By Mathias Henry

China's military conducted a live-fire exercise in the Taiwan Strait to simulate strikes on key ports and energy facilities, it said on Wednesday.

The exercise, codenamed "Strait Thunder", is an escalation of military drills China held on Tuesday around Taiwan, the democratic island Beijing claims as its territory.

Taiwan's presidential office said on Tuesday that it "strongly condemns" the "military provocations", which have become increasingly routine amid souring cross-strait ties.

The drills come as China sharpened its rhetoric against Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, labelling him a "parasite" and "separatist". Lai had earlier this month referred to China as a "foreign hostile force".

The drills were meant to be a "serious warning and powerful containment of 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces", said a statement from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA).

It also released a series of cartoons depicting Lai as a "parasite" that was "poisoning Taiwan island" and - along with an image of Lai being grilled over a fire - "courting ultimate destruction".

Another video by the PLA, titled "Subdue demons and vanquish evils", likened the military's capabilities to the magical powers of the Monkey King, a mythical Chinese character.

In recent days, the Chinese Communist Party newspaper People's Daily published a series of op-eds denouncing Lai as a "troublemaker" and "warmonger".

"Facts have fully proven that Lai Ching-te is a vicious war maker," read one of the articles published on Wednesday. "Subdue demons and vanquish evils, use force to stop war."

While the trigger for this week's drills were not spelled out, Chinese authorities and state media have referenced a slew of policies announced by Lai last month to counter influence and infiltration operations by Beijing - where Lai used the "foreign hostile force" term.

However, the timing of the exercises, coming weeks after Lai's announcement, suggests that Chinese authorities wanted to wait for the conclusion of meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and international business leaders, along with the annual Boao business summit that wrapped up on 28 March.

They also come with the world's attention turned elsewhere, as global markets brace for the Trump administration's latest round of tariffs.

In response to China's latest military drills, the White House said on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump was "emphasising the importance of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait". On Wednesday, the US State Department reaffirmed its "enduring commitment" to Taiwan.

During his recent visit to Asia, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth also repeatedly criticised China's aggression in the region and pledged to provide "robust, ready and credible deterrence", including in the Taiwan Strait.

However, the PLA seems to be moving towards a situation where such exercises around Taiwan occur regularly rather than in response to any specific perceived provocation.

Some experts see the drills as a dress rehearsal for a possible real blockade in an attempt to overthrow the government in Taipei in the future.

In the words of the Chinese military this week, they serve as a practice run "close in on Taiwan from all directions".

In addition, analysts believe that Beijing has been increasing the frequency and size of its military exercises as a way of trying to increase pressure on Taiwan's population to eventually accept an annexation by China as inevitable.

This is despite the fact that opinion polls have routinely shown that the vast majority of Taiwanese people firmly oppose a takeover of their democratically governed island group by China's Communist Party.

Taiwanese officials have warned that China may stage more military drills later this year, on dates like the anniversary of Lai taking office or Taiwan's National Day in October.

However, in Taiwan, movements by the PLA can also provide an opportunity.

Each time China conducts such war games, Taiwan's military chiefs have said that they can study the manoeuvres in order to better prepare their own forces for any real attack.

By Hannah Pantos

North Africa is undergoing a digital revolution, with technology emerging as a powerful catalyst for addressing socio-economic challenges.

From fintech solutions that enhance financial inclusion, to Artificial Intelligence revolutionizing healthcare, the region is leveraging innovation to bridge development gaps and accelerate attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Although challenges such as limited digital infrastructure, fragmented policies, and unequal access to technology continue to pose a challenge, the region’s youth are championing initiatives that foster economic growth and promote social equity and resilience.

These youth-led initiatives have made North Africa a vibrant hub for digital innovation, with emerging technologies making strides in addressing long-standing development challenges.

The interplay between innovation, entrepreneurship, and youth dynamism is evident across sectors, signaling the region’s readiness for a digital revolution.

Some of the trends innovative reshaping the region include:

Artificial Intelligence in Public Services

AI adoption is steadily gaining momentum in North Africa, particularly in healthcare and agriculture. For example, Morocco has introduced AI-powered tools for agricultural monitoring to optimise resource use and predict crop yields with greater accuracy.

Similarly, Tunisia is exploring AI in urban planning, using data-driven models to improve traffic management and enhance public transport systems.

Education Technology

EdTech platforms are revolutionising education by making learning accessible to marginalised communities. Platforms like Algeria’s EDUS and Morocco’s SmartSchool have tailored content to meet the linguistic and cultural needs of diverse populations. These initiatives also play a critical role in equipping the youth with skills for a digital economy.

Youth-led startups

Youth entrepreneurs are leading the charge in driving the digital innovation wave. Programmes like Flat6Labs in Tunisia and Egypt’s RiseUp Summit are incubating young entrepreneurs, offering mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities. These hubs have nurtured numerous start-ups, including Instadeep, a Tunisian AI company that has gained global recognition for its machine-learning solutions.

