27 February 2026

IBM has introduced IBM Sovereign Core, a groundbreaking software foundation designed to embed digital sovereignty controls directly into the architecture of cloud-native and AI workloads. The launch responds to growing concerns over cross-border data access, operational control, and compliance amid escalating geopolitical tensions and increasingly stringent regulatory environments.

As digital sovereignty extends beyond simple data residency, it now encompasses control over infrastructure, software, identity and access management, encryption keys, auditability, and the jurisdiction where AI models are hosted and inference is conducted. IBM Sovereign Core aims to give enterprises, governments, and service providers sovereignty "as an inherent property of the software," allowing them to operate within their own jurisdictional boundaries without relying on overlays or external controls.

26 February 2026

A new report titled "African Development Dynamics 2025: Infrastructure, Growth and Transformation," published in late November by OECD and the African Union Commission, highlights that Africa must invest $36 billion annually in fiber optic cables by 2040 to drive its productive transformation.

This figure accounts for roughly 23% of Africa’s total annual infrastructure needs, estimated at $155 billion, though it remains lower than investments required for roads ($50 billion) and railways ($38 billion).