Africa is making steady progress toward establishing a Single Digital Market by 2030, a transformative goal led by the Smart Africa Alliance. The seventh Transform Africa Summit (TAS), held in Conakry, Guinea, marked a milestone for the continent’s digital ambitions, bringing together heads of state, policymakers, and technology leaders for three days of strategic dialogue. It was the first time Francophone West Africa hosted the flagship event.
Under the theme “AI for Africa: Innovate Locally, Impact Globally,” the summit showcased Africa’s collective commitment to harnessing technology for sovereignty, inclusive development, and economic growth. Smart Africa, now comprising 42 member states, spotlighted key initiatives including SANIA, the Smart Africa Data Exchange (SADX), and Digital ID.
SANIA aims to dismantle silos between investors, startups, accelerators, and institutions, fostering cross-border collaboration. Ralph Oyini, Smart Africa’s Director of Digital Transformation and Services, emphasized that Africa has the capital, innovation, and entrepreneurial energy—but lacks the connectivity to unify these assets. SANIA, he said, is designed to bridge that gap, enabling entrepreneurs in cities like Conakry to engage seamlessly with investors in hubs like Lagos.
The summit also introduced several strategic partnerships to accelerate digital integration across the continent. These include collaborations with Visa to expand digital payments and e-government services; with YouthConnekt Africa to promote youth-led entrepreneurship; and with Ascend Digital Solutions to pilot the SADX platform in Benin, Ghana, and Rwanda for secure cross-border identity verification. Additional agreements with The Gambia, AFTLD, and Women Political Leaders aim to strengthen digital skills, cybersecurity, and gender-inclusive leadership.
Together, these efforts reinforce Smart Africa’s vision of a digitally sovereign, interconnected, and globally competitive Africa. Since its founding in 2013, the alliance has evolved from a consultative body into a fully operational institution driving large-scale digital transformation across the continent.
