“We contributed by interlinking the country with its neighbours at the same time as establishing a digital centre. All that was missing was for the Central African Republic to complete the digital loop within the sub-region. We are laying the foundations for proper digital development in the country" - Mamady Souare, the African Development Bank’s Country Manager for the Central African Republic

New forms of value are emerging and new job opportunities are being created after a 900-kilometre-long network of fibre-optic cables was extended to the landlocked Central Africa Republic rom neighbouring Cameroon and Congo. Funded by the AfDB and the EU to the tune of €33 million, the new fibre-optic cable network enables more stable and faster internet connections, even during harsh weather. The new high-speed internet connection means Junior Thierry Bemolinda Lamine, a young student at a technical college in Bangui and builder of a humanoid robot called “Mama Africa," can make use of the digital training centre at the University of Bangui, which offers access to computers, 3D printers and personalised workshops to teach young people how to harness the potential of fibre optics and bring their projects to life.

Junior Thierry Bemolinda Lamine, a young student at a technical college in Bangui, working on his humanoid robot called “Mama Africa", designed to raise awareness about African culture and the fight against global warming. He worked on the robot outside class hours, assembling it entirely from recycled materials. To function optimally, Mama Africa requires a high-speed internet connection.