Africa Internet Governance Forum 2025

The Mano River Union (MRU) region—comprising Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d'Ivoire—faces significant digital connectivity challenges due to fragmented digital systems that hinder regional economic integration, creating barriers to cross-border trade, financial transactions, and public service delivery. Unlike other African sub-regions with harmonized digital public infrastructure (DPI) strategies, the MRU region lacks interoperable solutions, making mobile money transactions costly, e-governance services inaccessible across borders, and regional data-sharing inefficient. This Lightning Talk highlights the urgent need for a unified DPI framework, focusing on cross-border mobile money interoperability to enhance financial inclusion, e-governance and data-sharing frameworks for seamless digital IDs and trade, and lessons from successful regional DPI initiatives such as the Smart Africa Alliance, UEMOA, and the East African Community. As Africa moves towards a digitally connected future, the MRU region cannot afford to be left behind; this session will explore policy recommendations, private sector engagement, and regional collaboration to accelerate digital transformation for borderless economic growth while addressing existing infrastructure gaps, proposing harmonization strategies, and calling on governments, telecom operators, and regional bodies to foster a unified digital economy for inclusive digital development in West Africa.

Aims and Objectives
This Lightning Talk aims to:

1. Highlight the challenges of fragmented digital public infrastructure (DPI) in the Mano River Union (MRU) region—Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d'Ivoire.
2. Advocate for interoperable DPI solutions that enable seamless cross-border financial transactions, e-governance services, and data-sharing frameworks.

Expected Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will:

1. Gain insights into the current DPI challenges affecting cross-border connectivity in the MRU region.
2. Understand the benefits of harmonized digital public infrastructure, including enhanced financial inclusion, e-governance, and regional trade facilitation.
3. Identify policy and technical strategies to develop interoperable DPI frameworks in MRU countries.
4.  Engage in discussions on collaboration between governments, private sector, and development partners to advance digital transformation.

Justification
The MRU region lags behind other African sub-regions in harmonizing digital public infrastructure, creating barriers to financial inclusion, trade, and digital public services. Without interoperable DPI, citizens and businesses struggle with costly mobile transactions, lack of cross-border e-governance services, and weak digital connectivity. This session is crucial as it:

1. Aligns with Africa’s digital transformation goals, contributing to AfCFTA’s vision of a borderless digital economy.
2. Addresses a regional gap often overlooked in continental discussions on digital public infrastructure.
3. Proposes tangible solutions by drawing from successful DPI models in other African regions.
4. Encourages multi-stakeholder action towards DPI harmonization for a more inclusive and connected West Africa.
5. Join this session to explore how DPI can unlock borderless connectivity and drive digital inclusion in the MRU region!

This session will provide a comprehensive exploration of how Africa's youth population can harness artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to develop innovative solutions addressing the continent's most pressing challenges. With 60% of Africa's population currently under 25 years old (World Bank 2024) and the continent's digital economy projected to grow to $712 billion by 2050, these emerging technologies represent a transformative opportunity for youth empowerment, job creation, and sustainable development._x000D_
The discussion will feature an in-depth examination of four critical areas: First, we will showcase groundbreaking applications of AI and IoT developed by young African innovators across key sectors - from precision agriculture tools increasing crop yields by 40% in Nigeria to AI-powered diagnostic systems improving healthcare access in rural Kenya. Second, we will analyze the persistent skills gap, where despite 72% youth smartphone ownership, only 28% have access to quality AI/IoT training programs (GSMA 2024). Third, we will address the challenge of technological dependence, with 90% of AI tools currently used in Africa being foreign-developed, often lacking cultural and linguistic relevance. Finally, we will highlight success stories like Rwanda's national AI academy training 5,000 youth annually and Mali's open-source IoT firmware reducing implementation costs by 60%._x000D_
Through this session and interactive discussions, participants will: gain practical knowledge about developing contextually appropriate AI and IoT solutions; discover accessible learning resources and funding opportunities for skills development; understand policy frameworks enabling youth innovation; and connect with a pan-African network of peers and mentors. The session will specifically feature a live demonstration of low-cost IoT solutions using sub-$50 components, making the technology accessible to participants across economic backgrounds._x000D_
Designed for young innovators, students, educators, and policymakers alike, this session aims to both inspire and practically equip Africa's next generation of digital leaders. Participants will leave with actionable insights into how they can contribute to building an inclusive, homegrown digital transformation that leverages Africa's unique strengths and addresses its specific needs, while avoiding the pitfalls of technological dependence that have characterized previous industrial revolutions.

