Global Africa Tech: African Ministerial Summit Concludes With Algiers Declaration on Sovereign Telecommunication

The African Ministerial Telecommunications Summit, held this week as part of the “Global Africa Tech” event, wrapped up with the launch of the Algiers Declaration on African Sovereign Telecommunications (2026–2030), the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications said Wednesday in a release.

The ministry noted that the Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Sid Ali Zerrouki, chaired a high-level African ministerial summit that brought together ministers and senior officials from across the continent, as well as representatives from regional and international organizations, regulatory authorities, and development finance institutions.

The summit’s proceedings focused on strategic discussions around digital sovereignty and integrated connectivity throughout Africa, both identified as critical pillars in the pursuit of broader continental integration.

The summit concluded with the adoption of the “Algiers Ministerial Declaration on African Telecommunications Sovereignty and Integrated Connectivity,” which is considered “a comprehensive continental political document containing 14 articles that set out commitments in universal connectivity, the protection of critical digital infrastructure, data sovereignty, and human capital development.”

These commitments are to be carried out over the 2026–2030 period, “in full alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063.” The ministry further noted that the declaration establishes “an integrated continental framework covering the development of data centers, internet exchange points, and sovereign cloud computing solutions on African soil, alongside the strengthening of cybersecurity and support for home-grown technology ecosystems.”

In this regard, attendees agreed to set up a general secretariat for follow-up and coordination, tasked with “facilitating coordination among member states, promoting the sharing of information and best practices, supporting the monitoring of priority projects, and mobilizing technical and financial partners.”

In his speech at the event, Zerrouki underscored that Algeria is offering today “a genuine continental model for collective action,” anchored in the vision of “All Networks, One Convergence,” which seeks to “achieve full interoperability across the continent’s land, maritime and satellite infrastructures.” He further said that telecommunications infrastructure “is no longer a narrowly sectoral concern, but has become a strategic pillar of sovereignty, resilience and inclusivity, and an indispensable foundation for continental economic integration.”

For their part, summit participants expressed “their deep gratitude and appreciation to the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, for his unwavering commitment and continuous efforts toward the rise of a strong, integrated and influential Africa, grounded in a shared vision of development and continental solidarity.”

At the close of the summit, participants also agreed to submit the ministerial declaration to the upcoming African Union Summit for consideration and adoption, a step that would reinforce its continental standing and embed its guiding principles at the core of the continent’s strategic agenda, according to the statement.