Ivory Coast Targets First State-Owned Data Centre In 2027

Côte d’Ivoire is targeting the launch of its first state-owned data centre in 2027, a move that would strengthen the country’s control over public-sector digital infrastructure.

State-backed data centres are becoming more important as African governments digitise services and handle larger volumes of citizen, administrative and economic data. For AI readiness, that infrastructure layer matters because public-sector AI depends on secure storage, governance and access to reliable datasets.

The planned facility also reflects the growing importance of digital sovereignty. Governments increasingly want sensitive national data to be hosted under clear domestic oversight, especially as cloud adoption, cybersecurity risk and AI-enabled analytics become more central to public administration.

For Côte d’Ivoire, a state-owned data centre could support e-government services, public records, national platforms and future analytics programmes. It could also reduce dependence on fragmented hosting arrangements if it is paired with strong standards for security, uptime and interoperability.

But ownership alone will not determine success. The facility will need sustained investment in power reliability, cooling, cybersecurity, procurement discipline and technical talent. Data centres are long-term infrastructure assets, and their value depends on how well they are integrated into broader digital-government strategy.

The AI angle is indirect but significant. Countries that want to use AI in government need more than models: they need trusted data systems, secure infrastructure and institutional capacity to manage them.

If completed in 2027, the project could become a foundation for Côte d’Ivoire’s next phase of digital public infrastructure.

Source: [Data Center Dynamics](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/ivory-coast-targets-launch-of-first-state-owned-data-center-in-2027/).