Countries

Digital Snapshot – Key Policies and Laws

Tunisia combines ambitious state digital modernisation with a contested online-speech enforcement environment. A defining reference point is Decree-Law 54 on ICT-related offences, which rights groups and media reporting say has been used in cases involving journalists, lawyers, activists and political figures, raising concerns about chilling effects on public debate.

Governing Tunisia’s cyberspace

Decree-Law 54: Adopted on 13 September 2022, Decree-Law 54 was introduced as a tool to combat offences linked to information and communication systems and to organize the handling of electronic evidence. In practice, it has become one of Tunisia’s most debated digital-governance instruments because it has been applied not only to fraud or hacking cases, but also to online expression, including allegations of ‘false news,’ defamation, or harm to public order. Reported cases have involved journalists, activists, lawyers, opposition figures, and ordinary users, with outcomes ranging from investigations and pre-trial detention to convictions and prison sentences. Supporters say the decree fills gaps in cybercrime enforcement and offers tools to respond to disinformation and online harms; critics argue that broad or ambiguous wording, combined with how the law is enforced, can chill legitimate speech and weaken trust in the digital public sphere.

On the delivery side, Tunisia’s government has framed digital transformation through a multi-year agenda, including the National Digital Strategy 2021–2025, and it scores in the UN’s 2024 E-Government Development Index (EGDI) with a value of 0.6935, ranking 87/193, reflecting relatively strong telecom infrastructure and online services compared with many peers.

A major ‘digital state’ building block is the rollout of e-Houwiya (MobileID), a mobile digital identity that enables secure access to government portals and electronic authentication or signature functions. In parallel, Tunisia has pushed interoperability via the national UXP data-exchange platform, presented as a secure mechanism to connect registries and enable cross-agency digitalisation.

In cybersecurity governance, Tunisia has published a National Cybersecurity Strategy 2020–2025 and adopted a legal framework that empowers national coordination through the National Cybersecurity Agency (ANCS). These moves signal a shift toward more formalised national oversight of cyber risk across public systems and, in some cases, wider sectors.

For cloud and emerging tech, Tunisia has made ‘Cloud-First’ an explicit public-sector direction through Circular No. 16, which calls for generalising cloud adoption for hosting software, platforms and digital infrastructure, putting procurement, security controls, and data governance choices at the centre of implementation.

Tunisia is also upgrading its connectivity foundations: the Ministry issued a formal 5G licensing call in 2024 as part of a national high-speed coverage strategy, and international capacity expanded with the Medusa submarine cable landing in Bizerte, which industry sources described as Medusa’s first landing in Africa. Meanwhile, the country’s ‘rules of the digital economy’ still rest on older but operative pillars, notably the 2004 personal data protection law and the 2000 e-transactions/e-commerce law.

Related news on dig.watch

• Tunisia becomes the 70th party to Convention on Cybercrime – Budapest Convention
• Tunisia to enhance digital infrastructure with 5G rollout

Tunisia’s permanent mission to the UN:

Tunisia’s Permanent Mission in Geneva represents the country at the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG) and across many Geneva-based international bodies, including workstreams on human rights, humanitarian affairs, health, trade and technical standards. The Mission coordinates Tunisia’s participation in sessions and negotiations, delivers statements, and engages in diplomatic exchanges with other missions and international organisations. UN Geneva’s ‘Blue Book’ listing provides the Mission’s official contact details, including its Geneva email and address.

Official UNOG website: https://www.ungeneva.org/en/blue-book/missions/member-states/tunisia

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Digital snapshot – key policies and laws

In the UN E-Government Survey 2024, Belarus is ranked in the high e-government development group, reflecting steady investment in public-sector digitalisation. Its framework rests on long-standing rules on information, informatisation and information protection, electronic documents and digital signatures, and newer institutional measures for digital development.

Sovereignty by software

Belarus’s State Programme “Digital Belarus” 2026–2030 moves digital policy beyond service modernisation and into the logic of national sovereignty. Approved by the Council of Ministers on 30 December 2025, it aims to build a domestic ecosystem of digital solutions for citizens, businesses and the state, supported by modern data-management infrastructure. The programme brings together three connected tracks, Data Economy, Digital State and Digital Sovereignty, and allocates around BYN 1.08 billion for 21 measures. Its ambition is practical as much as political: better public services, stronger data systems, more domestic software and less dependence on foreign digital platforms.

