• Two agreements signed on AI, training, and digital regulation

• Scholarships and training programs target skills development

• Partnership reflects growing South-South digital cooperation

Morocco and Gabon have signed two agreements to strengthen cooperation in digital development, training, and artificial intelligence. The deals were signed on the sidelines of the 2026 GITEX Africa event held in Marrakech from April 7 to 9.

They reflect a shared ambition to accelerate digital transformation and build technical skills.

The first agreement, signed by Digital Ministers Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni and Mark Alexandre Doumba, sets the framework for bilateral cooperation. It covers areas such as sharing expertise in digital public policy, aligning regulatory frameworks, and developing training programs tailored to the sector’s evolving needs. Under the deal, 15 Gabonese students will receive full scholarships to attend Mohammed VI Polytechnic University starting in September 2026.

The second agreement links Morocco’s National Institute of Posts and Telecommunications with its Gabonese counterpart. It focuses on modernizing academic programs to better match the needs of the digital economy and public administration. The initiative includes a dedicated program for Gabonese civil servants, offering five fully funded scholarships each year over five years to strengthen technical capacity within government institutions.

The partnership is part of a broader trend of South-South cooperation across Africa, where countries are increasingly relying on shared expertise to accelerate digital transitions and improve competitiveness.

Gabon is looking to draw on Morocco’s experience to structure its digital ecosystem and diversify its economy. The country is currently refining its national digital strategy, focusing on regulatory strengthening, infrastructure development, digitization of public services, and skills development.

Morocco, for its part, is advancing its ambitions in artificial intelligence, aiming to generate up to 100 billion dirhams (about $10.7 billion) in value by 2030 through innovation, skills development, and expanded international partnerships.

Samira Njoya