Gabon launches first national data center to boost digital sovereignty

In a landmark move for Gabon’s digital ambitions, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema officially inaugurated the nation’s first data center yesterday. Located within the Nkok Special Economic Zone, the facility is operated by ST Digital Data Center Services. The event also featured the signing of a strategic memorandum between the Ministry of Digital Economy, Digitalization, and Innovation and ST Digital, aimed at empowering local startups.

This initiative is designed to strengthen data localization, enhance cybersecurity, and accelerate the country’s digital transformation. Built to international standards with Tier III certification, the data center will expand national storage capacities, support cloud computing, and provide critical services to both public and private sectors. Crucially, it reinforces Gabon’s digital sovereignty by reducing reliance on foreign infrastructure.

Empowering Gabon’s startups with cutting-edge resources

The partnership includes a dedicated support program for young enterprises. Selected startups will gain access to a suite of professional-grade tools, including:

• A dedicated virtual machine
• 120 GB of SSD storage
• 8 GB of RAM
• Four virtual processors
• A public IP address
• A SSL certificate
• Technical support
• Discounted pricing

National data center: a pillar of digital independence

The Ministry will oversee the identification of beneficiaries, promote local data hosting, and launch cybersecurity awareness campaigns. Speaking at the inauguration, Laïka Mba, CEO of ST Digital, emphasized the milestone’s significance: “Having a national data center is more than a technological achievement—it’s an act of sovereignty. It ensures that Gabon’s state secrets, public archives, and citizen data no longer depend on foreign systems.”

ST Digital will manage data security and provide technical guidance, fostering a collaborative ecosystem where homegrown digital solutions can thrive. This public-private partnership is expected to stimulate innovation, create jobs, and attract further investment in Gabon’s tech sector.