AGP Executive Report

Digital Identity: Côte d’Ivoire has launched a feasibility study for a national authentication platform and digital identity wallet, allowing residents to verify credentials online and access public services without repeatedly submitting documents. The plan is to build on existing identity and civil-status systems, with an implementation roadmap due by January 2027. Digital Infrastructure: Vertiv and Cybastion have agreed to explore projects across Côte d’Ivoire and five other African markets, pairing data-centre expertise with government digital programmes as demand grows for AI, cloud and secure infrastructure.

Digital Identity: Côte d’Ivoire has launched a feasibility study for a national authentication platform and digital identity wallet, which could let people verify credentials online and access public services without repeatedly submitting documents. The study will build on existing identity and government systems, with an implementation roadmap due by January 2027. Digital Infrastructure: Vertiv and Cybastion have agreed to explore projects across Côte d’Ivoire and five other African markets, combining data-centre expertise with government digital programmes as demand grows for cloud, AI and secure infrastructure. Regional Mobility: ECOWAS is aiming for mutual acceptance of its biometric identity card at borders by December, linking national ID and border systems to make travel and trade across West Africa smoother.

Digital Identity: Côte d’Ivoire has begun a feasibility study for a national authentication platform and digital ID wallet. Building on existing identity, civil-registration and health systems, the project aims to make it easier to verify credentials and access public services; an implementation roadmap is due by January 2027. Data Infrastructure: Vertiv and Cybastion have agreed to explore digital infrastructure projects in Côte d’Ivoire and five other African markets, combining data-centre expertise with government digitalisation programmes as demand for AI and cloud services grows. Drone Technology: Orange Côte d’Ivoire has certified 42 technicians as remote drone pilots and is expanding drone use for network maintenance.

Mineral Exploration: Awalé Resources reported new gold-copper drilling results at its Odienné project, extending mineralisation beyond the current resource and finding a near-surface interval grading 3.1 grams per tonne gold equivalent over 44 metres. Digital Infrastructure: Vertiv and Cybastion plan to collaborate on data-centre and other digital infrastructure projects in Côte d’Ivoire and five other African markets, as demand grows for cloud and AI services. Drone Technology: Orange Côte d’Ivoire certified 42 technicians as drone pilots, expanding the use of drones for network maintenance. Regional Digital Identity: ECOWAS is targeting mutual acceptance of its biometric identity card at member-state borders by December, to ease travel and trade; Côte d’Ivoire hosted the ministers’ commitment to advance the plan.

Digital Infrastructure Deal: Vertiv and Cybastion signed an MoU to expand digital infrastructure across Northwest Africa, targeting Morocco, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Chad and Gabon, with Vertiv bringing power and cooling expertise to government-led digital transformation. Regional Identity & Borders: ECOWAS is pushing public sensitization for its biometric ID (ENBIC) so member states recognize it at air, land and sea borders by December 2026, with campaigns already running in Ghana and Nigeria. STEM Pipeline Pressure (Ivory Coast): A new report highlights a STEM squeeze in West Africa, with Ivory Coast showing very low uptake in the elite maths-and-physics track and shrinking science streams—raising concerns about future engineering and research capacity. Agroforestry for Cocoa: Barry Callebaut is testing Assisted Natural Regeneration in Ivory Coast to grow cocoa landscapes faster and more resiliently by combining natural regrowth with targeted planting. Data Centers & AI Demand: Stellarix (Axian Group) is expanding its Senegal data center capacity to support cloud and AI services, aiming to strengthen digital sovereignty and resilience across the region.

Digital Infrastructure: Vertiv and Cybastion signed an MoU to accelerate digital transformation across Northwest Africa, targeting markets including Ivory Coast and Morocco, by pairing Vertiv’s power/cooling expertise with Cybastion’s government-led digital programs. Press Freedom: Reporters Without Borders highlights a Mali case where a publisher was jailed over an opinion piece tied to Sahel politics, underscoring growing pressure on media across the region. Energy & Gas Tech: Lloyd’s Register granted Approval in Principle to GasEntec’s new LNG floating storage regasification unit design, with flexible operating modes aimed at boosting capacity and adapting to local rules. Gold & Mining Builds: Toubani Resources says construction is advancing fast on the Kobada Gold Project in Mali, with major procurement underway and first gold targeted for Q3 2027. STEM & Education: A new report warns that fewer students are choosing science in West Africa, with Ivory Coast showing low uptake in the elite maths-and-physics track. Agri-Tech & Climate: Barry Callebaut is testing assisted natural regeneration in Ivory Coast to strengthen cocoa agroforestry and reduce pressure from deforestation. Regional Identity: ECOWAS is rolling out public sensitization for its biometric ID card to support region-wide border acceptance by December 2026.

