Africa’s digital policymaking is dominated by a small group; mostly comprising Big Tech corporations and regulatory agencies, leaving most voices unheard. At CcHUB we conducted a study, Descriptive Analysis of Digital Publications on Digital Regulations Across Five Countries: Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Namibia, and Zambia, and found that in Kenya, Big Tech and the government control 92% of policy influence: with Big Tech players alone commanding 57% of all digital regulatory issues mostly through setting content moderation practices, algorithmic patterns and setting revenue benchmarks for digital creators. This leaves citizens and local entrepreneurs with little say. Such an imbalance can make laws out of touch with local needs, limit innovation, and threaten digital rights. This reflection outlines our proposed model for designing and advocating for inclusive policy formulation bodies, and practical guidance for civil society organizations working to democratize digital policymaking in the Global South.

While the African Union Digital Compact (ADC) provides a rights-based continental framework that prioritises participatory decision-making, its principles, besides facing immense constraints such as infrastructural limitations and external dependencies, often fail to translate into national policymaking due to weak coordination and limited multisectoral engagement. The current imbalance is both urgent and consequential. What is missing is a deliberate, structured mechanism that embeds inclusivity and accountability into policy formulation, ensuring Africa’s digital future reflects the aspirations of all its people, not just powerful corporate or state actors.