African ministers highlighted the importance of collaboration with the private sector to drive the technology sector and strengthen economies across the continent, despite criticism from global companies such as Meta regarding over-regulation and taxation by African governments.
Speaking on a panel at Africa Tech Festival, Meta’s Director of Public Policy, Fargani Tambeayuk, cautioned African regulators about policies that could stifle emerging technologies like AI. He cited Cameroon as an example, where subsea cable providers must go through mobile network operators to land their cables, creating what he described as a “monopoly” and a “roadblock” to expanding connectivity.
Meta is among several global companies that invested in the 2Africa subsea cable system, which spans 45,000km, linking Africa to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Reflecting on this, Tambeayuk said, “If I think about the journey we’ve been on over the past four years with the 2Africa cable, there’s been significant interest and support from governments, but we’ve also encountered numerous challenges that create roadblocks and hinder our investments.”
In a separate panel today (13 November), Uganda’s Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Monica Musenero Masanza (pictured, second), defended regulators, asserting that the public and private sectors share a “joint interest in making ecosystems favourable for users, developers, and businesses,” adding that governments create the foundation for businesses to operate.
“Our responsibility is to facilitate the private sector as key players in advancing technology. The government only intervenes in areas where the private sector has not yet shown interest. In these cases, we take the initiative to highlight the area, understand the ecosystem, and remove barriers,” said Masanza.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, Dr Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u (pictured, last), added that the Kenyan government works closely with the private sector, as both sides need each other to broaden connectivity. She highlighted Kenya’s Universal Service Fund, which collaborates with the private sector to direct investment. The government is also undertaking a nearly 50-50 project to lay 100,000 kilometres of fibre for a private fibre network, expected to be completed in 2025.
“When it comes to the Universal Service Fund, which we use to extend connectivity to rural areas, the primary contributors are from the private sector. We work collaboratively to ensure value for money, especially in remote areas that may lack a strong business case.”
She added, “In Kenya, the private sector is essential to our initiatives, but we’re also encouraging academia and civil society to collaborate. By involving every stakeholder, we ensure sustainability is embedded in our projects.”
