Countries
Gambia
The Gambia, officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. It is the smallest country within mainland Africa and is surrounded by Senegal, except for its western coast on the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia is situated on both sides of the lower reaches of the Gambia River, the nation’s namesake, which flows through the centre of the Gambia and empties into the Atlantic Ocean, thus the long shape of the country.
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea is a country on the west coast of Central Africa, with an area of 28,000 square kilometres (11,000 sq mi). Formerly the colony of Spanish Guinea, its post-independence name evokes its location near both the Equator and the Gulf of Guinea. Equatorial Guinea consists of two parts, an insular and a mainland region. The insular region consists of the islands of Bioko (formerly Fernando Pó) in the Gulf of Guinea and Annobón, a small volcanic island which is the only part of the country south of the equator.
Fiji
Fiji is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about 1,100 nautical miles (2,000 km; 1,300 mi) north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about 110 are permanently inhabited—and more than 500 islets, amounting to a total land area of about 18,300 square kilometres (7,100 sq mi).
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu. It has a land area of 28,400 square kilometres (11,000 sq mi), and a population of about 700,000. Its capital, Honiara, is located on the largest island, Guadalcanal. The country takes its name from the Solomon Islands archipelago, which is a collection of Melanesian islands that also includes the North Solomon Islands (a part of Papua New Guinea), but excludes outlying islands, such as the Santa Cruz Islands and Rennell and Bellona.
Laos
Laos is a socialist state and the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. At the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula, Laos is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and southwest. Its capital and largest city is Vientiane.
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan or the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and the People’s Republic of China to the east. Its capital and largest city is Bishkek. It has a mountainous terrain.
Kiribati
Kiribati is an island country in Oceania in the central Pacific Ocean. The permanent population is over 119,000 (2020), more than half of whom live on Tarawa atoll. The state comprises 32 atolls and one remote raised coral island, Banaba. There is a total land area of 811 square kilometres (313 square miles) dispersed over 3.5 million km2 (1.4 million sq mi) of ocean.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbekistan to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southwest, with a coastline along the Caspian Sea. Its capital is Astana, known as Nur-Sultan from 2019 to 2022. Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, was the country’s capital until 1997. Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country, the largest and northernmost Muslim-majority country by land area, and the ninth-largest country in the world.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia faces several key challenges in its digital expansion, including regulatory barriers, the need for stronger infrastructure, and wider access to affordable internet services. Despite these challenges, the landscape is ripe with opportunities. As of January 2024, there were about 24.83 million internet users in Ethiopia, reflecting an internet penetration rate of 19.4 percent of the population at the start of the year.
As more Ethiopians gain internet access, there is significant potential for growth in digital services, fintech, and e-commerce. Such developments are expected to drive broader economic growth and spur innovation across the country.
Internet governance
Internet governance in Ethiopia has been evolving, especially in light of the country’s broader initiatives to digitalize its economy. The primary regulatory body overseeing telecommunications is the Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA). This body is responsible for licensing and regulating communications services, including internet services. The ECA’s role has been crucial in the recent liberalization of the telecom sector, which previously saw Ethio Telecom as the sole service provider.
Historically, the Ethiopian government has maintained strict control over the internet, including reported incidents of internet shutdowns during periods of political unrest. These shutdowns have been widely criticized by international bodies and human rights organizations as they restrict freedom of expression and access to information. According to the Freedom on the Net 2023 report, Ethiopia’s internet freedom score is 26 out of 100, indicating it is ‘not free’. The government has frequently restricted access to social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Telegram, and YouTube, especially in response to planned protests.
One of the major challenges in internet governance in Ethiopia is ensuring consistent and equitable access across the country. While urban centers like Addis Ababa have relatively better connectivity, rural areas often struggle with access and reliability.
The Internet governance debate in Ethiopia has seen significant developments, particularly with the country hosting the 17th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in 2022. This event, supported by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UN ECA) and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), was held under the theme ‘Resilient Internet for a Shared Sustainable and Common Future,’ focusing on inclusive internet access and digital cooperation.
