Africa seeks to forge common vision on personal data protection

ABIDJAN, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Officials and experts from 24 African countries gathered in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, to forge a common vision on building the continent's genuine digital sovereignty.

At the opening of the 9th Network of African Data Protection Authorities Conference on Monday, they stressed the urgency for Africa to stop merely being subjected to global digital rules but instead take part in shaping them.

"Africa must not only be a space for digital consumption. It must also become a space for reflection, regulation, innovation, standard-setting and the defense of citizens' rights," said Roger Felix Adom, chairman of the Regulatory Council of Cote d'Ivoire's Telecommunications/ICT Regulatory Authority.

The issue of personal data now goes far beyond the legal sphere alone, he said.

"Personal data is not a resource like any other. It concerns individuals' privacy, identity, dignity, freedom and security," Adom said, describing it as "a major issue of sovereignty."

Addressing the theme of regulating innovative technologies in light of the challenges and prospects facing data protection authorities, he emphasized that "regulation does not mean blocking or slowing innovation, but rather creating a clear, fair, protective and predictable framework."

Such a framework should enable innovators to innovate, businesses to grow and public administrations to modernize, while ensuring the protection of citizens, Adom said.

In the same vein, Ivorian Minister of Digital Transition Djibril Ouattara highlighted the challenge of "regulating without stifling the spirit of innovation."

He noted that 35 African countries now have legislation on personal data protection, but enforcement remains highly uneven across the continent.

"This fragmentation weakens cross-border data flows and slows the building of genuine African digital sovereignty," Adom said.

The minister called for the development of a harmonized model inspired by international best practices while remaining adapted to African realities.

The conference is expected to conclude on Wednesday with the adoption of the Abidjan Declaration, which aims to reconcile technological innovation with the construction of African digital sovereignty, organizers said. Enditem