Cybersecurity is treated as a matter of national security and infrastructure protection. Decree No. 40 ‘On Cybersecurity’ created the basis for a national cybersecurity system, while the 2019 Information Security Concept links digital security with sovereignty, social stability and protection from information threats. Belarus also has a dedicated personal data protection law and a National Personal Data Protection Center, giving the country a formal privacy framework. Yet these safeguards operate in a wider environment where online speech, media access and digital rights remain tightly restricted.

The country has no submarine cables because it is landlocked, but it sits on terrestrial fibre routes between Russia and Europe and has invested in national traffic exchange, data-centre and cloud infrastructure. The state-linked beCloud platform and the Republican Data Processing Center provide domestic cloud services for public bodies and businesses, while external internet capacity has continued to grow. Belarus’s 5G rollout through Decree No. 139 of 2025, implemented to deploy the IMT-2020/5G under a single infrastructure operator, incorporating the existing LTE/4G network.

Belarus’s digital economy combines a long-standing IT-sector base with increasingly regulated online markets. The High-Tech Park regime remains central to software, fintech and digital-economy policy, including earlier blockchain and token-related activity. E-commerce is expanding quickly: officials said online stores had almost tripled over five years and that online sales reached nearly 12% of retail turnover in 2024, prompting work on a new online-trade bill.

AI and emerging technologies are moving up the policy agenda, although Belarus does not yet have a fully adopted standalone AI law. Officials have said the country plans to begin drafting AI legislation, while standardisation work is already underway. Robotics has become a concrete industrial priority through Decree No. 198 “On Stimulating Robotisation”, which supports a target of at least 100 robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers by 2030.

Related news on dig.watch

• Belarus expands crypto role in financial system with new asset recognition
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• Belarus eyes crypto mining to use surplus energy

Belarus’ Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva:

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Belarus to the UN Office and other international organisations in Geneva represents Belarus in Geneva-based multilateral diplomacy. The mission is based in Pregny-Chambésy, Geneva, and serves as Belarus’s channel for engagement with the UN system and other international organisations headquartered in Geneva.

Official UNOG website: https://www.ungeneva.org/en/blue-book/missions/member-states/belarus

EMBASSY AND PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UN – GENEVA

Twitter/X profile: https://x.com/BelarusUNOG

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Here you can explore the country’s main digital strategies, laws, and regulations by simply asking the chatbot, which is designed to help you quickly find relevant documents and understand the country’s digital policy landscape.

Main digital policies and regulations in the country:

• National Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Belarus until 2040

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Digital snapshot – key policies and laws

Comoros’ digital governance is built around the Stratégie Comores Numériques 2028, implemented by ANADEN, which frames digital technology as a lever for economic development, public-service modernisation and sector reform. The strategy sits alongside the broader Plan Comores Émergent 2030, while the AfDB-backed PADEC digitalisation project adds financing for digital public services, innovation, inclusion and digital-economy infrastructure.

The .km home base

Comoros’ digital-sovereignty agenda gained a practical anchor with the Data Center of the Public Administration, inaugurated on 19 May 2025 and co-managed by ANADEN and Comores Câbles. For a small island state, this is more than a technical facility: it is a way to host public platforms, secure administrative data, and reduce dependence on external infrastructure. The centre has been described as a Tier 3 facility designed to host state and private-sector digital platforms, while Comores Câbles presents it as a secure space for storage, hosting, backup and business services. Its role already extends to internet governance: the transfer of the national .km domain’s technical management to ANADEN was made possible by the data centre’s capacity to host critical services.

Connectivity is the most visible part of Comoros’ digital transition. The country is linked to regional and global fibre systems, including EASSy, FLY-LION3 and 2Africa, with Moroni emerging as a multi-cable landing point for the archipelago. In 2025, the regulator ANRTIC authorised 5G frequencies for Yas Comores and Comores Telecom, indicating that mobile broadband is moving ahead faster than fixed access. The gap remains substantial: fixed broadband subscriptions stood at only 3,299 in 2023, making affordability and last-mile coverage central issues in digital inclusion.

The legal trust layer is present but uneven. Comoros has a personal data protection law that provides the basis for regulating personal data processing, but public information on an operational supervisory authority remains limited. Cybersecurity is anchored in Law No. 21-012/AU on cybersecurity and the fight against cybercrime, complemented by a National Cybersecurity Portal for awareness, alerts and citizen communication.

Comoros’ digital economy is still emerging, with no clearly verified standalone e-commerce law publicly available. Its foundations are instead being built through telecom liberalisation, business procedure digitisation, privacy and cybercrime rules, and payment system reform. The Central Bank’s work on new payment instruments and the national Komor Switch is especially important, because online trade, mobile services and digital public payments depend on interoperable, trusted transaction rails.

