Digital Diplomacy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review

Digital diplomacy is becoming the dominant form globally. Africa, being part of the era of globalization, needs to embrace new technologies. However, African digital diplomacy faces various challenges like inadequate infrastructure, lack of expertise in new technologies, restrictive regulations, anonymity concerns, and more. Consequently, with the increasing use of digital tools, Africa is encountering a rise in cybersecurity risks such as hacking, online scams, and misinformation campaigns. Insufficient cybersecurity measures and limited capabilities to tackle these issues expose African nations to cyber threats. While the objectives of the research paper are to explore the opportunities digital diplomacy presents in Sub-Saharan African State and investigate the challenges of digital diplomacy in Sub-Saharan African State, the study utilised a qualitative research method drawing from secondary sources and document analysis. Subsequently, the gathered information undergoes thematic analysis. The study finds that, digital diplomacy presents a myriad of prospects and potentials as a result of the surge in internet and social media utilization in Sub Sahara Africa, coupled with enhanced mobile connectivity and accessibility to smartphones. Similarly, as emerging technology offers numerous advantages to digital diplomacy in Sub Sahara Africa, yet it also presents numerous drawbacks. The study recommends investment in digital infrastructure, prioritizing high-speed internet access and reliable communication networks, promoting digital literary, and leveraging social media platforms to enhance digital diplomacy in Sub-Sharan African.