EP.02 | Lacina Koné on AI, Connectivity and why Africa must lead itself

In this episode, Lacina Koné, CEO of Smart Africa, joins Akim Benamara, Chief Editor and Founder of TechAfrica News, for a candid conversation exploring bold strategies, mindset shifts, and the collaborative efforts driving Africa’s digital transformation.

Africa’s digital future holds immense promise but faces challenges. Fragmented policies, outdated mindsets, and uneven access threaten to stall progress just as emerging technologies like AI offer unprecedented opportunities. The critical question is no longer if Africa will transform digitally, but how it can harness AI, build a unified digital identity, and leapfrog legacy constraints to secure its place in the global tech landscape. 

About our Guest – Lacina Koné 
Since 2019, Lacina Koné has led Smart Africa’s digital agenda, spearheading initiatives in Digital Identity, ICT startups, Smart Villages, and broadband strategy. Recognized as a top influencer in Africa’s digital transformation, he ranked 12th among the continent’s most impactful digital leaders in 2021 and 3rd in Jeune Afrique’s 2022 technology ranking. With over 25 years in telecommunications and ICT, Koné previously advised Côte d'Ivoire’s Prime Minister and President on digital reforms. He holds degrees in electronic engineering and an MBA and serves on advisory boards including the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development.  

Reclaiming Africa’s Digital Narrative and Vision for Unity 
Koné stresses the importance of Africans controlling their own digital transformation story, partnering with platforms like Tech Africa News to shape an authentic narrative. Smart Africa aims to create a single digital market by uniting governments, private sector, academia, and development partners in a multi-stakeholder platform focused on practical impact. 

"Your story is only better told when it's told by yourself, and this gives us a ground for particularly our partnership with TechAfrica News that we tell our story ourselves and we have the control of the narrative." 
— Lacino Koné, CEO, Smart Africa 

Mindset, Regulation, and AI as Drivers of Inclusive Transformation
Koné identifies mindset change as the biggest hurdle and opportunity, emphasizing that “you are what you decided to be.” Also, AI plays a central role as a catalyst for social inclusion, allowing Africans to interact with services in their own languages and contexts. To harness AI effectively, Koné announced the creation of an Africa AI Council—a collaborative task force under the ICT ministers’ umbrella—to address computing power, data governance, and algorithm development. 

Digital Identity, Private Sector Empowerment, and Connectivity Challenges 
Digital identity is foundational to Africa’s integration and transformation. With over 450 million Africans lacking formal ID, Smart Africa’s Trust Alliance pilots interoperable digital ID systems between countries like Rwanda and Benin to enable seamless cross-border services.  

Looking Ahead: Transform Africa Summit 2025
Scheduled for July 22–24 in Kigali, TAS 2025 will spotlight AI as a key accelerator for digital transformation under the theme “Innovate locally, impact globally.”  

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