Kigali, Rwanda – May 14–15 — The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), in partnership with Convene Africa, hosted the Forward Africa Leaders Continental Summit 2026 under the theme: “Strengthening Cross-Border Digital Infrastructure in Africa: Aligning Policy, Innovation and Capacity for Inclusive Development.” The Summit convened leaders from government, business, technology, development institutions, and civil society to advance a shared African agenda on digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), e-governance, and inclusive development.
Discussions focused on translating policy ambition into practical action through stronger leadership, investment, institutional coordination, and cross-border digital cooperation. Participants emphasised the urgent need for interoperable, trusted, and sovereign digital infrastructure to support Africa’s development and competitiveness.
In her opening keynote address, H.E. Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose-Quatre, CEO of the APRM Continental Secretariat, stressed the importance of African ownership in the AI era. “Africa can and must take control of its own future,” she said, urging the continent to move “beyond digital inclusion to digital ownership.”
H.E. Mrs. Veronique Herminie, First Lady of Seychelles, underlined the human dimension of digital transformation, noting that “e-governance is not about platforms or apps… it is about people,” and called for ethical and inclusive AI-enabled governance systems.
South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration, H.E. Ms. Pinky Sharon Kekana, highlighted the need for resilient infrastructure and public trust, stating that “technology is meaningless if it is not anchored to our institutions, policy frameworks, capacity development, accountability and trust with our citizens.”
Private sector and civil society leaders also called for bold investment in Africa’s digital economy. Mr. Alex A. Dadey, Executive Chairman of KGL Group and Co-Chair of the FALS Governing Council, said governance should be viewed as “a competitive advantage,” adding that Africa’s challenge is not a lack of capital, but “direction of capital.” Representing MTN Group, Senior Vice President Mr. Ebenezer Asante advocated for a “One Africa, One Continent” digital vision built on connectivity, fintech, interoperable trade systems, secure digital identity, and trusted cross-border data platforms. Dr. Vasu Gounden, Executive Director of ACCORD, linked digital infrastructure to sovereignty, declaring, “The soil is ours. The sun is ours. The data must also be ours.”
A key highlight of the Summit was the presentation of the APRM Continental E-Governance Framework for Africa by APRM Lead Expert on E-Governance, Mr. Jibril Ibrahim-Kano. The Framework positions digital transformation as a governance and sovereignty agenda and introduces an African reference model anchored on six pillars, the African E-Governance Index, and institutional accountability mechanisms.
Participants further encouraged APRM to institutionalise the Framework through continental structures to support implementation, peer learning, ethics oversight, AI governance, and harmonised data protection across Africa. Such structures should include: a Pan-African Advisory Council on E-Governance to provide strategic direction and continental leadership; a Pan-African Community of Practice on E-Governance to enable peer learning, knowledge sharing and country-to-country technical assistance; a Pan-African Governance Ethics Board to develop ethical standards and guidelines for artificial intelligence (AI), data usage, digital public infrastructure, frontier technologies; a Pan-African Data Protection Authority to drive harmonised data governance approaches across Africa; and a Pan-African Governance Experts Forum on Frontier and Emerging Technologies to advise on AI, robotics, quantum computing, cybersecurity and digital identity as well as other emerging technologies that cut across governance.
During the Leaders Dialogue on cross-border digital financial infrastructure, experts emphasised the need to harmonise payment systems, align digital finance with AfCFTA trade mechanisms, and strengthen collaboration among regulators, fintechs, telecom operators, and banks to accelerate trusted and inclusive financial innovation.
Closing the Summit, Ambassador Rose-Quatre called on African governments, investors, institutions, and innovators to align their efforts to build interoperable, citizen-centred digital systems that strengthen governance, expand trade, and position Africa competitively in the global digital economy.
The Summit was preceded by The Golden Hour, a high-level convening focused on women in technology and digital leadership. Bringing together women leaders from policy, finance, innovation, philanthropy, and civil society, the platform reinforced the importance of women’s leadership in shaping Africa’s inclusive digital future. Opening the session, Ambassador Rose-Quatre noted: “Africa’s digital transformation cannot happen for women without women.”
For media inquiries or further information, please contact the APRM Continental Secretariat at info@aprm-au.org.
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