Ethiopia has introduced Africa’s first fully digital “smart” police station that operates without permanently stationed officers, marking a major step in the country’s effort to modernize public security services through technology. The facility replaces traditional police counters and waiting rooms with private service booths equipped with digital tablets. Citizens can file reports, submit documents, and communicate with police officers remotely through an integrated digital platform.
The project is part of a broader government strategy to integrate technology into law enforcement and improve the efficiency and accessibility of police services. During the pilot phase, uniformed officers remain on site to assist visitors and explain how the system works. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the initiative aligns with the government’s wider digital transformation agenda under the Digital Ethiopia 2030 program, which aims to modernize public services and expand digital infrastructure across the country.
Authorities say the system is designed to shorten complaint processing times, improve transparency, and extend police services to areas where staffing conventional stations can be difficult. n its first week of operation, the station processed three cases—a lost passport report, a financial fraud complaint, and a routine public grievance reflecting the early testing phase of the technology-driven model. Officials expect usage to increase as more citizens become familiar with the new system.
