Africa accelerates plans for single digital market by 2030

Under the theme “AI for Africa: Innovate Locally, Impact Globally,” the summit showcased Africa’s shared commitment to leveraging technology for sovereignty, economic growth, and inclusive development. Smart Africa, a bloc of 42 member states, highlighted flagship initiatives such as SANIA, SADX (Smart Africa Data Exchange Platform), and Digital ID.

SANIA, for example, is designed to foster cross-border collaboration among investors, startups, accelerators, and institutions. Ralph Oyini, Director of Digital Transformation and Services at Smart Africa, said, “Africa has the money, the investors, the startups, and the innovation — but too often, these ecosystems operate in silos. SANIA is here to bring them together and connect them.”

For instance, the platform can help entrepreneurs in Conakry to connect seamlessly with investors in Lagos, creating a coordinated pan-African innovation ecosystem.

The summit also unveiled new strategic partnerships to accelerate the continent’s digital integration, spanning digital skills, payments, data exchange, and internet governance. Key agreements include:

Together, these initiatives advance Smart Africa’s vision of an interconnected, competitive, and sovereign Africa, capable of securing a prominent role in the global digital economy.

Founded in 2013, the Smart Africa Alliance has grown from 37 members three years ago to 42 today, evolving from a consultative platform into a fully operational institution executing large-scale digital projects across the continent.