Data sovereignty in Africa: steering digital transformation between China and the West

Abstract Digital sovereignty has become a pivotal concern for Africa striving to reduce their reliance on foreign powers for data storage and processing. Central to these efforts is the development of digital infrastructure, including data centres, often established with the support of Chinese telecommunications companies (CTCs). In the context of the ongoing technological rivalry between the U.S. and China, this study contends that CTCs are playing a prominent role in shaping Africa’s digital future. Their involvement in infrastructure projects significantly influences the contours of digital sovereignty across the continent. Yet, amid growing Western concerns over potential cyber espionage and the export of digital authoritarianism through Chinese technology, this paper emphasises that Africa’s digital sovereignty and developmental priorities must remain paramount, regardless of which foreign partners are involved in the continent’s digital transformation.