Publish every government agreement with large technology firms, using one African standard

Why this matters

A September 2026 investigation found at least 12 documented agreements or projects since 2023 between Kenya's government and Meta, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, TikTok and Starlink. Most of the terms are unpublished. The investigation found no evidence that the risks to personal data were assessed. In August 2026, Amazon Web Services signed a memorandum of understanding with Konza Technopolis. Citizens and members of Parliament cannot judge deals they cannot read.

Secrecy also covers enforcement. Nigeria's data protection commission fined Meta $32.8 million in February 2025. A settlement adopted by the Federal High Court in November 2025 set the fine aside, and Meta paid only the commission's legal fees. A standard must therefore cover settlements as well as contracts.

The parts of a continental standard already exist. The AU's Executive Council endorsed a Data Policy Framework in February 2022. In December 2025 the AU Commission began the final review of a Continental Open Data Strategy with member states. Sixteen African countries are active members of the Open Government Partnership (OGP). In it, governments publish plans to be more open. Each of these countries has a ready way to sign up to the standard.

Four levels of action

1. 1

   What Africa asks of the world

   Africa asks Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, TikTok and Starlink to accept that every deal with an African government will be published. Only a few, clearly defined trade secrets would be blacked out. The firms should drop secrecy clauses when deals come up for renewal. The governments of the countries where these firms are based should support this.

   Who

   Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, TikTok and Starlink, and the governments that host them

   When

   The second UN Global Dialogue on governing artificial intelligence (AI), New York, 3 and 4 May 2027

2. 2

   What the African Union does

   The AU Commission adopts a disclosure standard as an annex to the Continental Open Data Strategy. Smart Africa, the alliance of African governments for digital development, supplies a one-page summary form for each agreement. The form covers data, money, duration, how the deal ends, terms for workers, and any settlements.

   Who

   The AU Commission, with Smart Africa

   When

   Draft by March 2027, then to AU decision-making bodies

3. 3

   What regional groups do

   OGP members in each region adopt the standard first, through their national action plans. In West Africa these are Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Benin. Kenya leads in East Africa; South Africa, Zambia and Malawi in southern Africa; and Morocco and Tunisia in the north. Burkina Faso is suspended from the AU but remains an active OGP member, so it can commit this way. Mali and Niger have no route until their suspension ends.

   Who

   OGP contact points in member governments

   When

   Commitments announced by June 2027

4. 4

   Which country goes first, and why

   Kenya goes first. Its Access to Information Act of 2016 already requires public bodies to publish contract details when they sign. Its OGP commitment promises a public website for procurement data by December 2026. Journalists have already mapped the agreements.

   Who

   Kenya's Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, with the Attorney General

   When

   All agreements since 2020 published by early January 2027

Before another country can do this

• A law on access to information that requires public bodies to publish without being asked.
• A data protection authority able to review data terms.
• An Attorney General willing to override confidentiality clauses when agreements are renewed.
• One central list of agreements across all ministries.

What does not carry over from the first country

• Kenya's legal duty to publish contracts when they are signed.
• Investigative reporting that has already listed the agreements.
• Kenyan court rulings that claim the power to hear cases about Meta's outsourced content moderation.

Who else is ready

Has this worked before?

Guinea began publishing its mining contracts in 2011 and wrote publication into its mining code, revised in 2013. It built a public website with the Natural Resource Governance Institute. Investors who pointed to confidentiality clauses were told that the law now required disclosure. The mining minister reported that publication raised investor confidence and helped the government compare later contracts. Source (opens in a new tab)

Natural Resource Governance Institute: how Guinea met the contract transparency challenge

First steps

1. African Unionthe AU Commission's digital directorate and Smart Africa send a draft standard and summary form to member states by March 2027.
2. Regional groupsOGP contact points in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and South Africa add the standard to their next action plans, announced by June 2027.
3. Kenyathe Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, with the Attorney General, publishes all agreements with large technology firms since 2020 by early January 2027.

Who acts, and with what

Who leads

The AU Commission, with Kenya as the first country

Instrument

An AU disclosure standard, adopted in each country by regulation, law or OGP commitment

How progress is checked

Kenya's register online by early January 2027, and three more countries committed by June 2027

Signal to change course

Agreements continue to be signed without being published

What stands in the way

Confidentiality clauses must be challenged at renewal and overridden by law, as Guinea did for mining. Ministries may fear embarrassment over weak terms. Firms may threaten to leave.

Cost and money

Governments pay for legal review and a web page, which has not been costed. No outside money is needed. Guinea built its mining-contract website with technical help from the Natural Resource Governance Institute.

Who else contributes

What each audience can do