Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) president, Chief Fortune Charumbira has emphasised the urgent need for Africa to control its digital data, warning that the continent risks falling into a new era of exploitation driven by data colonialism and artificial intelligence.
He made these remarks on Tuesday at the opening of the Sensitive Data Sovereignty Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
The event was organised by Tangaza University, the University of Nairobi, and the Africa University Network on FAIR Open Science (AUN-FOS).
In his remarks, Chief Charumbira said data sovereignty is not just about national security, but also covers issues of human dignity and respect.
He said if Africa fails to control its data, there are high risks of privacy violations, economic exploitation, and political manipulation.
Chief Charumbira also pointed out that Africa’s vast data resources are increasingly being stored, processed, and monetised outside the continent, with foreign powers and multinational corporations exploiting the benefits.
“The convening of this conference could not be more opportune as it comes at a time when the global conversation on data privacy, security, and sovereignty has become more imperative due to the rapid technological revolution and the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our daily lives and livelihoods,” he said.
“In this digital revolution, technology and information have become both powerful assets and critical centres of socio-economic and political vulnerability if they are not properly managed.
“It is urgent and imperative, therefore, for Africa to ensure that the digital transformation that is sweeping across the globe does not come at the expense of our nations’ sovereignty and the fundamental rights of our people.”
The PAP president said Africa finds itself at the crossroads of immense opportunity and unprecedented challenges, adding that now is the time to leapfrog traditional development paths to embrace digital technologies that can accelerate economic growth, enhance governance, and improve the lives of millions.
“Our continent is rich in data—both in terms of our vast population, cultural diversity, and emerging digital markets. But this data, particularly sensitive personal information, is increasingly stored in data centres far beyond our borders. Therefore, the question is: who owns our data and more importantly, who controls it?”
The PAP president also called for the creation of an African Data Space, including a secure African Health Data Space, where knowledge can be generated, shared, and monetised without surrendering ownership or sovereignty.
He said there is a need for a unified and coordinated approach among governments, private sector actors, civil society, academia, and international partners to address data sovereignty challenges.
Chief Charumbira also acknowledged the African Union’s Malabo Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection, adopted in 2014, as a foundational document for African home-grown standards and norms on the information society and personal data protection.