Africa is at the dawn of a major digital revolution, yet it remains the continent that has contributed less than 5% to global carbon emissions. However, as digitalization expands across the continent, there is a risk that, without sustainable practices, Africa could see a surge in e-waste, high-energy consumption, and environmental degradation. If not carefully managed, digitalization could accelerate pollution instead of serving as a tool for sustainable development.

This session will explore how Africa can build a digitally advanced yet environmentally responsible future. We will discuss the potential risks of unchecked digital growth and highlight eco-friendly digital innovations that offer Africa a more resilient, cost-effective, and sustainable pathway than traditional digitalization. Green digitalization can reduce operational costs, enhance energy efficiency, and position Africa as a leader in sustainable innovation while avoiding the environmental mistakes made by industrialized nations.

Through real-world case studies, we will examine how governments, businesses, and tech communities can adopt green data centers, promote e-waste recycling, develop energy-efficient AI, and implement sustainable internet infrastructure. Additionally, we will discuss the role of public-private partnerships, policy frameworks, and local innovations in ensuring that Africa’s digital transformation aligns with global climate commitments.

Session Objectives
- Understand the risks and opportunities of Africa’s digital growth in relation to environmental sustainability.
- Highlight the benefits of eco-friendly digitalization, showing why it is more cost-effective and advantageous for Africa’s long-term development.
- Showcase sustainable tech innovations that reduce the environmental impact of digital infrastructure.
- Discuss regulatory and policy solutions to ensure digital expansion does not come at the cost of environmental degradation.
- Encourage a multi-stakeholder approach involving governments, businesses, and civil society to balance digital transformation with ecological responsibility.

Expected Outcomes
- A roadmap for sustainable digitalization in Africa, with actionable recommendations for stakeholders.
- Case studies of successful green digital initiatives from across the continent.
- Commitments from governments and tech companies to adopt responsible digital policies.
- Opportunities for collaboration between policymakers, entrepreneurs, and researchers on sustainable digital solutions.
- Increased awareness of how green digitalization can drive economic and environmental benefits for Africa.

By acting now, Africa has the opportunity to leapfrog towards a more sustainable digital economy, avoiding the environmental pitfalls of other regions while unlocking innovation, economic resilience, and long-term prosperity.

Beyond Borders: Strengthening Cross-Border Collaboration to Fight Cybercrime

Session Type: Lightning Talk ( 10 minutes)
Theme Alignment: Cybersecurity, Resilience & Trust | Enhancing Digital Cooperation

OVERVIEW
Africa’s digital transformation has unlocked immense opportunities but also a growing wave of cybercrime, particularly internet fraud. While governments and financial institutions implement anti-fraud measures within their jurisdictions, cybercriminals exploit weak cross-border cooperation to evade prosecution. Jurisdictional loopholes, fragmented cybersecurity laws, and limited intelligence-sharing create a safe haven for fraud syndicates operating across multiple countries.
This talk will highlight:
1. How cybercriminals exploit regulatory gaps to target individuals and businesses outside and across Africa.
2. Why prosecution rates remain low, despite the existence of anti-cybercrime frameworks.
3. The urgent need for real-time intelligence sharing and legal harmonization among African nations.
4. Practical solutions to enhance regional cooperation and strengthen Africa’s digital security.

Why This Talk Matters
Relevance: Cybercrime is a major barrier to trust in Africa’s digital economy. Without cross-border collaboration, even the most advanced fraud detection tools will be ineffective.
Expertise: As a financial crime prosecutor, I have worked on cases where criminals exploit jurisdictional gaps to escape accountability. This talk will provide insights into what works and what does not.
Action-Oriented: This is not just about the problem, it is about solutions. The talk will offer three concrete actions that policymakers, financial institutions, and enforcement agencies must take to tackle cyber fraud collectively.
Major Takeaways:
1. African nations must stop fighting cybercrime in isolation
2. Regional cybersecurity agreements must be enforced, not just signed.
3. Public-private partnerships between law enforcement, banks, and tech firms are essential to disrupt online fraud networks.
CTA (Call-to-Action)
To truly empower Africa’s digital future, we need a unified cybersecurity front. It is high time we broke jurisdictional silos, closed legal loopholes, and strengthened digital trust across borders.