Page 56 - SAMENA Trends - August-September 2025

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Tunisia Unveils 138 Projects to Drive Government Digital Transformation

The Tunisian government has announced a
bold plan to implement 138 projects aimed
at accelerating the digital modernization
of public administration during 2025–
2026. The initiatives, presented at a
recent ministerial council, focus on four
priority areas: administrative services,
digital economy, cybersecurity, and
infrastructure development. A total of 99
projects will modernize administrative
services, enabling remote service delivery,
improving interconnections across
agencies, and strengthening information
systems. The digital economy will
see 18 initiatives promoting artificial
intelligence, e-commerce, digital training,
and entrepreneurship. Twelve projects are
dedicated to cybersecurity and digital trust,
while nine target improved communications
infrastructure and expanded network investors, and businesses, alongside a new details regarding costs, timelines, and
coverage. Key measures include the rollout open data policy to enhance transparency technology partners remain forthcoming.
of a national and sectoral dashboard and foster innovation. Prime Minister Looking ahead, the government has
for monitoring progress, mandatory Sara Zaafarani Zenzari emphasized that pledged to develop a unified national
mechanisms for inter-administrative digital transformation is “essential and vision for digital transformation covering
data exchange, and the development necessary” rather than optional, aiming to the period 2026–2030. Tunisia’s strategy
of electronic payments and financial attract investment, simplify administrative underscores its intent to not only digitize
inclusion platforms. The government also procedures, promote business growth, and government functions but also build trust,
intends to create a unified national portal align Tunisia with international digital trends. improve efficiency, and stimulate economic
that consolidates services for citizens, While these plans are highly ambitious, development through digital tools.

Afghan Government Starts Shutting Down Fixed Internet Access

The latest government attack on internet quoted an official statement saying: "The Organization has condemned the ban as
connectivity – and one of the most order from the Taliban leader is irreversible disrupting millions of citizens' access to
drastic so far – comes from Afghanistan, and will be enforced nationwide." The ban, free information and essential services
where ruling group the Taliban imposed which is said to be in order to "prevent but also posing a grave threat to freedom
an internet ban on the northern Balkh immorality", is the first since the Taliban of expression and the work of the media.
province, where a Wi-Fi shutdown was seized power in August 2021. It affects However, as the Sky News service points
confirmed. The Taliban has said that the not only consumers and their homes but out, businesses will also suffer as a lot
fiber optic internet ban will eventually be government offices, the private sector, and of business is done on the internet. Fixed
nationwide. Indeed, there have already public institutions, all of which will be left internet also offers a source of education
been reports of severe disruption in other without Wi-Fi internet. Indeed, Reuters says for girls, which may no longer be available.
parts of the country. According to Reuters, most Afghan provinces have had fiber optic This seems to be a radical policy reversal
internet access was reportedly cut off in services until now. Mobile internet remains given comments apparently made last year
the provinces of Baghlan, Badakhshan functional, however, though it is described by a spokesman for the Communications
and Takhar in the northeast, Kunduz in the as being slow and expensive. Officials Ministry. He said that Afghanistan had
north and Nangarhar in the east. So far say alternatives are being found for a fiber optic network of more than 1,800
local media reports suggest that as many necessities, though what these necessities kilometers and that approval had been
as ten provinces have been affected. Local may be and how they will be addressed is given for an additional 488 kilometers.
news outlet Afghanistan International has not clear. The Afghanistan Media Support

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