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Daily Maverick
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Stalking Minister Schreiber at the e-Governance Conference in Estonia
Daily Maverick was invited to Estonia as a guest of the minister of foreign affairs to attend the African Business Forum and 11th annual e-Governance Conference, and experience the EU's premier digital society — stalking Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber for an interview was optional. Sometimes the best stories happen in the margins. While Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber was behind closed doors at the e-Governance Conference in Tallinn, Estonia, with Estonian President Alar Karis, I found myself in conversations that revealed as much about South Africa's digital transformation challenge as any high-level diplomatic exchange could. At least that's what I told myself after being blocked from following the delegates into the meeting room. The Ukraine Defence Tech stand is right next to the entrance hall for those meeting rooms, so I head over to chat to Anastasiia Kapranova, the Ukraine Ministry of Defence lead for international engagement on defence digitalisation, about the lessons the war-torn nation may have for developing digital economies. Downside? I need to lead with an apology for South Africa's neutrality, which is born out of our allegiance with Russia. War is a great digital accelerator To her credit (or maybe it was my charm), she doesn't flinch when I say the quiet diplomacy part out loud. She's focused on something else entirely: how a crisis becomes a catalyst. 'The full-scale war showed us that we have to completely shift the focus and move from the peacetime solution to the wartime solutions,' she tells me, standing next to displays of Ukraine's Delta combat system and Army Plus Reserve Plus platforms. What strikes me isn't just the sophistication of the technology, but the philosophy behind it. Ukraine has been 'sharing the knowledge that we gained … um … at very high cost at the cost of our people's lives' to help allies 'increase their resilience through the digitalisation'. It's digitisation born from necessity, stripped of bureaucratic niceties and focused purely on what works. The lesson for South Africa isn't about war — it's about urgency. While we debate timelines and processes, Ukraine rebuilt its entire digital infrastructure under fire. 'A lot of, especially, technological development in Ukraine is done bottom up,' explains Kapranova. 'It is important to listen, to hear and to empower those who have knowledge and skills.' WhatsApp, Mr Minister? That bottom-up philosophy feels particularly relevant when I go over my notes from an earlier conversation with fellow South African Mitchell Ron Black — Schreiber was at an offsite lunch. Black is a South African entrepreneur (with links to Rise Mzansi) whose company, Wakamoso Africa, is tackling what he calls the 'invisible data problem' — the fact that 'the type of granular data to build financial profiles on South Africans of colour doesn't exist in the systems', making them 'appear as less bankable by default'. The solution is elegantly simple: a WhatsApp-first platform that turns CVs into 'micro income-generating assets', paying users in airtime when their skills match job searches. It's the kind of grassroots innovation that should excite government officials committed to digital transformation. Except it doesn't, apparently. Black recounts his interaction with Schreiber: 'As soon as he heard that we were working on WhatsApp, the reaction was, 'Oh, we should probably start looking at that'.' Black says he has been 'tossed from pillar to post' trying to engage with the government and mobilise funding outside of a limited pilot project in Uitsig (the Cape Town one), despite having a ready-to-scale solution. 'There's no clear focus on innovation.' The yawning gap between ambition and implementation When I do finally get my interview with Schreiber after his presidential meeting, his enthusiasm is infectious. The conference had brought 'even greater clarity' to South Africa's digital transformation goals. He spoke passionately about Estonia as a benchmark, and he has five key commitments: eVisas, smart IDs, the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system, expanded bank branch integration and courier delivery options. His November deadline for the ETA ahead of the G20 summit shows accountability. 'We're absolutely on track,' he insists. But there's a disconnect between the high-level vision and the reality facing South African innovators like Black, who, despite being 'owed a couple million rand in government funding that just never appeared', continues bootstrapping solutions while waiting for the state to catch up. Estonia's patient capital model This gap became clearer in conversations about Estonia's approach to African partnerships. The European Union's Global Gateway strategy, promising to 'invest €150-billion [about R3-trillion] in Africa by 2027', represents significant resources. But accessing these requires navigating complex procurement processes and finding the right partnerships — something that seems particularly challenging for South African startups caught between government indifference and funding gaps. For African