en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Central African Republic is discussing digital cooperation with France to accelerate its digital transformation. At a meeting on June 26, Central African Republic Minister of Digital Economy, Posts and Telecommunications Roger Andjalandji held talks with a delegation led by French Ambassador to the Central African Republic Bruno Foucher. One of the key focuses of the proposed cooperation is human capital strengthening, with plans to provide training for young entrepreneurs and startup founders in the Central African Republic.

Efi Frager, Head of the Regional Economic Affairs Office in Yaoundé, stated that France will support the Central African Republic in developing this strategic sector.

The Central African Republic faces significant lag in infrastructure, connectivity, service adoption, and digital governance. According to the GSMA Mobile Connectivity Index, 2G and 3G networks covered approximately 60% of the population in 2024, while 4G commercial launch only began in 2025, with deployment still ongoing. Digital service adoption is limited, with official data showing that about 70% of the population still does not use the internet. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) data for 2024 shows an internet penetration rate of only 13.8% and a mobile phone penetration rate of 39.8%.

Geographic landlocked status is another major obstacle. For years, the Central African Republic had no direct terrestrial connection to any international fiber optic network, relying primarily on satellite connections. A study published by the World Bank in 2020 noted that this reliance limited competition among operators, maintained high costs, and reduced the market's attractiveness to private investors. The country is now connected to networks in Cameroon and the Republic of Congo, with other regional interconnections under study.

The Central African Republic also lags severely in administrative digital transformation. According to the United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI), the country ranked 193rd globally, i.e., last, in 2024, with a score of 0.0947 (out of 1), far below the African average (0.4247) and the global average (0.6382). In cybersecurity, the country is also in the weakest tier of the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index.

France has strong capabilities in the digital sector. According to ITU data, France's 4G penetration rate was 99% in 2024, and its 5G penetration rate was 93% in 2023; internet penetration was 88.7%, and mobile phone penetration was 95.9%. France's EGDI score is 0.8744 (out of 1), ranking 34th globally; it is also classified as a "role model" country in the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index. The country also hosts major companies such as Orange, Capgemini, Thales, and OVHcloud, as well as an active startup network supported by the French Tech policy. In StartupBlink's 2026 Startup Ecosystem Report, France ranks 11th globally. Doctolib, Mistral AI, Qonto, and Contentsquare have successfully achieved unicorn status. The specific direction of digital cooperation between the Central African Republic and France has not yet been clearly announced.