African data protection authorities adopted a new 2026-2030 roadmap during a conference held this week in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The roadmap aims to strengthen coordination on data governance, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
The conference, organized by the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA-RAPDP), brought together regulators from across the continent. According to NADPA-RAPDP, the roadmap includes initiatives to harmonize data protection laws, enhance cross-border data flows, and build capacity for cybersecurity enforcement.
Key priorities include developing common frameworks for AI regulation, establishing regional cybersecurity incident response teams, and promoting digital trust among citizens and businesses. The roadmap also emphasizes the need for public-private partnerships to address challenges posed by rapid digitalization.
Participants highlighted the importance of balancing innovation with privacy rights, especially as African countries increasingly adopt digital services. The roadmap is expected to guide national policies and regional cooperation through 2030.
