In Bangui, cables intertwine like destinies. In the dusty alleyways of the capital, between improvised satellite antennas and rudimentary cybercafés, a new language is being written. That of a country which, after decades of conflict and isolation, is attempting to redefine itself through lines of code, satellite connections and digital alliances. The Central African Republic, long considered one of the most fragile states on the continent, is today sketching an unexpected turn: that of a digital diplomacy whose contours are still unclear, but which carries an unprecedented ambition.
A nation in search of technological sovereignty
When President Faustin-Archange Touadéra announced in 2022 the adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender, the world raised its eyebrows. For many, this choice seemed disconnected from the reality of a country where only 14% of the population have access to electricity, and fewer than 10% to the Internet. But behind this controversial decision lies a broader strategy: that of freeing itself from certain traditional economic and monetary dependencies.
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“We want to write our own history. Not the one dictated from Paris or Washington,” a presidential adviser recently confided under the cover of anonymity. The Sango project, a digital platform intended to attract cryptocurrency investors, embodies this desire to create a parallel economy, free from traditional banking circuits.
If concrete results have been slow to materialize, the initiative has at least had the merit of repositioning the Central African Republic on the digital geopolitical map. “It is a strong signal that the country is sending, even if much still remains to be done in terms of infrastructure,” analyses Mireille Dossou, a researcher in African digital policies.
Alliances that disrupt regional balances
In this new game of influences, the Central African Republic is not alone. For several years, it has been tightening its ties with Russia, notably through the presence of the Wagner group, but also through discreet technological partnerships. Russian technicians are said to have been called upon to develop certain cybersecurity tools, according to concordant diplomatic sources.
“Digital technology is becoming a lever of influence. It allows external powers to establish themselves without necessarily going through traditional channels,” explains Cameroonian political scientist Jean-Benoît N’Koulou. China, too, is watching Bangui’s moves with interest. Telecommunications equipment supplied by Huawei was recently installed in several ministries, as part of a bilateral agreement signed in 2023.
These alliances, sometimes opaque, worry certain Western partners. But above all they reflect a desire for strategic diversification. “We no longer want to be a pawn. We want to choose our partners,” insists a senior Central African official.
Digital technology as a tool for political legitimization
Beyond economic questions, digital technology also offers new ground for asserting a contested political authority. The Central African government is betting on technologies to strengthen control of its territory, notably through electronic surveillance and the digitization of civil registry records.
“Before, it was easy to disappear into the bush. Now, with drones and databases, it’s more complicated,” testifies a former militia leader who has turned to farming. This transition towards a digital state is accompanied by a strengthening of intelligence capabilities, often in collaboration with foreign partners.
But this digital centralization also raises concerns. Local NGOs denounce a lack of transparency in data collection and fear an authoritarian drift. “Technology does not guarantee democracy. It can also serve repression,” warns Rosalie Koyanga, a human rights activist in Bangui.
A connected youth, between hope and disillusionment
In the outlying neighborhoods of Bangui, cybercafés are never empty. Young people come there to check their social networks, learn to code or simply dream of somewhere else. “I want to become a developer and create an application for the farmers in my village,” confides Léon, 22, a computer science student.
This connected generation sees in digital technology an escape from endemic unemployment and chronic violence. The government has understood this well and is multiplying training initiatives, often in partnership with international NGOs. In 2023, more than 3,000 young people were thus trained in digital professions as part of the “Centrafrique Numérique” program.
But the obstacles remain numerous: frequent power cuts, unstable connections, high cost of equipment. “They talk to us about start-ups when we don’t even have electricity to charge our phones,” says Marie-Claire, 19, who dreams of launching her online shop.
A discreet laboratory of African digital diplomacy
By betting on digital technology, the Central African Republic is experimenting with an unconventional form of diplomacy. It is making its presence felt at international forums on cryptocurrencies, participating in technology summits in Asia, and attempting to forge bilateral partnerships in the field of cybersecurity.
“It’s a risky but bold bet. The country wants to exist differently on the international stage,” observes Alain Gomis, an international relations expert based in Dakar. This niche strategy could inspire other African states in search of visibility and sovereignty.
Already, some neighboring countries are closely observing the Central African experience. Chad and South Sudan have begun discussions to pool certain digital infrastructures. A way of circumventing colonial dependencies and building regional cooperation based on technologies.
Towards a new geopolitical identity?
The Central African Republic is not yet a technology hub. But it is becoming a symbol. That of a country which, despite poverty, conflict and isolation, is attempting to reinvent itself through the tools of the 21st century. Digital technology there is as much an instrument of development as a vector of political affirmation.
“What we are doing here is more than an economic project. It is an act of faith,” affirms the Minister of the Digital Economy, Ibrahim M’Boko. A faith in the country’s capacity to master its destiny, to write a new page of its history, beyond the frontier lines and imposed narratives.
But can this digital transition truly transform the foundations of a fragile state? Or does it risk deepening new divides, between the connected and the forgotten, between technological promises and ground realities? The Central African Republic moves forward, gropes, experiments. And in this uncertainty, perhaps lies the most sincere form of sovereignty.
To explore further on geopolitics in Africa
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