In a major step toward African digital sovereignty, ST Digital is set to inaugurate its first data center in Côte d’Ivoire by the last quarter of 2025. Located in the VITIB zone of Grand-Bassam, this Tier III facility is designed to serve as the foundation for a sovereign cloud ecosystem in French-speaking Africa.
The company’s mission centers on reducing the continent’s reliance on foreign digital services by building local infrastructure, employing local talent, and establishing standards adapted to African markets. This Côte d’Ivoire launch follows the company’s data center in Cameroon and precedes upcoming facilities in Gabon, with further expansion planned in Togo, Guinea, and Senegal.
ST Digital founder Anthony Same describes the initiative as a continental turning point, while Steve Tchouaga, Managing Director of the Ivorian subsidiary, emphasizes that the goal is not merely to import technology but to create infrastructure tailored to the region’s realities. The interconnected network of centers will be equipped to meet growing needs in cloud computing, AI, and cybersecurity.
This effort addresses the World Bank’s 2023 finding that Africa holds just 1% of global data center capacity, far behind North America’s 53%. By developing a connected network of sovereign data hubs, ST Digital aims to strengthen Africa’s digital independence and capacity for innovation.
