Côte d’Ivoire is preparing a new digital strategy through 2035 that places artificial intelligence among its seven priority pillars, as the country seeks to transform public services and strengthen its digital ecosystem.
The roadmap was presented on June 1 by Minister of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation Djibril Ouattara at the opening of the sixth edition of African Digital Week 2026 in Abidjan. According to the minister, the strategy is built around seven major pillars and about 40 flagship projects. The main areas of focus include expanding connectivity and access to digital services, accelerating the digital transformation of public administration, promoting innovation and AI, strengthening cybersecurity and digital trust, developing digital skills and modernizing Côte d’Ivoire’s postal service.
The new roadmap builds on reforms launched in recent years but places greater emphasis on integrating emerging technologies and strengthening digital infrastructure. The stated objective is to improve the efficiency of public services while creating a more competitive innovation ecosystem.
The plan follows the 2021–2025 digital strategy, which accelerated investment in infrastructure and gradually expanded the availability of digital public services. During that period, mobile phone subscriptions grew significantly — rising from about 44 million in 2021 to more than 60 million in 2025. Mobile internet subscriptions also increased sharply, reaching about 38.5 million in 2025 compared with much lower levels at the beginning of the period. Internet penetration stood at about 41% in 2025, reflecting continued improvement in access to digital services, although disparities remain across geographic and social groups.
At the same time, online public services expanded through the digitization of numerous administrative procedures and the launch of digital platforms in the tax, civil registration and business sectors. The evolution helped modernize access to government services and improve their availability. According to data from the United Nations E-Government Development Index, Côte d’Ivoire recorded a score of 0.5587 in 2024 — up from 0.5467 in 2022 and 0.4457 in 2020 — reflecting steady progress in the country’s digital maturity.
Beyond public services, the digital sector is increasingly becoming a key driver of Côte d’Ivoire’s economy. The sector is expected to account for about 15% of gross domestic product by 2030, compared with about 6% today. Looking further ahead, the World Bank estimates that Côte d’Ivoire’s digital economy could generate more than $20 billion by 2050 — provided public and private investment in infrastructure, skills development and digital services continues to grow.
