Submarine cables are a defining factor in today’s geopolitics and power geography, and protecting them is essential for sovereignty, prosperity, and the resilience of modern societies.

Africa has emerged as a focal point in US‑China strategic competition over digital infrastructure, with Chinese investments along the Digital Silk Road and US tech giants like Google, Meta, and Amazon building private networks to bolster cloud computing and AI capabilities.

Submarine fiber optic cables carry more than 99% of intercontinental data traffic, underpinning finance, government communications, military operations, cloud services, and AI, making the digital economy possible.

Current international governance is insufficient; progress exists in initiatives such as the 2026 Porto Declaration and the EU Action Plan for Submarine Cable Security, but stronger international cooperation is needed.

Cables face multiple risks from human activity (fishing gear, ship anchors) near coasts, natural events (submarine earthquakes, landslides, turbidity currents), and increasingly, geopolitical threats and sabotage.

Hybrid warfare now targets submarine cables as a critical leverage point to disrupt information flows, marking their strategic importance alongside energy resources and trade routes.