Aricell has joined The Gambia’s efforts to make the internet safer for children by introducing a new child online protection service powered by KIDZONET.
Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, Hon. Fatou Kinteh officially launched the service on Friday, May 15, during a ceremony that took place at the Africell Impact Foundation Creative Hub and Learning Center. Described as the first service of its kind in Africa, KIDZONET is a technology-driven solution designed to help parents and guardians create a safer digital environment for children.
The platform automatically applies child protection policies to SIM cards and restricts access to harmful online content, including malicious websites, inappropriate social media content, cyber threats and other unsafe online material.
Speaking during the launch, Africell Gambia’s CEO Hussein Diab Ghanem said the initiative reflects the Africell Group’s broader commitment to community welfare across its markets.
“We have already rolled out this service in SL, now we’re doing it in Gambia and of course we will also be launching it in our other operations in DRC and Angola, thereby firming the commitment that Africell as a group has to protect the communities we serve because they mean everything to us,” he said.
The event brought together government officials, child protection advocates, education stakeholders and representatives from civil society, all of whom highlighted the growing dangers children face online.
Solomon Atibuni, Country Coordinator for the Child Protection Alliance (CPA), warned that children are increasingly being exposed to harmful digital content and online abuse.
“We know that even in The Gambia children are being exposed to things like indecent content, violent content like xenophobia happening in South Africa, online grooming, cyberbullying, gambling, hate speech and exploitation, among other harmful activities that can negatively affect a child’s development, wellbeing and safety,” he said.
Minister Kinteh stressed that digital child protection must now be treated as a national priority. “In some cases, children become victims of trafficking, manipulation or abuse, through online platforms. These threats are real, evolving and often invisible to parents and caregivers.
As a country, we must recognize that child protection in the digital age is no longer optional, it is an urgent national priority,” she said. KIDZONET can be activated on both smartphones and nonsmartphones through USSD by dialing *2555# and following the instructions.
The service can only be deactivated through the parent’s phone using a secret PIN code, ensuring parental control over access. The launch was widely viewed as a proactive and preventive approach to child safeguarding in the digital era, with speakers emphasizing that protecting children online requires collective action from families, schools, government institutions and the private sector.
“We do not take lightly the examples we set for our children; we have to practice responsible leadership and responsible development. We have to innovate but we need to do it with purpose,” Hussein Diab Ghanem declared. Solomon Atibuni, also commended Africell for taking leadership in child protection through technology.
“We therefore commend Africell for demonstrating corporate social responsibility and leadership through this initiative, but we all need to be involved. Parents must remain actively engaged in their children’s online activities and schools must integrate digital literacy and online safety education in their learning space,” he said.
Minister Kinteh outlined several policy measures already underway to strengthen child online protection in The Gambia. She revealed that the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare is currently repealing the Children’s Act of 2005 to incorporate emerging issues such as cybersecurity and online protection.
“The National Children’s Policy has also been developed and aims to promote digital literacy among children, parents, caregivers, and service providers, to ensure safe and informed use of digital and online platforms, develop and implement measures to prevent and respond to online abuse, exploitation, cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content,” she explained.
According to the Minister, government also aims to strengthen a coordinated national response to ensure cases of online child abuse and exploitation are properly investigated and prosecuted.
She added that several complementary national frameworks have already been developed through collaboration with ministries and partners, including the National Child and Vulnerable Groups Online Protection Policy, The Gambia’s National Cybersecurity Policy, the National Cybersecurity Strategy and Action Plan 2022–2026, and the Digital Transformation Strategy 2023–2028, all aligned with the country’s National Development Program 2023–2027.
