Ethiopia, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe step up digitalization
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
African countries have stepped up their digital identity initiatives, with over a dozen targeting full coverage within the next three years. In Ethiopia, the government has set an ambitious target of 90 million digital IDs over the next two years, while Namibia will start rolling out a similar initiative in 2026. Even Africa's smallest nation, São Tomé and Príncipe, is digitalizing identity to boost inclusion.
Ethiopia's ambitious 90M enrollment target
Ethiopia has emerged as a regional powerhouse in digital identity and has already enrolled 16.9 million citizens to its Fayda Number digital ID, equating to 13% of its population. The target is 90 million within the next two years, says Yodahe Zemichael, the director of the National ID Program (NIDP).
Speaking on the sidelines of the recent ID4Africa event, held in the capital, Addis Ababa, Zemichael stated that the Ethiopian government considers digital identity a necessity, not an optional luxury.
'In Ethiopia, the eligible population is everyone, including children. If 10–30 percent don't have an ID, then they're excluded from schemes like social programs or agricultural initiatives. That undermines the value of digital ID. So yes, 90 percent is the minimum,' he told one news outlet.
Ethiopian leaders who spoke at the event cited strong political support, significant financing, and regulatory changes as some of the key factors behind the success of the Fayda Number. The program was launched five years ago under the Digital Ethiopia 2025 initiative, whose primary goal was to digitize the East African country's $164 billion economy.
As of last month, the digital ID had been integrated into 55 public and private sector institutions. Three weeks ago, the government launched the FaydaPass Wallet, developed in partnership with Visa (NASDAQ: V), to boost financial inclusion.
Ethiopia's exploits are inspiring other African countries to digitalize identity for their citizens. Two months ago, Zambia announced that its own digital ID initiative would be based on the Ethiopian model.
According to Zemichael, the digital ID will allow the country to better serve its vast population; with 120 million citizens, only Nigeria has a larger population than Ethiopia in Africa.
'It's not even about ambition; it's a necessity. And 90 million out of 120 million isn't even 90 percent, so we actually have to go beyond that.'
Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe step up digital ID efforts
Beyond Ethiopia, dozens of other African countries are pursuing similar digital ID efforts. One of these is Namibia, whose government has now earmarked July 2026 as the launch date for a new digital identity system. Namibia's Home Affairs Ministry first announced the initiative in April, and last week, executive director Etienne Maritz revealed the deadline as mid-next year.
Maritz said that the e-ID will transition the Southern African country to a secure and digitally connected society, as reported by the local paper, Windhoek Observer.
'Unlike conventional paper documents, the biometric-enabled e-ID is nearly impossible to forge, offering each citizen a uniquely verifiable identity that is both secure and enduring,' he said.
However, he acknowledged citizens' concerns regarding the safety and privacy of their data.
'Every innovation comes with questions and concerns. That is why the Ministry will be engaging the public early, openly, and honestly, so that no one is left behind or misinformed,' he stated.
The Namibian government is planning an extensive education and awareness campaign, starting with the United Nations Conference on Digital Legal Identity in Windhoek later this month.
In Central Africa, one of the continent's smallest countries, São Tomé and Príncipe, is piloting a national digital ID system. Speaking at the ID4Africa in Ethiopia, a representative for the country's Justice Ministry revealed that the pilot has been successful so far.
São Tomé is the second-smallest country in Africa by land area and population after Seychelles.
The new system will be built atop the Modular Open-Source Identity Platform (MOSIP), an open-source digital ID platform that governments build foundational ID programs on. Backed by the World Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, it's been tapped by the Philippines, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and others.
'The process is going on well….and we are looking at how to move into the next phase, that is full-scale deployment,' the representative told one news outlet.
