Digital identification and Biometrics In East Africa: Opportunities and Concerns

The document examines the transition from paper-based to digital identification in East Africa, specifically focusing on Ethiopia's Fayda and Uganda's Ndaga Muntu systems. While digital IDs aim to improve access to services and reduce fraud, the author highlights significant risks including mass exclusion of marginalized groups, potential for ethnic profiling, and the absence of robust data protection laws. The briefing argues that without strong legal frameworks and transparent implementation, these systems can become barriers to human rights rather than tools for inclusion.

• Approximately 50% of Africa's population lacks a legal identity, which hinders access to essential government services, healthcare, social grants, and financial services.
• Ethiopia's Fayda biometric ID system aims to enroll all eligible adults by 2025, with a target of 10 million registrations in 2023. It collects fingerprints, iris scans, and facial biometrics for authentication and 'Know Your Customer' (KYC) purposes.
• The Fayda system in Ethiopia faces criticism regarding potential ethnic profiling and surveillance, exacerbated by the country's lack of data protection laws and its failure to ratify the AU Malabo Convention.
• Uganda's Ndaga Muntu system, introduced in 2015, has led to mass exclusion, particularly for women and older persons, as it is mandatory for accessing both public and private services.
• The Ndaga Muntu system is criticized for collecting excessive personal data—including clan, tribe, and ethnicity—which contradicts data minimisation principles and increases surveillance risks. Reports indicate a planned 2024 update to include DNA biometrics.
• Biometric capture can be inherently exclusionary for manual labourers, the elderly, and persons with disabilities who may be unable to provide fingerprints.

APA

BOSMAN, I. (2023). Digital identification and Biometrics In East Africa: Opportunities and Concerns. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/PB-282-AGDP-Bosman-FINAL-WEB.pdf

Chicago

BOSMAN, ISABEL. Digital identification and Biometrics In East Africa: Opportunities and Concerns. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2023. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/PB-282-AGDP-Bosman-FINAL-WEB.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=BOSMAN |first1=ISABEL |title=Digital identification and Biometrics In East Africa: Opportunities and Concerns |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=November 2023 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/PB-282-AGDP-Bosman-FINAL-WEB.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bosman2023digital, author = {BOSMAN, ISABEL}, title = {{Digital identification and Biometrics In East Africa: Opportunities and Concerns}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/PB-282-AGDP-Bosman-FINAL-WEB.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }