With the participation of representatives of 11 African diplomatic missions, chaired by the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for African Affairs
In a move aimed at strengthening African dialogue on the future of digital integration, the Future of Digital Countries Summit (FDC Summit 2026) hosted a high-level roundtable on “Digital Integration Diplomacy in Africa,” with the participation of ambassadors and representatives of 11 African diplomatic missions accredited to the Arab Republic of Egypt. The roundtable was chaired by Ambassador Mohamed Karim Sherif, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for African Affairs.
The roundtable is part of the Summit’s efforts to strengthen channels of dialogue between Egypt and African countries, and to open space for coordination and the exchange of views on how to turn continental digital frameworks and policies into practical pathways that support digital integration, encourage investment and digital trade, and strengthen cooperation in cybersecurity, data, and emerging technologies.
Translating Continental Frameworks into Practical Investment Opportunities
Held under the title “From Digital Frameworks to Investments: Digital Integration Diplomacy in Africa,” the roundtable was moderated by Mr. Ahmed Tarek Fawzy, Commercial Counsellor and Egypt’s Deputy Chief Negotiator for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The session also featured the participation of Eng. Mahmoud Sofrata, Vice President of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) for ICT Market Development, alongside Mr. Bassem Saleh, Regional Sales Director for Africa at F5.
Discussions focused on narrowing the gap between the adoption of continental frameworks and their implementation at the national level. Participants reviewed key continental developments, including the Digital Trade Protocol annexed to the AfCFTA Agreement (covering digital identity, cross-border payments, and data flows), the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection, the AU Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy, and the AU Data Policy Framework.
Three Strategic Pillars for Continental Integration
Over the course of two hours, the roundtable examined three interlinked thematic tracks:
Digital Infrastructure as a core pillar of continental integration.
Digital Trade and the broader African integration agenda.
Cyber Diplomacy to strengthen Africa’s voice in international discussions on cyberspace.
Trust and practical cooperation among states and relevant institutions emerged as essential prerequisites for advancing digital integration, facilitating cross-border digital trade, and addressing cybersecurity and data governance challenges.
"Cairo Document" and Presenting Outcomes at El Alamein Forum
In light of the discussions, participants agreed to prepare a concise outcome document, provisionally titled the “Cairo Document for Trust and African Digital Integration.” The document will synthesize key insights and priorities facing the continent’s digital integration agenda.
The key outcomes are scheduled to be presented at the El Alamein Forum for Africa (2–4 October 2026) to broaden dialogue and support continued African consultation toward a more connected digital economy.
Roundtable participants included ambassadors and representatives from Angola, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, alongside representatives of other participating African missions.
