African Union Moves Toward Single Digital ID Framework by 2026

Addis Ababa/ Ethiopia.
The African Union Commission (AUC) has announced progress on a continental Digital Identity and Data Governance Framework — a project designed to harmonise national ID systems across member states by 2026.

The initiative, supported by the African Development Bank and Smart Africa Alliance, aims to streamline travel, fintech access, healthcare portability and cross-border trade under the AfCFTA umbrella.

AUC Commissioner for Infrastructure & Energy, Dr Amani Abou-Zeid, said during the Addis stakeholder session:

“Digital identity is the key to inclusion. A secure, interoperable system ensures every African can access services, credit, and opportunity anywhere on the continent.”

Context & Challenges

Over 500 million Africans still lack any form of legal ID.

Fragmented national systems make cross-border verification expensive.

Civil-society groups urge strong data-protection laws and ethical safeguards.

Why it matters:

The AU Digital ID could become the backbone for continental e-governance and trade facilitation.

It supports financial inclusion, mobility and regional integration goals under Vision 2063.

Ensures smoother citizen verification for elections, taxation, and social protection.