The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa is urging nations on the continent to rethink how they finance their digital future, warning that Africa risks missing out on the global AI boom without urgent investment. With less than 1% of the world’s data centers located in Africa, the report highlights a growing gap in both infrastructure and technological sovereignty. To close it, governments are encouraged to expand borrowing, boost tax revenues, and tap pension and sovereign wealth funds, which should then be invested in data infrastructure and electricity generation. At the same time, the report states, aligning efforts with the African Continental Free Trade Area and investing in skills could help Africa move beyond raw commodity exports toward higher-value manufacturing—like producing batteries and processors.
CNBC Africa
