The world felt a digital tremor today when Amazon Web Services (AWS) suffered a major outage, leaving millions offline and businesses across continents scrambling to stay afloat. From banking platforms to logistics apps, the disruption was a sobering reminder of how dependent the global economy has become on a handful of cloud service providers. In Africa, the effects were immediate and far-reaching key border management systems in countries like South Africa and Zambia went down, causing confusion and long queues as citizens found themselves stranded at crossing points.

This was not just an inconvenience; it was a warning. It highlighted how Africa’s growing digital infrastructure is still tethered to systems beyond its borders. During the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly, business magnate Dr. Strive Masiyiwa and Google’s James Manyika raised the alarm on this very issue. They emphasized that for Africa to truly secure its digital future, it must invest in its own edge and cloud computing infrastructure technology built, maintained, and governed on African soil.

Such a move would not only shield the continent from global disruptions but also unleash a new wave of innovation. Local developers could build apps in healthtech, agrictech, and education without being held back by foreign server downtimes or restrictive pricing. It would empower startups to create solutions that speak directly to African realities from smart farming systems to AI-driven healthcare platforms.

For policymakers, this is no longer a matter of convenience; it’s one of sovereignty. Building an African cloud ecosystem could integrate markets across borders, powering the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and making regional integration more than just policy rhetoric. The AWS outage should therefore serve as a wake-up call. Africa’s digital destiny cannot remain in someone else’s hands it must be built, protected, and owned by Africans, for Africans.