic step for the region as it seeks a collective response to digital challenges, following the path already taken by other African subregions. It comes as digital transformation accelerates and is increasingly seen as a driver of socio-economic development. A joint study by the International Finance Corporation and Google estimates that Africa’s digital economy will be worth at least $712 billion in 2050, equal to 8.5% of the continent’s GDP.

In a study published in January 2024, the World Bank noted that the availability and use of digital technologies are closely tied to economic growth, innovation, job creation, and inclusion. The Bretton Woods institution added that Sub-Saharan Africa continues to lag in network coverage, access to telecom services, quality of digital infrastructure, and affordability.

It also said the region has one of the world’s largest gender gaps in digital access, citing 2023 data from the GSM Association showing that women are 37% less likely than men to use mobile Internet.

Isaac K. Kassouwi