An Open Letter to African Leaders: Digital Colonization Is the New Scramble for Africa

By Dr. Michael Omoruyi | For publication on the iNewsAfrica Op-Ed Page

Dear African Heads of State, Policy Makers, and Custodians of Our Collective Future,

Africa is once again standing at a historic crossroads. The age of physical colonization is long behind us, and the era of mineral and oil extraction is gradually giving way to something far more subtle, pervasive, and dangerous—digital colonization.

In the 21st century, the most valuable resource is no longer gold, diamonds, or crude oil. It is data. Data powers artificial intelligence, controls narratives, shapes economies, influences elections, predicts consumer behavior, and determines who prospers and who remains dependent. Africa is generating massive volumes of data every second—yet we neither own, control, nor profit meaningfully from it.

This is the new scramble for Africa, and it is unfolding silently.

Understanding Digital Colonization

Digital colonization occurs when foreign governments and multinational technology corporations:

• Extract African data without equitable value exchange

• Store and process African data outside the continent

• Build digital platforms Africans depend on but do not control

• Design algorithms that define African realities without African context

• Monetize African behavior, culture, and consumption for external profit

In this modern arrangement, Africa is once again positioned as a supplier of raw materials—only this time, the raw material is unprocessed data, while finished digital products are imported back at great cost.

Why This Is a Leadership and Governance Crisis

This is not merely a technological challenge; it is a failure of vision and governance. Digital colonization thrives where:

• Data protection laws are weak or unenforced

• Governments outsource critical national digital infrastructure

• There is no coherent national or continental digital strategy

• Leaders see technology as optional rather than existential

History will judge today’s leaders not by speeches, but by whether Africa retained sovereignty in the digital age.

What African Leaders Must Do—Urgently

The time for delay has passed. Africa’s digital future must be reclaimed through deliberate leadership.

Recognize Data as a Strategic National Asset

Data must be legally classified as a sovereign resource—on par with land, minerals, and oil. Constitutions and national laws should clearly define data ownership, residency, and protection as matters of national security.

Invest in African-Owned Digital Infrastructure

Africa must reduce dependence by investing in:

• Regional and national data centers

• African-owned cloud platforms

• Continental fiber-optic and satellite networks

Digital dependency is the modern equivalent of economic bondage.

Enact and Enforce Robust Data Protection Laws

Africa needs laws with real consequences. These must:

• Mandate local storage for sensitive data

• Regulate cross-border data transfers

• Penalize data exploitation and abuse

Laws without enforcement are invitations to exploitation.

Build Indigenous AI and Innovation Ecosystems

Africa must move from digital consumption to digital creation. Governments should:

• Fund local AI research and startups

• Strengthen universities and innovation hubs

• Support ethically governed African datasets

A continent that does not build technology will always be ruled by it.

Prioritize Digital Literacy and Human Capital

Digital sovereignty is impossible without informed citizens. Africans must understand:

• Their digital rights

• How their data is harvested and used

• The economic value of digital skills

An uninformed population is easy to exploit.

Act as One Africa

No single country can win this battle alone. Africa must:

• Harmonize data and digital policies across borders

• Negotiate collectively with global tech firms

• Anchor digital strategy in Pan-African cooperation

Fragmentation weakens Africa; unity strengthens bargaining power.

A Final Warning—and a Call to Courage

African leaders, the consequences of inaction will last generations. If Africa fails to act now, it will remain data-rich but power-poor, repeating the same cycle of extraction and dependency—this time in the cloud.

Yet this moment also offers a rare opportunity:
To secure Africa’s digital sovereignty,
To convert data into inclusive development,
And to ensure that Africa’s future is designed, owned, and governed by Africans.

The 21st century will not wait for hesitant leaders.
Africa must rise—now.

About the Author

Dr. Michael Omoruyi is a technology professional, educator, author, and Pan-African advocate. He is the founder of iNewsAfrica, a digital media platform dedicated to African development, governance, and diaspora engagement. With decades of experience in information technology, digital literacy, and public commentary, Dr. Omoruyi is a strong voice for digital sovereignty, ethical technology adoption, and Africa-led innovation. He is also the author of From Grit to Grace: A Memoir of Roots, Resilience, and Reinvention.

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Published on the iNewsAfrica Op-Ed page to advance informed dialogue on Africa’s digital future.

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