The African Union’s strategy for digital transformation in Africa: maximising opportunities and overcoming challenges

Abstract

This chapter examines the AU’s DTS and suggests ways to maximize the available opportunities and overcome some of the endemic challenges to digital transformation on the continent. The discussion proceeds in the following steps: first, the chapter engages the features of the AU digital transformation strategy; second, it highlights the current state of digital transformation on the continent, including an examination of the policy environment; third and fourth, it assesses the risks and opportunities available, such as the ability to tap into geopolitical contestation between the current technology standard bearers like the United States (US), the European Union (EU), and China, for Africa’s benefit; and, the fifth step, which is the concluding section, reflects on how to ensure that Africa’s vision for a digitally transformed society comes to fruition.