Digital IDs In Africa Fall Short On Promises While Tech Companies Profit

Africa’s push towards digital identity systems—promoted by the World Bank and UN agencies—has largely failed to deliver on its promises of democratization and development.

A year-long investigation by Bloomberg and Lighthouse Reports has found that these systems have disproportionately benefited tech vendors instead of the public.

The Push For Digital IDs

Countries across Africa have implemented biometric data collection to establish national identity registries, aiming to fulfill the UN’s sustainable development goal of providing legal identity for all.

However, in Uganda, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), digital ID programs have led to surveillance, electoral manipulation, and corruption—often excluding the populations they were intended to serve.

Uganda: Surveillance Through Digital IDs

In Uganda, the digital identity system has become a tool for state surveillance, often at the expense of citizens’ privacy and human rights.

As Bloomberg reports, the Ugandan government signed a $126 million deal with Huawei to implement biometric ID systems that now underpin daily activities like banking and voting.

However, these systems have been misused to track political opponents and silence critics.

“There are enormous advantages to having an ID system, including financial inclusion,” leading human rights lawyer Nick Opiyo told Bloomberg.

“The only problem is it’s a perfect system in the hands of an imperfect and brutal regime that applies the system to suppress opponents, target critics, and settle personal scores.”

Mozambique: Electoral Manipulation

Mozambique’s biometric voter registration system promised to improve electoral transparency.

Instead, the investigation concluded that the southern African nation’s ruling party used the tech to manipulate voter registration systems and suppress opposition participation for the last two elections.

In 2022, the government awarded South African biometric technology vendor Laxton a $127 million no-bid contract to supply and operate a new national voter registration system. They also awarded Artes Gráficas, a local firm, a no-bid contract to provide voting materials, including ballots.

However, there have been reports of the new biometric registration system malfunctioning in opposition areas while running smoothly in ruling party strongholds.

As Mozambique’s next presidential election approaches, concerns over the system’s integrity remain.

DRC: A Non-Existent ID System

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, attempts to build a digital ID system have been derailed by corruption scandals.

Contracts with biometrics companies like Semlex and Idemia have failed, leaving the country without a functioning ID system—even for driver’s licenses.

Funds intended for these projects were diverted for unrelated purposes, such as building luxury malls.

Despite a $1.2 billion contract with Idemia, only a few elite citizens have received IDs, while ordinary Congolese struggle to access basic services.

The Need for Accountability

The failures of digital ID systems in Uganda, Mozambique, and Congo highlight the need for transparency and accountability.

While these programs have enriched tech vendors and increased government control, they have done little to improve democracy or expand access to services for marginalized populations.

Without proper oversight, Africa’s digital identity revolution risks becoming another avenue for exploitation and exclusion rather than a tool for empowerment.