Digital Infrastructure: Vertiv signed an MoU with Cybastion to accelerate critical digital infrastructure projects across Northwest Africa, including Côte d’Ivoire, with a focus on power, cooling and sovereign digitalisation programmes. SME Connectivity: NativeTalk launched an all-in-one Business App for African SMEs, bringing messaging, hotlines, AI help and full conversation history into a single workspace. Biometric Borders: ECOWAS is rolling out public sensitisation for its biometric ID (ENBIC) to push region-wide border acceptance by December 2026, with campaigns already active in Ghana and Nigeria and Abidjan-linked commitments driving the push. STEM & Schools: A new report highlights a STEM pipeline problem across West Africa, with Côte d’Ivoire’s elite maths-and-physics track at just 0.6% in 2022 and calls for more teachers and labs. Agriculture Research: AfricaRice’s DG visited CIMMYT in Zimbabwe to strengthen crop research partnerships aimed at climate-smart, resilient food systems—relevant for regional rice competitiveness. Cocoa & Climate: Barry Callebaut is testing Assisted Natural Regeneration in Côte d’Ivoire to protect naturally growing trees alongside targeted planting for more resilient cocoa landscapes. Drones for Telecom: Orange Côte d’Ivoire continues expanding drone use for network maintenance and has certified 42 technicians as drone remote pilots. Space Policy: Côte d’Ivoire’s Artemis Accords milestone is noted as the global lunar race raises fresh legal questions about who can claim or use space resources.

Digital Infrastructure Partnerships: Vertiv signed an MoU with U.S. AI firm Cybastion to speed up digital infrastructure projects across Northwest Africa, including Côte d’Ivoire, aiming to bundle power/cooling solutions into broader national digitalisation programmes. Mobile Connectivity Deal: MTN says it has secured key regulatory permissions to acquire IHS, with South Africa’s Competition Commission recommending approval with conditions and Nigeria granting conditional approval, setting up a major tower-infrastructure consolidation. AI for Finance: Binance unveiled “Binance Intelligence,” an AI product stack (Binance AI, Binance AI Pro, Binance Agent OS) meant to help users understand markets and build automated strategies. Space & Policy: Côte d’Ivoire joined the Artemis Accords, while a separate report highlights the unresolved legal question of who can own lunar resources despite the Outer Space Treaty. STEM Pipeline Warning (West Africa): A new report points to a STEM slump, citing Côte d’Ivoire’s low share of students in elite maths-and-physics tracks and similar declines across the region. Drones for Telecom Ops: Orange Côte d’Ivoire certified 42 drone remote pilots and is expanding drone use for network maintenance. Cocoa Climate Tech: Barry Callebaut is testing assisted natural regeneration in Côte d’Ivoire to make cocoa agroforestry more resilient and reduce deforestation pressure. Education & Research Leadership: Ghanaian jurist Dr Sylvia Adusu sworn in at ITLOS as the first African woman on the maritime court, underscoring growing regional representation in global science-and-law arenas.

STEM Pipeline Crisis: Ivory Coast is seeing a sharp drop in science uptake, with only 0.6% of 2022 baccalaureate candidates on the elite maths-and-physics track and overall science interest down since 2015—mirrored across Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Senegal and Niger amid shortages of teachers and labs. Telecom Drones: Orange Côte d’Ivoire certified 42 technicians as drone remote pilots after 1,000 hours of field training, expanding aerial inspections to improve safety and reduce outages. Digital Infrastructure for AI: Stellarix (Axian Group) is expanding its Senegal data center capacity to support cloud computing and AI, aiming to strengthen digital sovereignty across the region. Payments Modernization (BCEAO): BCEAO authorized 175 institutions to offer interoperable instant payments (PI-SPI), with Ivory Coast (38) and Senegal (43) leading—opening the door to fintech and mobile money players. Space for Women: ASPEX 2026 hosted the first all-women SpatiELLES Hackathon, with teams from Tunisia, South Africa and Tanzania taking top prizes. Gold Refining Push: Burkina Faso opened Raffinor-BF, its first gold refinery, targeting higher local control, traceability and value capture—following a wider West African trend.

