Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – African Ministers of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) convened at the 5th Ordinary Session of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Communication and ICT (STC-CICT) to chart a course for the continent’s digital transformation. The meeting, held in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, was marked by a renewed commitment to harnessing the power of technology to drive Africa’s socio-economic development.
Lesotho’s Minister of Information, Communications, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Hon. Nthati MOOROSI, assumed the Chairmanship of the STC, underscoring the country’s leadership in Africa’s digital sphere. Minister MOOROSI emphasized the importance of smart strategies, increased domestic investments, and enhanced collaboration to overcome Africa’s digital divide and unlock the full potential of a digital economy.
The AU’s Digital Transformation Strategy (DTS) served as the guiding framework for the meeting, providing a vision and roadmap for leveraging technology and innovation to achieve Africa’s Agenda 2063 goals. AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, H.E. Dr. Amani Abou-ZEID, reaffirmed the DTS’s commitment to positioning Africa as a global leader in harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies while mitigating potential risks.
Concrete recommendations and actions were adopted by the Ministers to accelerate the implementation of the DTS. These included the Institutional Architecture and Implementation Framework for the DTS, a Continental Strategy for a Digital Single Market, an AI Strategy Conceptual Framework, a Continental Child Online Safety and Empowerment Policy, and the Malabo Review Report. Additionally, a study on digitalizing postal services was considered.
The meeting also reviewed progress on key communication initiatives aimed at promoting Agenda 2063 and enhancing the AU’s corporate brand identity. The Ministerial session was preceded by a meeting of experts, chaired by Lesotho’s Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Communications, Mr. Kanono RAMASHAMOLE.