• Côte d’Ivoire approved a 2026 digital-transition budget of CFA83.2 billion ($145.9 million), up 37% from 2025.

• The ministry deployed 33,140 km of fiber, launched 105 online procedures and built 160 radio sites in 2024.

• The World Bank estimates the digital economy could generate more than $20 billion for Côte d’Ivoire by 2050.

Côte d’Ivoire continues to accelerate its national digital transformation, which the government considers a key driver of socio-economic development. The authorities allocated CFA60.78 billion to the sector in 2025, compared with CFA52.6 billion in 2024.

The Ministry of Digital Transition and Digitalisation will receive CFA83.2 billion ($145.9 million) in 2026 to strengthen digital performance and expand connectivity nationwide. Parliament adopted the budget unanimously on Friday, 21 November, following a presentation by Digital Transition Minister Ibrahim Kalil Konaté.

The 2026 allocation represents an increase of about 37% from 2025.

The ministry will allocate CFA1.7 billion to Programme 1, which covers general administration. Programme 2, which focuses on digital-economy development and postal-sector modernization, will receive CFA46 million. Programme 3, dedicated to universal electronic-communications services, will receive CFA33 million.
 Programme 4 will allocate CFA2.6 billion to support regulatory activities in the sector.

Konaté told lawmakers: “For the government, we must accelerate digital transformation and the digitalisation of our society. This transformation, if successful, will allow broader access to digital services and, above all, an increase in state revenues.”

The minister outlined major 2024 achievements funded by a CFA52.6 billion envelope. He said the government launched the E-Administrative Procedure platform with 105 digitised services, implemented the national digitalisation plan, deployed more than 33,140 km of fiber-optic cable, and commissioned 160 radio sites covering 175 localities.

The ministry also conducted nationwide cybersecurity awareness campaigns, supported digital startups, held a workshop to update the cybersecurity legal framework, facilitated the installation of 97 companies in the free zone, and initiated national strategies for artificial intelligence and data governance.

Côte d’Ivoire ranked 124th in the UN E-Government Development Index (EGDI) 2024, with a score of 0.5587, above the African average but below the global average. The country scored 65.3/100 in the ITU ICT Development Index, positioning 16th in Africa.

The ITU also placed Côte d’Ivoire in Tier 3/5 in its Global Cybersecurity Index 2024, noting strong legislative and organisational frameworks but weaker technical, capacity-building and cooperation measures.

Konaté previously said digital transformation could add 6 to 7 percentage points to Côte d’Ivoire’s GDP and generate 2,000 to CFA3,500 billion. The World Bank estimates the digital economy could bring in more than $5.5 billion by 2025 and over $20 billion by 2050 if public and private stakeholders expand investment in the five foundational pillars of the digital economy.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum