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Digital Africa from page 59

digital economy—the African Union should expand engagement with member states to not just update and develop national ICT strategies but to ensure alignment between those strategies. Regional interoperability is key to scaling digital applications across the continent. If something works in Kenya but cannot be used in Uganda and Tanzania, growth will be stunted. In addition, recognizing that the development of national policies take an enormous amount of time, money, eff ort, and political will and commitment, the African Union should ramp up regional conventions on digital issues. Examples of past conventions include the African Union’s Malabo Conventions (offi cially the Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection), which continues to be ratifi ed by member states.

Build Out Digital Clauses in Phase II AfCFTA Protocols and U.S.-Kenya FTA Negotiations. Hopes are high for the ongoing AfCFTA Phase II negotiations, which include IP protection, data protection, and cybersecurity. These provisions will have enormous consequences for security and regulatory harmonization with the possibility to facilitate increased trade and investment. If the AfCFTA signs off on eff ective digital clauses, it will make the African continent an attractive trade and investment destination. There is also precedent to be set with the digital clauses in the U.S.-Kenya Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, which may be restarted under the Biden administration.

Prioritize Digitization as Key Pillar of U.S.

Strategy in Africa. The Biden administration should signal its commitment to economic engagement in the region, engaging African governments to develop and implement comprehensive digital frameworks and policies. The United States should work with African partners to embrace high standard digital trade rules, including through the U.S.-Kenya FTA negotiations, and improve enabling environments. This might include convening high-level African ministers responsible for ICT and digital growth to discuss policy issues and paths toward alignment. It might also include a presidential statement reiterating support for digital-focused trade agreements, including the AfCFTA.

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Thomas-Greenfield to lead U.S. delegation to Olympics closing ceremony

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, lead the U.S. delegation to the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games closing ceremony, the White House announced. She met with members of Team USA, Japanese and Olympic officials, and members of the Refugee Olympic Team, (ROC) which is made up of 29 refugee athletes from various countries, including Afghanistan, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Cameroon, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Iran and Iraq.

This commentary is made possible with generous Thi t i d ibl ith support from Google. www.csis.org/analysis/digital-africa-levelingthrough-governance-and-trade