AI Infrastructure & Sovereignty: Stellarix (Axian Group) is expanding its Senegal data center capacity to support cloud computing and AI, with facilities also planned/operating in Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar and Tanzania. STEM Pipeline Crisis: In Côte d’Ivoire and across West Africa, science enrolment is falling—only 0.6% of baccalaureate candidates in 2022 were on the elite maths-and-physics track, raising alarms about teachers and labs. Cocoa Climate Tech: Barry Callebaut is testing Assisted Natural Regeneration in Côte d’Ivoire, blending natural regrowth with targeted planting to build more resilient cocoa landscapes. Payments Modernization (BCEAO): BCEAO has authorized 175 institutions to open PI-SPI interoperable instant payment services, with Côte d’Ivoire (38) and Senegal (43) among the biggest participants. Drones for Telecom Maintenance: Orange Côte d’Ivoire certified 42 technicians as drone remote pilots after 1,000 hours of field training to improve network inspections and reduce outages. Space & Women in Tech: The African Space Agency and ASCI held the first SpatiELLES all-women hackathon at ASPEX 2026, spotlighting African female space innovators. Mining Production Update: Montage Gold says its Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire achieved first gold pour on budget and ahead of schedule.

STEM & Education: In Abidjan, only 0.6% of baccalaureate candidates in 2022 chose the elite maths-and-physics track, with science interest falling across West Africa—highlighting shortages of teachers and labs. Telecom Drones: Orange Côte d’Ivoire certified 42 technicians as drone remote pilots after 1,000 hours of training, expanding drone-assisted inspections to improve network reliability and safety. Digital Payments: BCEAO published the latest PI-SPI rollout list, authorizing 175 institutions across WAEMU—Orange Money and Wave among the Côte d’Ivoire players. Cocoa & Climate: Barry Callebaut is testing Assisted Natural Regeneration in Ivory Coast, pairing targeted planting with naturally regenerating trees to build more resilient cocoa landscapes. Space for Women: African Space Expo in Abidjan hosted the first all-women SpatiELLES Hackathon, with teams from Tunisia, South Africa and Tanzania taking top spots. AI Infrastructure: Stellarix (Axian Group) is expanding its Senegal data center capacity to support cloud and AI demand, aiming to strengthen digital sovereignty. Mining & Sovereignty: Côte d’Ivoire’s mining sector gets a boost as Montage Gold reports first gold pour at its Koné mine, while Burkina Faso opened its first gold refinery to keep more value at home.

Agroforestry for cocoa in Ivory Coast: Barry Callebaut is testing Assisted Natural Regeneration in Côte d’Ivoire, aiming to pair naturally regenerating trees with targeted planting to build more resilient cocoa landscapes while tackling deforestation pressures. STEM pipeline under strain: A new report highlights falling interest in science across West Africa, with Côte d’Ivoire showing very low shares of students in elite maths-and-physics tracks and warning of shortages in teachers and labs. Drones for telecom maintenance: Orange Côte d’Ivoire certified 42 technicians as drone remote pilots after 1,000 hours of training, expanding drone-assisted inspections to improve safety and reduce outages. Instant payments go wider: BCEAO published the authorized list of 175 institutions for PI-SPI services, including fintech and mobile money players, with Côte d’Ivoire listed among the top participants. Space tech for women: The African Space Agency and ASCI ran the first all-women SpatiELLES Hackathon at ASPEX 2026, spotlighting African female talent in space science solutions. Gold refining push in the region: Burkina Faso opened Raffinor-BF, its first gold refinery, as West Africa moves toward local processing and better traceability. UAE-Africa space cooperation: The UAE Space Agency signed agreements with the African Space Agency and Angola to expand Earth observation, satellite data, and capacity building. Education & inclusion through dance: Burkina Faso’s Vibra-Signe technique helps deaf dancers follow music via floor vibrations and visual cues, gaining attention beyond the country.

