On November 14, 2025, the government of Guinea Conakry unveiled Telemo, its new e-procurement system developed in partnership with Rwanda. The launch coincided with the conclusion of the Transform Africa Summit 2025, a landmark event held in Conakry, marking the first time West Africa hosted such a prestigious gathering of Heads of State, government delegations, regional innovators, and global ICT leaders.
The partnership between Guinea and Rwanda began in September 2023, when the two countries embarked on a mission to modernize Guinea’s procurement systems. By shifting away from fragmented, paper-based procedures, the collaboration has led to the development of Telemo, a fully digital platform designed to improve the efficiency and transparency of Guinea’s public procurement processes.
Enhancing Transparency and Accountability
Guinea’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and the Digital Economy, Rose Pola Pricemou, hailed the launch of Telemo as the beginning of a new era for the country. “Our wealth is no longer limited to what lies underground, but now lies in talent, ideas, and technology,” she stated during the launch.
Pricemou emphasized Guinea’s commitment to leveraging technology for national development and positioning the country as a leader in digital transformation. “At a time when nations are increasingly defined by their ability to harness technology, Guinea is determined to be at the forefront,” she added.
Strengthening Guinea’s Procurement Ecosystem
Jean-Freddy Makuza, Chief Financial Officer at Rwanda Cooperation Initiative (RCI), highlighted the importance of Telemo in modernizing Guinea’s procurement ecosystem. According to Makuza, the new system will significantly enhance the country’s public procurement by reducing administrative delays, improving transparency, and strengthening the traceability of tender procedures. It will also build the capacity of institutions and procurement officials, thereby enabling more efficient and accountable service delivery.
“Telemo is part of a broader effort to support digital governance reforms across Africa under Rwanda’s South-South cooperation framework,” Makuza said. He noted that Rwanda’s expertise is helping several countries modernize their public finance management, procurement, and justice systems, including current efforts in Eswatini.
A Model of African Cooperation
Makuza further emphasized how Rwanda’s collaboration with Guinea is a prime example of how African nations can share digital solutions tailored to local needs. He stressed that the partnership reflects the deepening ties between Rwanda and Guinea and underscores Rwanda’s growing reputation as a trusted partner in digital governance and innovation.
“Rwanda has deployed digital solutions across several African countries, including Chad, Eswatini, Guinea, and Kenya. These efforts have spurred national digital transformation strategies and contributed to the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030),” Makuza stated.
Since 2018, Rwanda has signed over 18 cooperation agreements and hosted more than 7,600 visitors from 70 countries seeking to learn from its governance and technology expertise. This exchange has become a catalyst for many national digital transformation initiatives, positioning Rwanda as a model of innovation and collaboration in Africa.
Conclusion
The introduction of Telemo marks a significant milestone in Guinea’s digital transformation journey. By partnering with Rwanda, Guinea is taking a bold step toward modernizing its public procurement systems, enhancing transparency, and fostering greater accountability. As African nations increasingly collaborate to share digital solutions, Guinea’s launch of Telemo showcases the potential of South-South cooperation in driving technological and governance advancements across the continent.