Digital strategies
The Ethiopian government has been actively promoting digital transformation as part of its economic strategy. Key initiatives include the Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy, which aims to digitize key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and services while improving the overall digital infrastructure. The strategy sets forth a vision to issue 90 million digital IDs (delayed to 2028), triple digital payments, and foster increased interactions among government, private sector, and citizens by 2025. The strategy recommends prioritising investments in advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and big data analytics to drive these initiatives. This strategy focuses on integrating various independent digital initiatives conducted by government and non-government actors. It aims to create synergies that will generate economic benefits and help integrate digital technologies into the main sectors of the economy, thereby supporting Ethiopia’s ambition to become a middle-income, knowledge-based economy.
Ethiopia has rolled out a robust e-Government strategy and enterprise architecture framework aimed at enhancing public service delivery and propelling digital transformation. This strategy includes the development of a national e-Government portal, which is set to offer online access to 219 government services within five years. Additionally, the plan involves the implementation of 12 key e-Government projects across various agencies and the delivery of services through four alternative channels beyond the primary portal.
Key features of the strategy also encompass the development of a national enterprise architecture, known as ENEAF, to facilitate better integration and consolidation of ministry applications, services, and infrastructure within a national data center. This framework will also introduce a customer feedback mechanism across all government channels and ensure capacity development for government officials in IT skills and customer service.
Cybersecurity
In Ethiopia, addressing cybercrime and enhancing cybersecurity are integral parts of the national strategy to bolster digital security and trust. The legislative framework in Ethiopia, particularly the Computer Crime Proclamation No. 958/2016, focuses on combating cybercrime by defining offenses related to unauthorized access, data interference, system interference, and misuse of devices. This legislation is crucial for maintaining the integrity and security of Ethiopia’s digital infrastructure and for ensuring that digital activities do not undermine national security or the rights and safety of individuals.
The Computer Crime Proclamation aims to prevent, control, investigate, and prosecute computer-related crimes. It includes provisions that are geared toward safeguarding users’ trust in digital services and the protection of networks, data, and information systems. However, it has also been critiqued for potentially overreaching in ways that could impact free speech and legitimate online activities. Efforts are ongoing to revise and update this legislation to better balance security concerns with human rights and freedom of expression.
Beyond specific cybercrime laws, Ethiopia’s approach to cybersecurity encompasses a broader set of policies and initiatives. These include the development of a national cybersecurity strategy that aligns with the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa 2020-2030. This strategy underscores the importance of protecting critical digital infrastructures and enhancing the country’s defenses against cyber threats.
The Information Network Security Agency (INSA) plays a key role in this regard. Established to defend Ethiopia’s information infrastructure from attacks, INSA’s responsibilities have evolved to include preventive measures against cybercrime, digital forensic investigations, and the drafting and enforcement of national policies on cybersecurity. INSA also contributes to capacity building in the cybersecurity domain, helping to elevate Ethiopia’s readiness and response to cyber threats.
AI strategies and policies
Ethiopia is in the final stages of establishing a national policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI). This policy aims to promote the responsible and sustainable implementation of AI across various sectors within the country. The draft AI policy addresses several critical areas, including data management, human resource development, research and development, infrastructure, and legal and ethical guidelines. It also emphasizes cooperation and coordination among various stakeholders, including regional states, city administrations, and international institutions. The policy framework aims to make Ethiopia a centre of excellence for AI in Africa, fostering innovation and technology-driven economic growth.
Key components of the policy include developing national data-sharing guidelines, establishing quality standards for research, and creating regulatory frameworks that guide the use of human resources in AI development. The collaborative nature of this policy formulation process involves multiple stakeholders, including the Ethiopian Institute of Artificial Intelligence, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, academic institutions, and the private sector, ensuring that the policy is comprehensive and inclusive.
Ethiopia has been actively advancing its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities through various initiatives. In September 2021, the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Centre of Excellence was established at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University. This Centre is designed to foster collaboration between academia, industry, and government, supporting the AI ecosystem and focusing efforts on leveraging AI for socio-economic development. The country has also set up the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute, which has among its tasks the development of legislation and regulatory frameworks for AI.