Recent data from the Internet Society highlights significant advancements in digital development across West Africa, with several countries in the region demonstrating improved internet resilience. This progress reflects a growing commitment to enhancing digital infrastructure, security, and market readiness, ultimately ensuring more stable and accessible online services for millions of citizens.
According to the Internet Society’s Pulse Internet Resilience Index (IRI), which evaluates key indicators such as infrastructure, performance, security, and market preparedness, West Africa’s overall internet resilience score has increased to 34%, marking a two-percentage-point rise from 2022 to 2023. This upward trend translates into more reliable access to critical online services, including education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, reinforcing the internet as a fundamental driver of development within the region.
Benin and Senegal emerged as standout performers, achieving the highest increases in the index with scores of 39% and 36%, respectively. Benin’s score represents a remarkable climb with a six-point increase, while Senegal’s ten-point gain places it prominently in the rankings, securing the second and fifth positions in West Africa.
Ahmath Bamba Mbacke, President of the Internet Society Senegal Chapter, noted that over 60% of the population now has access to the internet, with 96% of users equipped with at least one device capable of 4G mobile internet. Additionally, about 20% of Senegalese internet users can access resources using IPv6, significantly exceeding the African average of 7%. Mbacke emphasized that concerted efforts, such as the development of the Senegalese Internet Exchange Point (SENIX), are vital in enhancing the country’s infrastructure and ensuring internet stability and security.
“Strong foundations have been laid to continue enhancing access, security, performance, and market readiness across the country, enabling more citizens to reap the social and economic rewards of a robust and resilient internet,” said Malick Alassane, Chair of the Internet Society Benin Chapter.
Côte d’Ivoire holds the highest IRI score in West Africa at 42%, although it did not see growth in the most recent year. However, it boasts a 12-point increase since 2019. Following Côte d’Ivoire, countries such as Burkina Faso (38%), Nigeria (38%), Senegal (36%), and Ghana (36%) round out the top five in the region. Notably, Niger (27%) was the only country in West Africa to experience a decline in its IRI score over the past year.
Key factors contributing to these positive changes include investments in internet infrastructure and security, broadened usage of IPv6, enabling policies, and enhanced collaboration among governments, technology providers, and local communities. Additionally, the extent to which popular content is accessed through in-country servers plays a significant role. Ghana tops the list, with 58% of its internet users accessing the 1,000 most popular websites locally, followed by Togo (46%) and Nigeria (38%). In contrast, many countries, including Benin, Cabo Verde, and Liberia, access most of their popular content from outside the region.
The Internet Society is actively working with partners in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger to increase the locally cached content figure to 50% by the end of 2025.
“Hosting popular content and local digital services within countries is a cost-effective way to improve internet performance and resilience. The cost savings from reduced reliance on international connections can be reinvested to enhance networks or passed on to users,” said Michuki Mwangi, Internet Society Distinguished Technologist for Internet Growth.
Data centres and Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) are pivotal in improving internet resilience and performance as they facilitate the storage of content closer to end users. This strategy creates shorter and more direct routes for internet traffic, thereby reducing dependency on expensive international links. IXPs serve as local traffic exchange hubs, making internet usage faster and more affordable for users across the region.
