This paper, by Tyler Venske, explores the African perspective on the evolving global digital landscape, focusing on the concept of “digital sovereignty.” It discusses how investments by the United States and China in digital infrastructure have benefited Africa but also raised concerns about over-reliance on external partners and data exploitation. The paper argues for delinking African nations from foreign influence and rearticulating digital sovereignty. It criticises mainstream research for focusing too much on US and China dynamics and emphasizes the importance of understanding Africa’s challenges in establishing digital independence. It concludes that overcoming risks to digital sovereignty is crucial for empowering African nation-states and citizens in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