entrepreneurs, Estonia's e-residency programme offers an intriguing workaround. Incorporating in Estonia can 'derisk the project' for European investors and open up grant possibilities, particularly for seed-stage startups. It's a pragmatic solution to funding challenges, though one that exports local talent and IP. Perhaps the most telling observation came from Dr Armid Azadeh, founder of the medtech solutions company OnCall, representing Namibian perspectives on digital transformation. While acknowledging Estonia's offerings, he noted, 'We ourselves feel we're a Namibian company and that is our brand — proudly Namibian.' For countries with stable systems, the benefits of offshoring incorporation are less compelling. This touches on something deeper: the question of digital sovereignty versus digital pragmatism. South Africa wants to be digitally transformed, but on whose terms? Using whose platforms? With whose data? Black's vision extends beyond individual solutions to 'creating digital twins of these communities' that provide 'microeconomic granular data to start better trending' for government planning. It's the kind of locally rooted, socially conscious innovation that could transform lives. But it requires what he calls 'patient partners over time' — something in short supply in both government and local investment circles. Beyond the taglines Watching Schreiber network with Estonian officials while Ukrainian innovators showcase crisis-forged solutions and South African entrepreneurs struggle for recognition, the challenge becomes clear. South Africa's digital transformation won't be solved by adopting Estonia's model wholesale, or by securing EU funding, or even by delivering the ETA system on time. It requires bridging the gap between ministerial ambition and grassroots innovation, between international benchmarking and local implementation. The tools exist. The talent exists. Even the political will, in its way, exists. What's missing is the connective tissue — the systems and relationships that turn individual innovations into societal transformation. Ukraine learned this lesson the hard way, with Kapranova explaining how putting 'people who we serve in the government at the core of our digital products' builds trust and preserves identity. Estonia learned it through decades of patient institution-building. DM
Russia Today
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU state's president blocks controversial law against largest Christian church
Estonian President Alar Karis has refused to sign a controversial law targeting the Estonian Christian Orthodox Church (ECOC), saying it violates the constitution. The 'Amendment to the Churches and Congregations Act,' passed by parliament earlier this month, would have barred religious organizations in the Baltic state from being governed by foreign bodies deemed a security threat. It specifically prohibited ties enshrined in foundational documents with such entities. The draft law was widely seen as aimed at forcing the ECOC to cut ties with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). The ECOC had previously been required to revise its charter and remove any mention of the Moscow Patriarchate. In a statement on Thursday, Karis claimed that the Moscow Patriarchate 'undermines the sovereignty and democracy of states,' but warned that the amendment in its current form contradicts the constitution by 'disproportionately restricting freedom of association and religion.' He argued that an ambiguous ban on foreign ties could trigger legal disputes and lead to similar curbs on all associations, including political parties. The ECOC thanked Karis for his 'principled stand' and expressed hope for continued dialogue with authorities, emphasizing its canonical ties are no threat to national security. 'Throughout its history in Estonia, our Church has demonstrated loyalty to the Estonian state and respect for its people, upholding democratic values – foremost among them, the freedom of religion,' it said in a statement on Thursday. The changes were introduced in response to the Moscow Patriarchate's support for Russia's military operation against the Kiev regime, local broadcaster ERR reported earlier. Estonia's former interior minister, Lauri Laanemets, who initiated the bill, had previously threatened to shut down monasteries that refuse to cut ties and even threatened to classify the ROC as a terrorist organization. In August 2024, the EOC revised its charter and removed references to the Moscow Patriarchate, but Laanemets insisted the move was insufficient. The ROC has condemned the draft law as discriminatory against the 250,000 Orthodox believers in the EU member state, stressing that the ECOC has never engaged in politics or jeopardized public safety. Moscow has described the legislation as 'unprecedented in its aggression and legal nihilism,' and urged Tallinn to end religious discrimination. Although most Estonians are not religious, around 16% identify as Orthodox Christians and 8% as Lutherans, according to government data. Estonia was part of the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1991, and Russian speakers constitute about 27% of its population.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Estonia on Russian strike against Sumy: "No words to describe Russia's evil"
