Senegal's Faye eyes $1.7bn for digital drive, urges African sovereignty
ABIDJAN – Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said on Monday his country seeks $1.7bn in investments to build digital infrastructure and create youth employment, while also calling for Africa to achieve digital sovereignty, during remarks at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan.
The funding would support projects including constructing data centres and deploying high-speed internet, with a target of achieving 5G coverage across the West African nation by 2030, Faye stated during an on-stage conversation at the forum in Côte d'Ivoire's commercial hub.
Speaking at the 12th edition of the forum, Faye emphasised the necessity for the continent to adopt policies focused on innovation, data security, and pan-African collaboration to ensure it keeps pace globally in the digital sphere.
He cited countries like Estonia and Rwanda, which have significantly digitalised public services, as models for the continent.
'We must ensure that Africa does not remain behind in this crucial area,' President Faye affirmed. He stressed the need to integrate digitalisation across all sectors, from public services to local businesses.
To this end, Senegal has launched initiatives such as the 'Startup Act' to support innovation and train young people in digital skills, Faye noted. He also highlighted the importance of strategic collaboration between African states and private companies to create secure infrastructure and an environment conducive to digitalisation.
Alongside connectivity, data protection was a central point of his intervention. The President underscored the importance of data security to protect citizen and business information.
'If we do not secure our data, our digital sovereignty will be compromised,' he added. Faye outlined Senegal's digital ambitions and advocated for a digital transformation inclusive of the entire African continent during his participation in the Abidjan forum.
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