STEM Education Crisis: In Ivory Coast, only 0.6% of students in the 2022 baccalaureate elite maths-and-physics track, while broader sciences fell to 38% from 45% in 2015—part of a wider West Africa trend blamed on weak labs, too few teachers, and low investment. Telecom Drones for Network Reliability: Orange Côte d’Ivoire certified 42 technicians as drone remote pilots after 1,000 hours of field training, expanding drone-assisted tower inspections to improve safety and reduce outages. Digital Payments Expansion (BCEAO): BCEAO published the list of 175 authorized institutions to open PI-SPI interoperable instant payments, with Ivory Coast leading the count among member states. Space & Women in Tech: African Space Agency and ASCI launched the first all-women SpatiELLES Hackathon at ASPEX 2026, spotlighting female space-tech innovators. Mining Value-Chain Push: Burkina Faso opened Raffinor-BF, its first gold refinery, aiming to process and certify gold domestically—an approach Ivory Coast is also moving toward. Science Discovery in Taï: Researchers filmed the “lost” Ghana cuckooshrike for the first time in 13 years in Côte d’Ivoire’s Taï National Park.

STEM Pipeline Crisis: A new report highlights a sharp drop in science uptake across West Africa, with Côte d’Ivoire’s elite maths-and-physics track at just 0.6% of baccalaureate candidates in 2022, as students and schools face shortages of teachers and labs. Drones for Telecom Reliability: Orange Côte d’Ivoire is expanding drone-assisted network monitoring and maintenance, certifying 42 technicians as remote pilots after 1,000 hours of training, to improve safety and reduce outages. Digital Payments Expansion (BCEAO): The BCEAO has authorized 175 institutions to offer interoperable instant payments (PI-SPI), with Côte d’Ivoire listed among the active markets via Orange Money, Wave, MTN Money and others. Space Tech for Women: ASPEX 2026 in Abidjan hosted the first all-women SpatiELLES Hackathon, spotlighting African female talent in space science and technology. Gold Value-Chain Push: Burkina Faso opened Raffinor-BF, its first gold refinery, aiming to process and certify gold domestically—mirroring a regional push that includes Côte d’Ivoire’s own refinery plans. Mining Update (Kossou): Kobo Resources reports new drill results at its Kossou gold project in Côte d’Ivoire, extending mineralisation in the Road Cut and Kadie zones.

Telecom & Payments: BCEAO authorized 175 institutions across WAEMU to open PI-SPI interoperable instant payments, with Côte d’Ivoire leading on the list (38 participants), including Orange Money and Wave. Drones for Network Reliability: Orange Côte d’Ivoire certified 42 technicians as drone remote pilots after 1,000 hours of field training, expanding aerial inspections to improve safety and reduce outages. Space & Innovation in Abidjan: ASPEX 2026 in Côte d’Ivoire hosted the first all-women SpatiELLES Hackathon and saw Côte d’Ivoire sign the Artemis Accords, while UAE Space Agency announced new Africa cooperation agreements. Mining & Geoscience: Montage Gold reported its first gold pour at the Koné mine in Côte d’Ivoire ahead of schedule, and Kobo Resources released new Kossou drilling results confirming strong gold continuity. Spectrum Governance: Côte d’Ivoire’s AIGF is set to brief the public on radio frequency management and control, with live sessions aimed at interference-free telecom and broadcast services. Regional Peace: Entente Council and UNOWAS finalized a three-year MoU to strengthen peacebuilding, border resilience, and shared intelligence across West Africa and the Sahel.

Drones for telecom reliability: Orange Côte d’Ivoire certified 42 technicians as drone remote pilots after 1,000 hours of field training, aiming for safer infrastructure inspections and fewer service outages. Drone-assisted network maintenance: The operator is also expanding drone-based tower audits—83 inspections in 2025 across Abengourou, Bouaké, Daloa, San Pedro and Yamoussoukro—using a fleet of 12 drones. Payments infrastructure in West Africa: BCEAO published the Sept. 30 list of 175 authorized institutions to open PI-SPI interoperable instant payments services, with Ivory Coast leading among non-banks via Orange Money, Wave, MTN Money, Moov Money and others. Space & innovation in Abidjan: The UAE Space Agency signed cooperation deals with the African Space Agency during ASPEX 2026, while the first all-women SpatiELLES Hackathon showcased African female talent in space solutions. Spectrum management spotlight: Côte d’Ivoire’s AIGF is set to brief the public on radio frequency control and interference prevention via government livestreams and tribunes in Abidjan. Mining tech update (Côte d’Ivoire): Kobo Resources reported new gold drill results at its Kossou project, extending mineralisation across multiple structures and identifying follow-up targets.