Discover the 2025 Edition
Sovereignty, Security, Prosperity

Executive Summary

The CODES Africa Summit 2025, held in Kinshasa on June 18, 2025, marked a historic milestone in building an African vision of digital sovereignty. Bringing together governments, regulators, the private sector, civil society, and international partners, this event served as the catalyst for a clear continental agenda around three priorities: sovereignty, security, and prosperity.

Context and Challenges

Africa faces a dual urgency:

• Ensure its digital autonomy in the face of domination by foreign tech giants, who control most platforms, infrastructures, and critical services.
• Bridge the digital divide: only 37% of Africans are connected, compared to 68% worldwide (ITU, 2023).

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), due to its size, population, and resources, stands as a strategic player in driving this continental dynamic.

Key Findings of the Summit

Participants outlined a clear diagnosis:

• Lack of sovereign infrastructures (data centers, backbone, cloud).
• Dependence on foreign technologies and standards.
• Limited access to financing for startups and young innovators.
• Fragmented legal frameworks, lack of regional harmonization.
• Persistent inequalities in access between urban and rural areas.

At the same time, several key opportunities emerge:

• A young, creative, and connected population.
• Potential African digital champions in fintech, e-governance, and AI.
• A growing political will for continental cooperation.

Discover strategic insights, perspectives, and concrete solutions for African digital sovereignty.