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Kigali, Rwanda — October 22, 2025
Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Hon. Paula Ingabire, has called on African nations to pursue “digital independence” by building home-grown technologies designed for the continent’s unique challenges. Speaking during the opening of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Africa 2025 in Kigali, the Minister urged policymakers, innovators, and investors to collaborate in shaping Africa’s digital future rather than relying on imported solutions.
“The future of mobile in Africa will be defined by collaboration,” Ingabire told delegates. “We must converge across governments, industries and innovators. We must connect people, ideas and markets, and we must create solutions that are designed in Africa, built for Africa, and scaled to the world.”
The Minister emphasized that Africa’s growing connectivity must translate into economic value through local innovation, digital skills, and technology entrepreneurship. She noted that while internet penetration and mobile access have risen sharply, the continent still imports most of its digital tools and platforms.
Ingabire showcased Rwanda’s rapid digital transformation as a case study, pointing to the nation’s progress in expanding broadband coverage, digital ID systems, and e-government platforms. She stressed that policy alignment, public–private partnerships, and regional cooperation are key to sustaining growth across Africa’s digital ecosystem.
“Connectivity is not the finish line — it is the starting point,” she added. “Our goal is to ensure every connection creates opportunity — through digital jobs, affordable access, and inclusive participation in the global economy.”
The “Africa-Led Digital Independence” vision outlined by Ingabire aligns with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 agenda and complements ongoing continental initiatives under the Smart Africa Alliance and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
She urged governments to invest in digital skills development, startup ecosystems, and local content creation, while also ensuring data governance frameworks that promote trust and cybersecurity.
Industry leaders at MWC Kigali echoed her call, with GSMA representatives highlighting the need for intra-African collaboration to harmonize spectrum policies, reduce device costs, and improve broadband affordability. Delegates also pointed to Rwanda’s role as a model for policy-driven innovation and regional digital integration.
The three-day event — themed “Connect, Create, and Converge” — brought together over 3,000 participants, including government officials, telecom operators, technology firms, and investors. Discussions centered on advancing Africa’s mobile economy, driving fintech growth, and building resilient digital infrastructure across the continent.
As MWC Kigali concluded, Ingabire reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to working with African and global partners to ensure technology becomes a driver of shared prosperity, not dependency.
“Africa’s digital destiny will be written by Africans,” she said. “We have the talent, the ambition, and the responsibility to lead our own digital future.”