Watch: Tech redefines how things are done—Africa is here for it
title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Coin Geek
16 hours ago
- Coin Geek
Ethiopia, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe step up digitalization
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... African countries have stepped up their digital identity initiatives, with over a dozen targeting full coverage within the next three years. In Ethiopia, the government has set an ambitious target of 90 million digital IDs over the next two years, while Namibia will start rolling out a similar initiative in 2026. Even Africa's smallest nation, São Tomé and Príncipe, is digitalizing identity to boost inclusion. Ethiopia's ambitious 90M enrollment target Ethiopia has emerged as a regional powerhouse in digital identity and has already enrolled 16.9 million citizens to its Fayda Number digital ID, equating to 13% of its population. The target is 90 million within the next two years, says Yodahe Zemichael, the director of the National ID Program (NIDP). Speaking on the sidelines of the recent ID4Africa event, held in the capital, Addis Ababa, Zemichael stated that the Ethiopian government considers digital identity a necessity, not an optional luxury. 'In Ethiopia, the eligible population is everyone, including children. If 10–30 percent don't have an ID, then they're excluded from schemes like social programs or agricultural initiatives. That undermines the value of digital ID. So yes, 90 percent is the minimum,' he told one news outlet. Ethiopian leaders who spoke at the event cited strong political support, significant financing, and regulatory changes as some of the key factors behind the success of the Fayda Number. The program was launched five years ago under the Digital Ethiopia 2025 initiative, whose primary goal was to digitize the East African country's $164 billion economy. As of last month, the digital ID had been integrated into 55 public and private sector institutions. Three weeks ago, the government launched the FaydaPass Wallet, developed in partnership with Visa (NASDAQ: V), to boost financial inclusion. Ethiopia's exploits are inspiring other African countries to digitalize identity for their citizens. Two months ago, Zambia announced that its own digital ID initiative would be based on the Ethiopian model. According to Zemichael, the digital ID will allow the country to better serve its vast population; with 120 million citizens, only Nigeria has a larger population than Ethiopia in Africa. 'It's not even about ambition; it's a necessity. And 90 million out of 120 million isn't even 90 percent, so we actually have to go beyond that.' Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe step up digital ID efforts Beyond Ethiopia, dozens of other African countries are pursuing similar digital ID efforts. One of these is Namibia, whose government has now earmarked July 2026 as the launch date for a new digital identity system. Namibia's Home Affairs Ministry first announced the initiative in April, and last week, executive director Etienne Maritz revealed the deadline as mid-next year. Maritz said that the e-ID will transition the Southern African country to a secure and digitally connected society, as reported by the local paper, Windhoek Observer. 'Unlike conventional paper documents, the biometric-enabled e-ID is nearly impossible to forge, offering each citizen a uniquely verifiable identity that is both secure and enduring,' he said. However, he acknowledged citizens' concerns regarding the safety and privacy of their data. 'Every innovation comes with questions and concerns. That is why the Ministry will be engaging the public early, openly, and honestly, so that no one is left behind or misinformed,' he stated. The Namibian government is planning an extensive education and awareness campaign, starting with the United Nations Conference on Digital Legal Identity in Windhoek later this month. In Central Africa, one of the continent's smallest countries, São Tomé and Príncipe, is piloting a national digital ID system. Speaking at the ID4Africa in Ethiopia, a representative for the country's Justice Ministry revealed that the pilot has been successful so far. São Tomé is the second-smallest country in Africa by land area and population after Seychelles. The new system will be built atop the Modular Open-Source Identity Platform (MOSIP), an open-source digital ID platform that governments build foundational ID programs on. Backed by the World Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, it's been tapped by the Philippines, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and others. 'The process is going on well….and we are looking at how to move into the next phase, that is full-scale deployment,' the representative told one news outlet. Watch: Tech redefines how things are done—Africa is here for it title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
Reuters
3 days ago
- Reuters
Namibia central bank keeps repo rate at 6.75%
WINDHOEK, June 18 (Reuters) - Namibia's central bank left its main interest rate unchanged at 6.75% (NACBIR=ECI), opens new tab on Wednesday, saying the decision aimed to safeguard the peg between the domestic currency and the South African rand while supporting economic activity. The repo rate has been at 6.75% since February 2025. Namibia's annual inflation edged down to 3.5% in May from 3.6% April (NACPIY=ECI), opens new tab.
Finextra
3 days ago
- Finextra
eIDAS 2.0: Europe's digital future for regulating privacy and AML
0 This content is contributed or sourced from third parties but has been subject to Finextra editorial review. This piece has been co-authored by Renate Prinz, partner, and Dr. Cornelius Hille, associate, at McDermott, Will & Emery. The European Union's European Digital Identity Framework Regulation (eIDAS 2.0) introduces a standardised framework for digital identity and trust services across all EU Member States, massively benefiting anti-money laundering efforts while still protecting individuals' personal data. eIDAS 2.0, which came into effect at the end of 2024, complements the regulatory requirements of the Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2), particularly in implementing Strong Customer Authentication, which is a key requirement of PSD2. One of the primary uses of eIDAS 2.0 will be digital Know-Your-Customer (KYC) identification in compliance with relevant anti-money laundering (AML) laws. One of the key benefits of the framework is streamlined and secure customer onboarding, particularly in the financial sector. The regulation facilitates the implementation of EUDI-Wallets, which are expected to come into effect from 2027, and will make all online financial services requiring customer identification, easier and more reliable, even across borders. This will reduce friction and improve the user experience by allowing for easy and safe online authentication and