Shuaib S. Agaka Urges Regulatory Coordination for Africa’s Digital Economy

What changed

Shuaib S. Agaka argues that Africa’s digital economy is being slowed by borders between regulators, even when businesses operate across them. His prescription is coordination: regulators should clarify where responsibilities overlap, share suitable standards and give digital businesses a clearer route through government.

Why it matters

The problem is not simply the number of regulators. Removing institutions would not automatically make cross-border business easier. The practical test is whether a company can understand which authority does what, meet compatible requirements and avoid being sent in circles.

That makes regulatory coordination part of digital infrastructure. Shared standards could reduce friction where they genuinely fit, while clearer government pathways could make expansion less dependent on navigating overlapping mandates. The details remain open: no specific regulators, countries, standards or adopted reforms are identified, and no measurable economic result is reported.