Estonia's top leadership – the president, prime minister and foreign minister – has responded to the Russian missile strike on Sumy on 13 April, which claimed the lives of 32 people. Source: Alar Karis, Kristen Michal and Margus Tsahkna on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: President Alar Karis called the Russian strike brutal and expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims. "We stand firmly for Ukraine's right to defend themselves," he wrote. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal urged people to acknowledge that "Russia's goal is erasing Ukraine". He said another brutal attack on innocent civilians proves it. "Our aid to Ukraine cannot be delayed at the most crucial moment. No pressure on Russia means no peace," Michal stated. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna wrote that "there are not enough words in the world to describe the inhumanity and evil of Russia". "Our hearts are with Ukraine. Heartfelt condolences to all those affected by the Sumy attack," the head of Estonia's diplomacy added. Background: As of 18:00, the number of people killed in Russia's ballistic missile attack on Sumy on the morning of 13 April has reached 34, including two children. A total of 117 people have been injured, including 15 children. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated after the Russian missile strike on civilians in Sumy that Russian leader Vladimir Putin must agree to a full and immediate ceasefire without any preconditions. French President Emmanuel Macron said it was now clear that Russia is choosing to continue the war despite Trump's proposals. Keith Kellogg, the US President's special envoy for Ukraine, said that Russia's strike on civilian targets in Sumy crossed all acceptable lines and demonstrated why Donald Trump is committed to ending the war. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Estonia bans non-EU citizens from local election voting, mostly Russians and Belarusians affected
Estonia's parliament on March 26 voted to amend the constitution to deprive non-EU citizens — mainly targeting Russins and Belarusians — voting rights in local elections, Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) reported. The Baltic state's population is around 1.3 million including some 322,700 ethnic Russians, of which around 90,000 have Russian citizenship, according to data from 2022. Rising tensions between the Baltic states and Russia and its ally Belarus since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine prompted Estonia in 2022 to prohibit Russian citizens from obtaining visas and residence permits for working, doing business, and studying. "The decisions in our local life won't be made by the citizens of the aggressor states, but we'll decide by ourselves," Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said after the March 26 vote. According to the amendments, only Estonian and EU citizens will have the right to vote in local elections. Those with undefined citizenship and stateless persons will be able to vote for the last time during the next elections, which will be held on Oct. 19. A majority — 93 of 101 — of politicians voted in favour of the amendments. The bill now passes to Estonian President Alar Karis to sign into law. Lauri Laats, chairman of the Centrist Party faction who voted against the amendment, described the decision as "wrong." "This is not a democratic decision. We have already said that we will not support this decision," he added. But Toomas Uibo, chairman of the liberal political party Estonia 200, denied the bill was discriminatory "because people have freedom of choice — they can become Estonian citizens." Estonia has significantly increased its defense budget, allocating 3.2% of GDP to defense in 2024, more than double its spending since the all-out war in Ukraine began nearly three years ago. Estonia has also pledged to raise defense spending from 3.7% of GDP to 5% during 2025 following the alarming Russian threat and U.S. President Donald Trump's call to increase defense spending. Read also: As Ukraine, Russia agree to ceasefire at sea, Moscow's battered Black Sea Fleet is set to get a reprieve We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Estonia bars foreign citizens from local elections, eyeing Russia
Estonia has moved to bar non-EU citizens from voting in local elections, in a move that targets the country's Russian and Belarusian population. The Estonian parliament voted in favour of a corresponding constitutional amendment on Wednesday, which was proposed in view of Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. The regulation must now be formally approved by President Alar Karis. According to data from the Interior Ministry, almost 80,000 Russian and around 2,700 Belarusian citizens have residency permits in Estonia. Prime Minister Kristen Michal described the decision as a "joint victory" and a "very fundamental decision." "In our local life, decisions are not made by the citizens of aggressor states, but in our own country we are the decision-makers, he wrote on X. Estonia shares a border with Russia and the Russian-speaking minority in the Baltic state make up around a quarter of its 1.2 million inhabitants. The next local elections in Estonia are scheduled to take place on October 19.
