Story by Yolanda Moyo
AFRICA has moved from digital policy discussions to implementation, with leaders at the 2026 Regional Development Forum for Africa, organised by the International Telecommunication Union, approving a four-year continental roadmap aimed at accelerating connectivity and digital sovereignty across the continent.
The 2026 Regional Development Forum for Africa ended this Tuesday with delegates approving a strict regional roadmap running from 2026 through 2029.
The plan sets unified timelines and designated lead agencies to eliminate fragmented, overlapping technology projects across the continent.
Priorities include slashing internet costs, closing the severe rural-urban divide, and connecting digital expansion directly to local energy grids.
“Participants emphasised that the priority is implementation through African-led solutions aligned to local priorities, cultures, and languages. Reaffirmed that inclusive, meaningful, and affordable connectivity is the foundation for sustainable digital transformation. Participants emphasised that the priority now is implementation through African-led solutions aligned to local priorities, cultures, and languages.
“The regional roadmap for implementation of the ITU regional initiatives for Africa 2026-2029 was positioned as the main mechanism to guide delivery and strengthen accountability. Key points were matchmaking, where two announcements were made. Priority themes highlighted across the discussion included universal connectivity and digital transformation, moving from commitments to implementation while addressing affordability, rural-urban gaps, digital skills, fragmented regulation, cybersecurity, and infrastructure constraints.
“Secondly, resilient infrastructure: link connectivity and energy planning, expand last-mile access, support infrastructure sharing, use multiple technologies, and strengthen multilingual internet and digital sovereignty. And three, capacity development and digital skills: build digital literacy, implementation skills, cyber-security awareness, institutional capacity, and youth-focused mentorship programs. And fourthly, collaboration and partnerships: use regional cooperation to solve cross-border issues, align initiatives, mobilise resources, and scale delivery through coordinated partnerships,”ITU Regional Development Forum Chairperson , Dr Gift Machengete said.
A massive hurdle to this rapid expansion is outdated law. Director of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Telecommunication Development Bureau, Dr Cosmas Zavazava, warned that as technology explodes, policy must move faster to keep up.
“As technologies evolve fast, regulation must equally evolve at a fast rate. Of course, it will not be in tandem and policy frameworks must support. Dialogue between regulators, dialogue with ministers on the policy side, but also dialogue with the chiefs of industry are very important,” he said.
The forum also recorded progress in financing partnerships aimed at narrowing Africa’s digital divide.
“Connect matchmaking session proved that Africa is ready for business. By directly matching local needs, such as reducing transit costs for our landlocked nations or rolling out localised digital literacy campaigns, with global technology partners and financial institutions. We are actively closing the digital divide. We are ensuring that the global momentum towards a US$100 billion pledge target directly impacts rural communities of Africa,” Deputy Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Honourable Dingumuzi Phuthi said.
With the roadmap now adopted, African governments say the continent is positioning itself not only to close the digital divide, but also to play a more influential role in shaping the future global digital economy.
