Africa’s Digital Future: Reflections from the 14th Africa Internet Governance Forum in Dar es Salaam, Africa
The 14th edition of the Africa Internet Governance Forum (Africa IGF) took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, drawing stakeholders from across the continent and beyond to engage in vital conversations on Africa’s digital future.
With support from the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the forum provided a platform for multistakeholder dialogue that included government authorities, the private sector, civil society, academia, technical experts, and youth leaders, bring together more than 500 participants from over 40 countries.
Held under the theme of “Strengthening Digital Governance for Africa’s Sustainable Development,” the forum addressed the challenges and opportunities shaping Africa’s evolving digital landscape. At the heart of the conversations were the urgent priorities of digital inclusion, cybersecurity, data protection, youth participation, and the harmonization of policies across African states.
Among the key contributors was Amb. Dr. Khouzeifi Issakha Doud-bane, Global Peace Ambassador at the Institute of Public Policy & Diplomacy Research (IPPDR) and Youth Representative to the Africa IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG).
His presence at the Africa Youth IGF and his intervention during the forum’s closing ceremony resonated deeply, marking a pivotal moment for youth engagement in Africa’s Internet governance ecosystem.
IGF Africa Anchored in Multistakeholder Collaboration
The event placed strong emphasis on building partnerships to advance Africa’s digital transformation in alignment with the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy (2020–2030) and the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Sessions and panels explored key themes such as:
- Expanding digital inclusion and equitable connectivity to ensure that underserved communities, particularly women, rural populations, and persons with disabilities, are not left behind.
- Advancing data protection and cybersecurity, with calls for national and regional strategies that respect privacy and promote safe online environments.
- Supporting youth-led innovation and digital entrepreneurship, recognizing the untapped potential of Africa’s young population in shaping the digital economy.
- Ensuring policy harmonization and shared regulatory frameworks across African states to avoid fragmentation and promote digital trade.
Elevating Youth Voices: Africa Youth IGF 2025
One of the most vibrant components of the forum was the Africa Youth IGF, a parallel initiative that centers the voice of African youth in Internet governance. As digital natives, young people across the continent are leading innovation in fintech, e-learning, e-governance, and civic tech. Yet, they remain underrepresented in policy-making spaces.
In this context, the Africa Youth IGF serves not only as a training ground but also as a platform for accountability. It brings together youth delegates to debate digital policy, co-create solutions, and present their priorities to decision-makers.
Amb. Dr. Khouzeifi Issakha Doud-bane, a leading youth advocate and seasoned diplomat, played a key role in the closing ceremony of the youth forum. Representing both IPPDR and the Africa IGF MAG, Dr. Doud-bane delivered a powerful address that emphasized:
Empowering African youth to participate meaningfully in Internet governance discussions, not as beneficiaries, but as active contributors.
Building structured networks for sustained youth engagement at national, regional, and global levels.
Encouraging multistakeholder collaboration that includes youth voices in developing local digital ecosystems. He called on policymakers to move beyond tokenism and to integrate young experts into working groups, policy drafting, and governance bodies that influence the future of Africa’s Internet space.
Youth Leadership and the Digital Divide
Dr. Doud-bane’s speech also shed light on the role of youth in closing the digital divide across Africa. In his view, the true measure of progress is not merely in broadband expansion or smart city developments, but in the ability of every young African to access opportunity, express themselves safely online, and contribute to nation-building.
He challenged African governments to invest not only in infrastructure but in digital literacy, local innovation hubs, and inclusive digital policies. “The bandwidth of our ideas will shape Africa’s future,” he noted, “and youth are the architects of that transformation.”
From Local Action to Global Influence
Looking ahead to the Global IGF, participants at the Africa IGF outlined their strategic roadmap. African states are preparing to present unified positions on key issues such as data sovereignty, AI governance, misinformation, and equitable Internet access.
Dr. Doud-bane encouraged his peers to align with continental frameworks while also shaping global norms. He urged youth to participate in consultations, submit written inputs, and join working groups under the Internet Governance Forum Secretariat and UN Digital Cooperation processes.
His final remarks echoed the essence of the Africa IGF: collaborative leadership, continental coherence, and global engagement. As a peace ambassador, Dr. Doud-bane also linked digital governance to global stability, noting that “safeguarding digital rights is integral to peacebuilding in the 21st century.”
The Role of IPPDR and the Path Forward
The Institute of Public Policy & Diplomacy Research (IPPDR), through its leadership and its global peace ambassadors such as Dr. Doud-bane, continues to advocate for diplomatic solutions to global challenges, including those arising in cyberspace.
With active engagement in peace, education, human rights, and digital policy, IPPDR’s contributions to global governance remain indispensable.
At the Africa IGF, IPPDR’s presence reinforced the message that peace, policy, and digital development are interconnected. From conflict-prone regions to emerging economies, the ability to govern the Internet responsibly will determine the quality of life for millions.
Conclusion
The 14th Africa IGF was more than a conference. It was a reaffirmation of Africa’s vision for a sovereign, secure, inclusive, and dynamic digital future. Through multistakeholder dialogue and bold youth leadership, the forum set the stage for transformative change.
Dr. Khouzeifi Issakha Doud-bane’s intervention reminded the world that youth are not just the future, they are the present. Their contributions to Internet governance are essential, not optional. And as Africa steps boldly into the digital age, voices like his will continue to echo across boardrooms, parliaments, and policies, shaping the continent’s destiny one byte at a time.
