The This Is Africa Digital forum, held in Dakar on November 13 and 14, brought together public officials, experts, technology companies, and training organizations to discuss a question that has become central to the continental debate: Africa's capacity to build strong digital sovereignty based on control of skills, infrastructure, and data. The discussions highlighted a shared desire to move beyond technological dependence and to firmly establish digital practices within a framework of strategic autonomy.

Presentations on training were a major focus. They illustrated the desire to overhaul educational systems to prepare a generation capable of thriving in a rapidly changing technological environment. Experts emphasized the importance of integrating AI, cybersecurity, and data skills into school curricula, a prerequisite for bridging the digital divide and enhancing youth employability.

The issue of personal data protection and digital governance also structured the discussions. Several speakers called for strengthening legal frameworks, bolstering data protection authorities, and developing sovereign data storage and processing infrastructures. Foreign delegations, notably that of Rwanda, shared their own progress in data centers, digital identity platforms, and innovation policies, demonstrating that successful African models exist and can serve as benchmarks for continental cooperation.

The forum concluded with a widely shared vision in which technological mastery becomes an essential component of economic transformation. By affirming its role as host and driving force, Dakar is positioning itself as one of Africa's emerging digital hubs, championing a regional agenda based on competence, security, innovation, and strategic autonomy.