Women in Technology

Efforts to empower women in technology are gaining traction, though challenges remain. Initiatives like SheTech Tunisia and Egypt’s TechWomen Network are equipping women with the skills needed to lead in the tech industry. By offering mentorship, training, and networking, these initiatives are empowering a new generation of female tech leaders who are actively shaping the region’s digital landscape, and helping close the gender gap in technology

Green technology

Digital tools are advancing green transitions. Solar-powered IoT devices, smart water management systems, and renewable energy platforms are being deployed in North Africa to combat climate challenges. For instance, Egypt’s investment in solar farms, coupled with digital energy management systems, highlight the role of technology in advancing green transitions.

Overall, digital innovation has become critical in addressing the region’s pressing challenges and advancing SDGs. In the region, where youth unemployment exceeds 25% and the impacts of climate change are intensifying, technology can offer scalable and inclusive solutions.

“Digital platforms can connect rural artisans to global markets. IoT technologies can optimise water and energy use in agriculture, a sector that employs about 30-40% of the workforce in some areas. Additionally, digital tools like blockchain can enhance supply chain transparency, while AI-driven data analytics can enable better decision-making for climate resilience,” said Majdouline Khaled, the CEO and co-founder of AGARUW - a fashion-tech startup in Tunisia that develops and creates eco-friendly, adaptive, and online customized products.

She added: “At AGARUW, we use digital innovation to redefine sustainable practices. Our carbon footprint tracking system not only measures environmental impact but also educates businesses and artisans on how to reduce their emissions.”

“In a region where 60% of the population is under 30 years old, leveraging on digital solutions is not just an opportunity, it's a necessity for shaping a more sustainable future,” she said.

Challenges

While digital innovation across North Africa is driving progress, it also highlights systemic challenges spanning from infrastructure gaps, policy fragmentation, to exclusion and socio-economic disparities.

The region boasts examples of impactful youth-led initiatives and technology-driven solutions, yet these remain unevenly distributed across socio-economic, gender, and geographic lines.

The digital divide remains stark, with only 56% of the region’s population having access to the internet, compared to a global average of 66%, according to an ITU report (2022). Rural areas are disproportionately affected, with connectivity rates often falling below 20%.

On gender gap, women in rural North Africa are 40% less likely than men to own a smartphone, limiting their access to digital opportunities, according to the GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2023.

As the region continues its digital transformation, addressing these disparities is crucial to ensuring that innovation benefits all members of society, and not leave anyone behind.

“As an entrepreneur in North African, I recognise the interconnectedness of challenges and opportunities across the region. A growing population of educated youth is eager to engage in entrepreneurial activities. However, there are still some disparities in access to technology and resources across countries,” saidAbdelfattah Ben Ammar, the co-founder and managing director of DZ Hadina Tech - an Algerian start-up.

North Africa's digital economy suffers from inconsistent regulatory frameworks that limit cross-border collaboration and stifle innovation. For instance, the region ranks low on the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index, with countries like Algeria and Libya lagging in data protection legislation. This discourages foreign direct investment and inhibits the scalability of start-ups.

Limited infrastructure not only hampers education and healthcare access but also excludes rural entrepreneurs from participating in the digital economy, according to the World Bank’s “Digital Economy for Africa (DE4A)” initiative, which also advocates for targeted investments in rural broadband to bridge these gaps and unlock the continent's potential.

A mismatch between education systems and market needs has left many young people unprepared for the demands of the digital economy. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023,North Africa continues to experience significant gender gaps in STEM fields, with women representing less than 15% of STEM graduates in some countries.

On funding, the region attracted less than 5% of Africa’s total tech funding in 2023, with most investments concentrated in Egypt. Entrepreneurs in smaller markets like Libya and Mauritania report significant difficulty in accessing seed funding. This lack of resources limits the ability of startups to scale and compete regionally or globally.

Data privacy concerns and cultural resistance to technology adoption remain significant challenges. In rural areas, there is often a lack of trust in digital tools, compounded by low digital literacy rates.

Solutions

For North Africa to fully harness the potential of digital innovation, the region needs to deal with the systemic barriers through collaborative efforts from governments, private sector players, and civil society.

To address these challenges, the African Union Digital Transformation Strategy (2020-2030) provides a comprehensive roadmap for regional regulatory harmonisation.

By aligning policies and fostering collaboration, this framework holds the potential to create a more integrated and dynamic digital ecosystem across North Africa.

The Summit of the Future provides a critical platform for stakeholders to commit to a Regional Digital Pact that prioritises harmonised digital policies to enable cross-border collaboration and innovation; investment in in foundational infrastructure to close the digital divide; and targeted programs that empower youth and marginalized groups to drive change.

By championing the Regional Digital Pact, North Africa can position itself as a leader in leveraging technology for sustainable development, fostering resilience, equity, and innovation.