Digital technologies are set to transform African economies. Yet, only 40 per cent of Africans accessed the internet in 2022 – well below the proportion in the world’s other regions. Technological as well as socio-economic factors drive this digital divide, and US-Chinese competition risks making it worse.To kick off the second season of Europe Listens, ECFR’s Rafael Loss and Jana Puglierin welcome Jane Munga, a fellow in the Africa Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former digital policy advisor to the government of Kenya. What are the most pressing priorities for African countries to overcome the global digital divide? How does Europe’s digital diplomacy compare to US and Chinese tech giants’ approaches? And what is Africa’s vision for “digital sovereignty”?This podcast was recorded on 8 August 2023.Other episodes of this season:Episode 2: Combatting online disinformation with Flora Rebello Arduini Episode 3: Governing outer space with Ruvimbo SamangaFurther reading:How the United States can effectively implement its new Digital Transformation with Africa initiative by Jane MungaHow Will U.S.-China Tech Decoupling Affect Africa’s Mobile Phone Market? By Jane Munga and Kyla DenwoodMeasuring digital development: Facts and figures 2022 by the International Telecommunication UnionThe geopolitics of technology: How the EU can become a global player by Julian Ringhof and José Ignacio Torreblanca

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