Gabon launches first national data center to boost digital sovereignty
The President of Gabon, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, officially inaugurated yesterday the country’s first data center in the Nkok Special Economic Zone. Developed by ST Digital Data Center Services, this cutting-edge facility marks a major milestone in Gabon’s digital transformation journey.
The event also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Digital Economy, Digitalization and Innovation and ST Digital. The agreement aims to empower local startups by providing them with high-performance digital infrastructure. This initiative aligns with the government’s broader strategy to enhance data sovereignty, cybersecurity and cloud computing capabilities across the nation.
Designed to meet international Tier III certification standards, the data center offers robust data storage solutions, secure cloud services and support for both public and private sectors. By reducing reliance on foreign infrastructure, Gabon is taking a decisive step toward securing its digital future.
Under the new partnership, selected startups will gain access to premium resources, including dedicated virtual machines, 120GB SSD storage, 8GB RAM, four virtual processors, a public IP address, SSL certificates, technical support and preferential pricing. The Ministry will oversee the selection process, promote local hosting solutions and conduct cybersecurity awareness campaigns to ensure safe digital practices.
Laïka Mba, CEO of ST Digital, emphasized the project’s significance, stating, ‘Having a national data center is more than a technological achievement—it’s an act of sovereignty.’ She added, ‘This ensures that the nation’s sensitive data, public services and citizens’ information are no longer dependent on foreign systems.’
The collaboration between the public and private sectors is expected to accelerate the development of homegrown digital solutions, fostering innovation, job creation and economic growth within Gabon.