Comoros has no confirmed standalone AI strategy, AI law, cloud-first policy or IoT roadmap, but AI entered the national debate through the first AI forum in 2026, which focused on inclusion, skills, infrastructure and regulation. Cloud readiness is developing through local hosting capacity, submarine cables, 5G, digital payments and PADEC.

Related news on dig.watch

• Tanzania and Comoros collaborate on ICT development

Comoros’ Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva:

The Permanent Mission of the Union of the Comoros to the UN Office and other international organisations in Geneva represents the Comoros in Geneva-based multilateral diplomacy. Based at Avenue de France 23 in Geneva, it serves as the Comoros’ diplomatic channel to the institutions and negotiations that shape much of the international policy agenda.

Official UNOG website: https://www.ungeneva.org/en/blue-book/missions/member-states/comoros

EMBASSY AND PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UN – GENEVA

Consult Comoros’ digital strategies and regulations

Here you can explore the country’s main digital strategies, laws, and regulations by simply asking the chatbot, which is designed to help you quickly find relevant documents and understand the country’s digital policy landscape.

Main digital policies and regulations in the country:

• Stratégie Comores Numériques 2028
• Plan Comores Émergent 2030

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Colombia has rapidly upgraded its digital infrastructure and now ranks among the best in Latin America. It sits fourth-largest in data center development in the region, accounting for around 17 % of all projects, with global operators like Equinix, ODATA, and Ascenty investing heavily in Bogotá . The digital infrastructure boom is supported by Colombia’s strong renewable power portfolio, which ranks second in the Americas on the WEF’s Energy Transition Index, bolstering reliability for cloud and AI workloads . This convergence of power, stability, and digital capacity has elevated Colombia as a preferred tech hub.

On connectivity, Colombia is served by eight undersea cables—including AMX‑1, SAm‑1, CFX‑1, and PCCS, with additional routes like MANTA and Firmina adding capacity and resilience. It ranks second in Latin America for deployment of submarine systems, reinforcing its position as a core node in regional internet infrastructure . By 2023, 63 % of Colombians were regular internet users (up from 38 % in 2014), making it a leading driver of digital adoption in the region .

Despite gaps in rural coverage and digital skills (ranking 94th out of 141 in WEF’s Digital Skills Index), Colombia shines in digital innovation and infrastructure leadership. It hosts 12.8 % of Latin America’s digital firms, trailing only Brazil and Mexico, and places fourth among upper-middle-income economies in the Global Innovation Index. In summary, Colombia excels in data center capacity, renewable-powered digital infrastructure, connectivity, and regional tech presence—strengths that position it among the digital leaders globally within its band.

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Chad’s digital landscape is in an early stage of development, with internet governance shaped largely by state oversight and limited institutional frameworks. The country does not have a comprehensive national digital policy, though elements of digital regulation exist in telecommunications and media laws. Internet access remains low, hindered by infrastructure gaps, high costs, and limited rural connectivity, with governance structures focused primarily on controlling content and maintaining cybersecurity in line with public order concerns. The absence of independent regulatory bodies or multistakeholder forums restricts broader participation in internet policy discussions.

Digital strategies in Chad are fragmented, with no overarching plan comparable to comprehensive ICT or digital transformation strategies seen in other African nations. Initiatives tend to emerge through sector-specific programs or donor-supported projects, aiming to improve telecommunications infrastructure, expand mobile coverage, and enhance public administration through e-government pilots. However, implementation is constrained by financial limitations, low digital literacy, and a lack of sustained institutional coordination. E-commerce and AI adoption are still minimal, with activity limited to small-scale initiatives by private entrepreneurs and NGOs, rather than large-scale national programs.

Cybersecurity and data protection frameworks are underdeveloped. Chad lacks dedicated cybersecurity and data protection legislation, relying instead on general criminal law provisions and sectoral regulations to address cybercrime and privacy concerns.

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Belize has developed a structured framework for digital governance through recent legislation and strategic plans. The Digital Government Act of 2022 established the E-Governance and Digitalisation Department to modernise public services, while the National Digital Agenda 2022–2025 outlines priorities such as improving infrastructure, fostering digital inclusion, and strengthening trust in online services. Supporting laws, including the Data Protection Act (2021) and Cybercrime Act (2020), provide legal safeguards for privacy and cybersecurity, while the Electronic Transactions Act enables e-commerce and digital signatures. These measures form the foundation for a more connected and secure digital ecosystem.

