African Union leaders and Seychelles President Dr Patrick Herminie have called for stronger investment, better governance and deeper continental cooperation to build a more inclusive and competitive digital economy for Africa.
Speaking at the Forward Africa Leaders Symposium (FALS) Global Conversations 2026 in New York, convened alongside the 81st UN General Assembly, policymakers, development finance institutions, investors and business executives explored how Africa can move beyond digital adoption to become a global architect of technology. The dialogue, co-hosted by the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the AU, was held under the theme “Building the Next Frontier of Africa’s Digital Economy.”
President Herminie stressed that digital transformation must deliver tangible benefits for all Africans, not just a privileged few. He called for inclusive access to technology, connectivity and economic opportunities that support shared prosperity, arguing that digital progress should be measured by improvements in people’s lives rather than by infrastructure rollouts alone.
In his intervention, the Seychelles leader said Africa’s next digital frontier must be built at the intersection of infrastructure, energy, integration and innovation. He warned that these elements can no longer be treated in isolation, since reliable power, affordable broadband and cross-border cooperation are prerequisites for a functioning digital economy.
The AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Lerato D. Mataboge, set out a six-point agenda for building Africa’s digital and AI capabilities. She posed a central question: “Will Africa emerge as an architect of AI systems, or will we remain primarily a consumer of technologies developed elsewhere?”
Her six priorities are: building shared African computing capacity, including regional data centres, AI factories and cloud infrastructure linked to affordable energy; governing African data as a strategic asset with clear rules on privacy, security and cross-border flows; connecting skills training to real economic pathways; financing long-term foundations rather than short-term pilots through patient capital and blended finance; using government purchasing power to create demand for locally relevant solutions; and designing trust into systems from the outset.
Discussions at the symposium also focused on strengthening the links between governance, investment and technology. Leaders agreed that credible institutions, transparent regulation and stable policy environments are essential to attract the capital needed for large-scale digital infrastructure, from undersea cables and data centres to AI research hubs and fintech ecosystems.
The African Peer Review Mechanism’s role in promoting good governance was highlighted as a key enabler. APRM Chief Executive Marie-Antoinette Rose-Quatre and AU Deputy Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi joined Herminie and Mataboge in the high-level dialogue, underscoring the AU’s push to embed governance reforms into its digital transformation agenda.
The conversations in New York build on earlier AU commitments, including the 39th Ordinary Session’s 10-year plan to position Africa as a leading engineer of the digital age by 2034. The challenge now is translating these high-level pledges into concrete investments, regulatory frameworks and cross-border projects that deliver results on the ground.
For African businesses and citizens, the promise of a stronger digital economy hinges on practical outcomes: affordable connectivity, reliable energy, access to capital and skills that lead to jobs. As leaders left New York, the consensus was clear—Africa’s digital future depends on coordinated action across infrastructure, governance and finance, not on any single technology or initiative.
Africa Presents is a Pan-African digital magazine and monthly publication covering politics, business, economy, culture, tech, and the stories shaping Africa and its diaspora. Visit africapresents.com and follow @AfricaPresents for daily coverage and monthly themed magazine editions.
Leave a comment