High-Level Egyptian Participation in the 6th Session of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on ICT in Gabon

Sunday 25 October 2026 07:32

The Arab Republic of Egypt, represented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), is participating in the sixth session of the African Union’s Specialized Technical Committee on Communication and Information Technologies (STC-CICT). Hosted in Libreville, the capital of Gabon, from October 26 to 30, this participation coincides with a ministerial meeting dedicated to unifying African positions ahead of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference 2026.

The Primary Platform for Continental Digital Policy Formulation

The Committee serves as the principal engine for ministers of ICT, digital transformation, and posts across AU member states. Its mandate includes adopting continental policies and strategies, providing advisory guidance, and addressing critical issues requiring unified efforts to advance Africa's digital agenda.

International Attendance and Discussions on the Future of AI

The session features broad participation from sector ministers, specialized African institutions, international organizations, and key stakeholders in emerging technologies. The event reviews continental progress in digital transformation while exploring ways to strengthen Africa’s role in shaping global governance frameworks and standards for the digital landscape and Artificial Intelligence.

Event Agenda and Ministerial Meetings

The agenda includes a continental capacity-building workshop on digital identity, followed by an expert-level meeting on technical topics and several side events. The STC Ministerial Meeting will take place on October 29, followed by a preparatory ministerial meeting for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha.

A Leading Egyptian Role in Supporting Africa's Digital Agenda

Notably, Egypt hosted the third session of the committee in Sharm El-Sheikh in October 2019, which saw the adoption of pivotal decisions, including the "Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa 2020–2030," the establishment of the African Working Group on AI, and the AU Data Policy Framework. Leading the Working Group on AI, Egypt drafted the AU Continental AI Strategy, which was subsequently endorsed by the AU Executive Council during its 45th Ordinary Session in Accra, Ghana, in July 2024.