Cross-Border Data Flows in Africa: Examining Policy Approaches and Pathways to Regulatory Interoperability

Cross-border data flows are critical to Africa’s digital economy, enabling trade, innovation, and access to continental and global markets. As the drive towards data-driven technologies among businesses and governments grows, the ability to transfer personal data across borders efficiently and securely has become a key policy concern on the continent, a position echoed by the African Union (AU) and its Member States. This Issue Brief provides an overview of the current policy landscape for inter-African cross-border data flows, and proposes possible paths toward regulatory cooperation.