Introduction

In the digital age, data has become a resource as precious as oil. It fuels artificial intelligence, shapes economic strategies and influences political decisions. Today, a veritable technological war is being waged between the United States and China for control of this data, as witness the controversy surrounding TikTok. But where does Africa stand in this global race? Can it develop digital sovereignty in the face of these giants?

Data, the New Black Gold

Data is at the heart of the digital economy. It can be used to predict consumer behaviour, optimise logistics, improve cyber security and influence political decisions. Unlike oil, which is a finite resource, data is generated continuously and gains in value with the rise of digital technology. The companies that control it, such as Google, Meta, Amazon and Alibaba, dominate the market and drive global technological trends. This is why the United States and China are vying to secure their supremacy in this strategic field.

The US-China Technology War

The United States, historical leaders in technology, is seeing the emergence of Chinese giants such as Alibaba and ByteDance (owner of TikTok). Fearing large-scale espionage, Washington is trying to limit the influence of Chinese companies by imposing bans and negotiating partial takeovers. For its part, China is developing its own digital platforms and restricting access to Western companies. This battle reflects a struggle for control over data, a strategic lever that influences the global economy and geopolitics.

Africa, a Wealth of Under-exploited Data

Africa, with its young, connected population, is generating a growing mass of data. Yet most of this data is stored and exploited by foreign companies. Google, Facebook, Amazon and others control most of Africa’s Internet traffic, exposing the continent to digital dependency. The risks are numerous, loss of sovereignty over sensitive data, exploitation of personal information without a strict legal framework, foreign influence on economic and political decisions.

Building African Digital Sovereignty

To avoid this dependence, Africa needs to invest in its own digital infrastructure, create local data centres to host the continent’s data, strengthen regulations to protect personal information, promote local innovation by supporting African technology start-ups, and developing alternatives to the American and Chinese giants. Initiatives such as Smart Africa are already aimed at strengthening Africa’s digital sovereignty. However, we need to go further by involving governments, businesses and civil society to guarantee an independent digital future.

Conclusion

Data has become an economic and strategic weapon. If Africa does not take control of its digital destiny, it will remain dependent on the great powers. It is time to act to transform this digital wealth into a driver of development and guarantee sustainable digital sovereignty.

Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/djabiremarwan