Redefining Borders: A New Era of Technological and Commercial Sovereignty for Tunisia and Algeria
As artificial intelligence and data reshape the world, the border between Tunisia and Algeria could become more than just a line on a map. The two countries, with their proximity and complementary strengths, could transform their shared border into a hub of technological and commercial sovereignty by 2040.
A Young and Dynamic Continent
By 2050, Africa will be home to nearly 2.5 billion people, making it the youngest and most dynamic continent. However, it will also be one of the most exposed to geopolitical and economic crises. In this context, considering borders as mere lines of demarcation is an outdated strategy. Why not turn them into drivers of shared innovation instead?
Leveraging Youth and Technology
Algeria and Tunisia have a rare asset: their youth. More than half of Algeria's population is under 30, while in Tunisia, this proportion reaches around 45%. This generation, born ultra-connected and familiar with AI, social media, and video games, is shaping the future in hybrid and agile ways. They constitute the strategic raw material for the world of tomorrow.
A New Frontier of Innovation
What better terrain to invent the future than a border? Imagine joint sovereign data centers dedicated to AI and cybersecurity, industrial hubs 4.0 (robots, drones, etc.) developed in partnership with Asian technological powers, and campuses training students for the jobs of tomorrow. Rather than marking the end of a territory, these zones could become the beating hearts of innovation, attracting talent and ideas, and transforming every square kilometer into an economic and technological laboratory.
Sovereignty in the Digital Age
Sovereignty will no longer be limited to armies or finances but will also encompass the mastery of algorithms and data. No state can delegate these levers to foreign actors without compromising its autonomy.
A New Commercial Dimension
In a world marked by monetary instability, these zones could host digital platforms for compensation and intelligent bartering, supervised by the central banks of both countries. This would enable direct exchanges, such as energy for healthcare services or logistics capabilities for engineering, without necessarily using strong currencies. In parallel, regional digital marketplaces would stimulate the exchange of goods and services, unlocking the largely underexploited intra-Maghreb potential.
Honoring History and Culture
Why not name these infrastructures after figures that inspire dreams? Jugurtha, master of adaptation in the face of empires; Hannibal, genius of logistics and long-term vision; Emir Abdelkader, figure of the modern state and ethics... These names remind us that the Maghreb has always had a sense of strategy, and its connected youth could be its 2.0 heir.
A Shared Future
By 2040, border security, economic sovereignty, and youth integration can no longer be thought of separately. They form a single equation. By making their common border a laboratory for the future, Algeria and Tunisia could lay the foundations for a new model of regional cooperation, based not on distrust but on the shared production of intelligence, technology, and prosperity.
A New Era of Sovereignty
In an increasingly unstable world, thinking together, producing together, and exchanging in new ways could be the most advanced and necessary form of sovereignty.
By Karim Ahres, member of the Conect Board of Directors
