Interview | How AI and digital sovereignty are redefining African trade with Webb Fontaine’s Ludovic Thanay
As the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) gains momentum, the continent stands at a pivotal juncture. The vision of a seamless, integrated market is no longer just a policy goal—it is becoming a digital reality, driven by nations that are continually modernizing their border operations. From the integrated single windows in Kenya and Benin to the data-driven risk frameworks of Rwanda, African administrations are laying the technical groundwork for a new era of cross-border commerce.
However, as these digital ecosystems evolve, critical questions emerge. How can governments harness the speed of Artificial Intelligence without compromising their digital sovereignty? What is required to build systems that “speak” to one another across diverse connectivity landscapes? And crucially, how do administrations balance the need for rigorous revenue protection with the demand for fluid, frictionless trade?
To explore these shifts, TechTrends Media sat down with Ludovic Thanay, Senior Vice President of Sales, Webb Fontaine, a technology company at the forefront of trade facilitation solutions.
In this interview, we discuss the practical reality of AI in African customs, moving beyond the hype to see how it is currently supporting valuation, risk management, and compliance. We also explore the vital role of the WCO Data Model in ensuring data ownership, the transformative impact of digital payment ecosystems, and the future of interoperability in a continent striving for deeper integration.
How is Africa performing in leveraging AI driven systems and interoperable digital platforms to accelerate regional trade integration and enhance cross border commerce?
Africa has made meaningful progress in digitalising border operations, although the level of maturity varies greatly by country. Benin has deployed a fully integrated environment linking Customs, port operations and the single window, which has led to faster release times and clearer visibility over the entire clearance chain. Côte d’Ivoire introduced automated valuation support and digital port processes that helped address long standing inefficiencies at the main terminals. Rwanda continues to refine its risk management framework and has built a culture of data driven decision making.
Kenya’s National Electronic Single Window has been a reference point in East Africa for integrating permits, licences and payments under one platform. Mauritius has decades of experience with electronic declarations and continues to strengthen its digital backbone. These systems create the conditions for meaningful use of AI by giving administrations structured data, reliable transaction histories and coordinated workflows. The next step is to extend these advances across borders rather than keep them within national boundaries, which will become increasingly important as AfCFTA grows.
How can African governments leverage AI within frameworks that protect digital sovereignty, including data localization and regulatory oversight?
Governments can gain the benefits of AI without compromising sovereignty by being clear about ownership, data structures and oversight mechanisms. The WCO Data Model gives administrations a way to align their datasets in a transparent and predictable manner, which makes it easier to supervise how information is processed and how automation is applied.
The WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement encourages members to simplify and harmonise border procedures, which helps create a coherent environment for responsible use of digital tools. UN guidance on single windows reinforces the importance of national governance, legal clarity and phased implementation. When AI is introduced on top of these structured foundations, it becomes easier for administrations to validate its behaviour, adjust business rules and ensure compliance with national legislation. Several African administrations have already followed this path by strengthening internal technical capacity and insisting that analytical tools remain explainable and auditable. AI then functions as a national asset shaped by domestic policy, rather than a system that dictates outcomes from outside.
How is Webb Fontaine integrating AI into trade and customs to enhance risk management and revenue protection while preserving seamless trade flows?
At Webb Fontaine we integrate AI through tools that support the way Customs already works. Our risk engines process large volumes of historical declarations, travel patterns and behavioural indicators, giving officers clearer insight into which consignments require intervention. The valuation support function analyses pricing patterns and classification trends to help identify inconsistencies that may indicate undervaluation or misdeclaration. These capabilities are designed around established Customs methods, including risk based control and fair valuation principles supported by the WCO. The aim is to assist officers, not replace them.
When AI highlights a specific trend or anomaly, officers can act with greater confidence and allocate their attention where it is most effective. This approach has helped several administrations strengthen revenue collection and reduce unnecessary inspections while maintaining a predictable environment for traders. The essential point is that decisions rest with Customs. AI provides structure, speed and a clearer view of risk, which contributes to a better balance between control and facilitation.
What is required to design digital trade ecosystems that interoperate smoothly across borders despite connectivity and system gaps?
The first requirement is a shared foundation. Countries that align their data using structures inspired by the WCO Data Model or UNCEFACT standards create a technical and procedural language that makes cross border collaboration achievable. This alignment has helped regions organise pre arrival processing, joint inspections and transit monitoring even when national systems differ. For example, in West Africa several administrations have harmonised aspects of their transit procedures, which makes it easier to integrate tracking and guarantee mechanisms across corridors. Connectivity challenges can be managed through phased rollouts, offline modules or hybrid cloud models, but the institutional framework must be coherent. Without common datasets, compatible legal provisions and stable governance structures, interoperability is difficult to sustain. When these elements are in place, technology becomes an enabler rather than an obstacle, and administrations can gradually move toward shared border processes and regionally connected systems.
To what extent are digital payment ecosystems transforming cross border trade in Africa?
Digital payments are changing the way trade transactions are handled. In countries where integrated payment systems are linked to Customs declarations, port charges and regulatory fees, both traders and administrations experience fewer delays. Revenue collection becomes more transparent, reconciliation is simplified and the risk of informal payments is reduced. These improvements have supported stronger compliance and clearer audit trails. In some trade corridors, transporters have begun adopting digital payment channels for transit guarantees and related fees, which shortens waiting times at borders. As AfCFTA advances, the ability to link national payment systems and support corridor-wide financial processes will be important. A predictable payment environment encourages traders to operate across borders with more confidence and helps administrations safeguard public revenue without slowing trade.
Which emerging digital shifts will most shape the future of African trade and customs modernisation?
Several shifts are becoming visible. AI supported analysis will play a larger role in risk targeting, valuation checks and post clearance audit. Digital identity solutions for traders, operators and consignments will help establish trust and simplify compliance. Many administrations are moving toward stronger data governance frameworks, which strengthens the quality of the information used for policy making and enforcement. Regional harmonisation is gaining traction as countries recognise that modern supply chains depend on compatibility across borders. These changes are not theoretical. They reflect what is already happening in administrations that have invested in structured data, trained technical teams and built stable digital ecosystems. The future of African trade modernisation will be shaped by countries that combine technology with consistent institutional commitment.
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