verification across the entire European Union, covering services such as bank account opening, qualified electronic signatures, and mobile driving licenses. The introduction of EUDI-Wallets aim to provide a unified and secure way for individuals to store and manage their electronic identification data. EUDI-Wallets will enable users to selectively disclose their data, ensuring that only the necessary information is shared with the respective service providers. This selective disclosure mechanism is crucial for maintaining privacy while easily accessing various digital services. The regulation will have a material impact on the digitalisation of EU markets and, accordingly, provide for various innovative business opportunities. Digital businesses can develop new services, such as identity-verified digital wallets, automated contract execution, and seamless cross-border payments. The harmonised legal framework will also reduce compliance complexity and operational costs. Electronic identification and trust services The primary goals of eIDAS 2.0 are to: Create harmonised conditions under which EU Member States can acknowledge electronic identification to provide for and recognise EUDI-Wallets. EUDI-Wallets must be open-source licensed to ensure general transparency, so that the software can be scrutinised properly for potential security vulnerabilities, thereby protecting user data from potential breaches. Member States may, however, restrict the disclosure of specific components for justified reasons, balancing transparency with security. Establish rules for trust services, in particular for electronic transactions, to ensure that electronic documents and transactions are tamper-proof and legally binding. Create a legal framework for electronic signatures, seals, time stamps, documents, registered delivery services, archiving, and ledgers, amongst others. eIDAS 2.0 promotes interoperability and the standardisation of electronic identification and trust services across the EU. This ensures that technical as well as privacy and data protection standards are consistently applied, regardless of the Member State in which the services are used. Standardisation in this context is also expected to facilitate the development of secure and privacy-enhancing technologies that can be widely adopted. Given the value of the information that will be stored digitally as a result of eIDAS 2.0, it is crucial to examine its privacy and data protection implications. Data protection under eIDAS 2.0 eIDAS 2.0 is designed to ensure that users of electronic identification means and trust ser-vices have full control over their personal data. Accordingly, service providers must ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of the data processed. Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), data subjects have the right to access, rectify, and fully erase their data. The GDPR takes precedence over eIDAS 2.0, empowering individuals to securely manage their digital identities. In addition, eIDAS 2.0 emphasises the importance of user consent and transparency in the processing of personal data. Service providers are—in line with and subject to GDPR—required to obtain explicit consent from users before processing their data, and must provide clear and transparent information about how the data will be used. This ensures that users are fully informed and can make confident decisions about their data. Trust services under eIDAS 2.0, such as electronic signatures and seals, are designed with data minimisation principles in mind. These services ensure that only the necessary data is processed for the intended purpose, reducing the risk of unnecessary and unwanted data exposure. In the event of a security breach, eIDAS 2.0 requires service providers to notify the relevant supervisory bodies and affected users without undue delay. This prompt notification helps mitigate the impact of breaches on user privacy and ensures that protective and corrective measures are taken swiftly. The regulation also outlines the responsibilities of supervisory bodies in investigating and addressing such breaches. Insofar as this regards financial ser-vices, eIDAS 2.0 must be read in conjunction with the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). In addition, the regulation explicitly promotes the use of pseudonyms, allowing users to engage in certain transactions without revealing their true identities, thereby additionally enhancing privacy. The exception is where the identification of the user is required by EU or national law, as would be the case in most financial services transactions, where stricter rules require a complete set of clear personal data for KYC purposes. The relevance of eIDAS 2.0 to the future of the EU AML regime The new Regulation on the Prevention of the Use of the Financial System for the Purposes of Money Laundering or Terrorist Financing (Anti-Money Laundering Regulation, AMLR) emphasises the high importance of customer due diligence in preventing money laundering and terrorist financing. eIDAS 2.0 is expected to play a significant role in this context as money laundering and terrorist financing often involve a high number of cross-border transactions involving multiple jurisdictions. The interoperability of electronic identification processes under eIDAS 2.0 enables financial institutions and other entities to verify the identity of customers from different EU Member States seamlessly. This EU-wide standardisation will also likely simplify spotting suspicious customers or activities across borders. The AMLR advocates for a risk-based approach to managing financial transactions and correlating AML risks. eIDAS 2.0 provides the necessary tools for implementing this approach smoothly and cost-effectively by using secure electronic identification and trust services. These tools also enable obliged entities to know their clients and assess and effectively mitigate the risks associated with their customers and transactions. The cornerstone of a trustworthy digital environment The provisions of eIDAS 2.0 for electronic identification and trust services empower users to control their personal data and engage in secure electronic transactions. By aligning with the GDPR and promoting transparency, user control, and data minimisation, eIDAS 2.0 ensures that privacy and data protection standards are still upheld in this new digital landscape. Furthermore, the integration of eIDAS 2.0 with the new AMLR enhances the effectiveness of anti-money laundering measures by providing reliable electronic identification means and facilitating cross-border co-operation, while upgrading and simplifying the customer experience of KYC. As the reliance on secure digital services continues to grow, the robust privacy, data protection, and AML framework established by and around eIDAS 2.0 will be crucial in maintaining user trust and safeguarding personal data in the European Union's digital future.
