The East African Community has launched a regional digital identity initiative allowing citizens of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi to use a single verified digital credential for cross-border travel, banking, and government services.
The programme, developed with the African Development Bank and ITU, will roll out as a mobile-first system. Pilot testing began in Nairobi and Kampala this week.
How it works
Citizens link their national ID to a blockchain-anchored credential with biometric verification and an offline authentication mode designed for areas with limited connectivity.
Regional significance
The initiative could reduce barriers for an estimated 11 million informal cross-border traders. The African Union has expressed interest in evaluating the framework for broader continental adoption.
Outstanding questions
Whether neighbouring countries such as Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo will formally seek observer status in the programme is a question that neither government has yet addressed publicly.
Sources
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