By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
More than 15 African
ministers and senior delegation officials have met in Doha to assess progress
in negotiations at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 (PP-26) and strengthen coordination on issues
affecting the continent’s interests.
The meeting was hosted by
African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Secretary-General John Omo and chaired
by Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr
‘Bosun Tijani, who also chairs the ATU Conference of Plenipotentiaries.
The discussions focused on
assessing progress, identifying gaps in the ongoing negotiations and
determining how best to safeguard Africa’s common positions as decisions at the
conference shape the future of global telecommunications and digital development.
Africa submitted 50 African
Common Proposals to the conference, backed by 32 Member States. This represents
more than twice the ITU’s minimum requirement of 15 supporting Member States,
with attention now focused on converting the strong regional backing into
favourable outcomes for the continent.
The meeting also addressed
the forthcoming ITU elections, with particular attention to Africa’s candidates
for key leadership positions within the organisation.
Zimbabwe’s Cosmas Luckyson
Zavazava is seeking re-election as Director of the ITU Telecommunication
Development Bureau.
Meanwhile, four African
candidates are contesting the continent’s three seats on the Radio Regulations
Board. They are Basebi Jacqui Mosinyi of Botswana, Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko of
Ghana, Mohamed El-Moghazi of Egypt and Sana Zairi of Morocco.
Voting is scheduled to begin
on November 12, while 19 African countries are also contesting 13 seats on the
ITU Council.
The ATU said the meeting
provided an important opportunity for African leaders to address outstanding
challenges, strengthen coordination and improve the continent’s electoral
prospects.
