REGULATION OF E-COMMERCE IN AFRICA

With the deployment and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), particularly mobile phones and cloud computing, e-commerce will become a major force in Africa in the near future. E-commerce therefore represents a huge potential for Africa to provide economic growth, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. In its current state, the African regulatory framework on e-commerce is not yet adapted to this development. Yet, the conclusion of contracts for the sale of goods or the provision of services online is gradually spreading across the continent. The present work draws up an inventory of the situation and observes, in most African countries, a multiplication of agencies leading to a form of competition between the various institutions or technical ministries, each one developing its own sectoral axis without a global vision shared with all the actors. Hence, the need for a continental regulation to frame this sector.