Digital Sovereignty Priority for Africa’s Future: Innovation & Technology State Minister

Addis Ababa, November 8, 2026 (ENA)— Strengthening digital sovereignty and developing artificial intelligence infrastructure should be the priorities for Africa, Innovation and Technology State Minister Solomon Soka said.

According to him, sovereignty is no longer limited to geographical boundaries, but increasingly depends on algorithms, computing centers, and artificial intelligence technologies.

“Our sovereign spirit cannot be broken by external domination, but the arena of sovereignty has fundamentally changed. Today, it is defined by algorithms, computing capabilities, and artificial intelligence,” he noted.

Warning the danger AI-powered disinformation poses to economic and social stability by undermining public trust and affecting markets and investment, the State Minister stressed the need to establish independent African AI systems that ensure control over data, algorithms, and technological capabilities.

He revealed that Ethiopia is pursuing an approach of functional sovereignty, guided by the philosophy of “Medemer,” which emphasizes integration, strengthening national capabilities, protecting critical data, and maintaining independent decision-making.

The Digital Ethiopia 2030 Strategy translates this vision into action through the development of digital infrastructure and national capabilities, he added.

Solomon highlighted the launch of the national digital identity system (Fayda), the initiative to train five million Ethiopians in coding, and the establishment of the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute.

The institute is developing AI models in Ethiopia’s local languages to strengthen the presence of national identity and culture in the digital space.

The State Minister noted that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed initiated the establishment of Medemer Artificial Intelligence University, which is envisioned as a continental hub for developing expertise and strengthening African countries’ capabilities in artificial intelligence.

Moreover, he noted that reliable energy, expanded telecommunications networks, data centers, and cloud computing infrastructure are essential requirements for achieving digital sovereignty.

“You cannot build a sovereign home on rented land,” the State Minister said, stressing the importance of African countries owning their data centers and cloud infrastructure and hosting their data within their territories.

He noted that Ethiopia aims to host its national data, projected to reach approximately 600    petabytes within its digital infrastructure by 2030.

Solomon also called for stronger African technological integration, noting that individual African countries cannot compete with the massive investments of global technology companies on their own.

In his remarks at a parallel session on the sidelines of the Second African Political Parties Summit in Addis Ababa, the State Minister warned against the use of deepfake technology and disinformation to influence voters, urging political parties to adopt ethical and responsible AI practices.

He underscored that exploiting these technologies for electoral gains would undermine public trust in institutions and threaten political and economic stability