Connectivity has improved through investment in submarine and terrestrial fibre infrastructure. Belize participates in the ARCOS-1 regional submarine cable system and developed the SEUL cable to strengthen mainland–island connections, providing broadband capacity of up to 32 Tbps to Ambergris Caye. These initiatives place Belize among the better-connected states in the Caribbean, particularly for its size. Mobile penetration is high at over 90%, and social media usage exceeds two-thirds of the population, although overall internet penetration remains below 50%, highlighting a persistent urban-rural divide.

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Bhutan combines relatively high connectivity for a small, mountainous LDC with a nearly nationwide fibre backbone and strong mobile coverage. There were approximately 795,000 mobile connections (≈approximately 100% penetration) and 470,000 social media users (≈approximately 59% of the population), indicating a high level of digital adoption. The National Broadband Master Plan and related infrastructure expansion underpin e-government and broadband services across districts and communities.

On the governance side, Bhutan has implemented one of the world’s first nationwide self-sovereign digital ID systems through the National Digital Identity (NDI) Act of 2023, giving citizens cryptographically verifiable credentials and control over their data. The act sits on a rapidly maturing data-governance foundation aimed at integrating secure digital interactions across services and sectors.

Bhutan is also positioning itself in green computing and digital finance. It is using hydropower for ‘green’ cryptocurrency mining, aiming to support sustainable digital asset creation. The central bank is exploring a digital ngultrum CBDC pilot, as part of broader digital-economy strategies under the 13th Five-Year Plan, and national tech planning includes advanced AI and digital finance elements.

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Sudan’s digital governance is led by the Telecommunications and Post Regulatory Authority (TPRA), but the conflict has significantly impacted day-to-day connectivity and access to platforms. A nationwide internet cut in February 2024 was widely attributed to armed actors’ control over major ISP facilities in Khartoum. In 2025, TPRA also announced a nationwide restriction on WhatsApp voice/video calls on national-security grounds, underscoring the securitised approach to some online services.

In terms of infrastructure, Sudan’s main comparative advantage in the region is its Red Sea gateway at Port Sudan, which serves as a key anchor for international connectivity through submarine cable landings. Port Sudan is a landing point for EASSy (a major East Africa system) and is linked to the FALCON/FLAG system; early reporting described Port Sudan as East Africa’s first landing station for FALCON. During the war, the humanitarian Emergency Telecommunications Cluster activated a dedicated 1Gbps undersea fibre connection in Port Sudan (21 August 2024) to improve reliable connectivity for operations.

On digital indicators where Sudan has stood out, multiple reports based on Cable.co.uk’s Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing 2021 placed Sudan among the world’s cheapest markets for mobile data (5th globally; cheapest in Africa at about US$0.27/GB on average), a notable affordability outlier on the continent (note: this is a 2021 datapoint, not a current ranking). Sudan also has core internet infrastructure, such as the Sudan Internet Exchange Point (SIXP) (listed as established in 2011) and a national incident-response capability via Sudan CERT (established 2010), even though comprehensive, standalone data protection law coverage is generally described as absent.

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Botswana stands out in Africa for high internet use and wide mobile coverage. ITU/World Bank data show 81% of Batswana online in 2023, placing the country among the continent’s leaders and well above the Sub-Saharan average of ~37% that year; household internet access reached 68.9% in 2024. Mobile connectivity is deep: Botswana counted mobile connections at ~166% of the population in early 2025, and independent trackers report ~99% 4G population coverage.

Despite being landlocked, Botswana has built diverse international routes. The state wholesale carrier BoFiNet is a consortium member of both WACS and EASSy submarine cables and has also secured capacity on Equiano, reached over terrestrial fibre via Namibia and South Africa; a national IXP (BINX) helps localise traffic. On the access side, Botswana was early to 5G (Mascom pilot in Feb 2022; Orange launched commercially in Nov 2022, ~30% population at launch), and LEO satellite service (Starlink) became operational in Aug 2024, broadening rural options.

The governance layer is comparatively mature for the region. The .bw domain is managed by the national regulator BOCRA; a national CSIRT (Botswana-CSIRT/BwCIRT) is established and accredited; and a modern Data Protection Act, 2024, entered into force on 14 January 2025, creating an independent Information and Data Protection Commission and strengthening compliance duties for public and private sectors. These institutions underpin a digital environment with relatively high adoption, multiple international paths, and clearer trust safeguards than many regional peers.

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