By: Robert
Kwaku Annor
The 18th West Africa
Internet Governance Forum (WAIGF) has concluded in Freetown, Sierra Leone, with
stakeholders across the region calling for stronger regional cooperation and a
more inclusive approach to digital governance and sovereignty.
The forum brought together
more than 600 participants, including policymakers, technology leaders, youth
innovators, academics, civil society organizations, and development partners in
a hybrid format to discuss the future of West Africa’s digital ecosystem.
According to the final
communiqué issued at the end of the event, digital sovereignty in West Africa
should not be viewed as isolation from the global internet, but rather as the
ability of governments, institutions, and citizens to make informed and accountable
decisions regarding data governance, digital infrastructure, emerging
technologies, platforms, cybersecurity, standards, and digital rights while
maintaining the openness and interoperability of the internet.
Participants at the forum
adopted 13 actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening digital inclusion,
improving internet governance frameworks, and promoting responsible digital
innovation across the sub-region.
Discussions during the event
also focused on platform accountability, economic justice in the digital
economy, and the growing role of young people in shaping Africa’s digital
transformation agenda. Delegates emphasized the need to place youth at the center
of policy development and innovation ecosystems to ensure sustainable digital
growth.
Regional coordination
through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was also
identified as a critical pillar in advancing harmonized digital policies and
strengthening collaboration among member states.
The forum reaffirmed the
region’s commitment to building a secure, inclusive, and development-oriented
digital future that supports economic growth, innovation, and citizen
participation across West Africa.
