ACCRA, GHANA
As artificial intelligence, digital platforms and online services increasingly shape everyday life, African countries face an important question: how can the continent benefit from the digital revolution while ensuring that no community is left behind?
That question is at the centre of the 15th African Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF 2026), which opens in Accra, Ghana, on 2 November and runs until 5 November.
Held under the theme, “Advancing Africa’s Digital Future Through Innovation, Inclusion, and Trust,”the forum brings together policymakers, government representatives, parliamentarians, private-sector leaders, civil society organisations, technical experts, academics, young people and development partners.
Discussions are expected to address some of the continent’s most pressing digital priorities, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital trust, connectivity, data governance, digital identity, online safety and emerging technologies.
For Africa, the challenge goes beyond gaining access to digital tools. Countries must also develop the skills, policies, infrastructure and local capacity needed to shape technologies that respond to their own development priorities.
Language inclusion is central tothis conversation. Across the continent, millions of people interact with technology in African languages. Yet many digital platforms, translation systems and artificial intelligence tools still offer limited support for these languages.
Expanding African-language representation in digital spaces could improve access to information, education, public services and economic opportunities. It could also enable more communities to participate in the digital economy without language barriers.
The forum therefore provides an opportunity to connect digital governance with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 vision of an integrated, prosperous and people-driven continent.
As Africa advances its digital transformation, innovation must be accompanied by inclusion. A digital future that serves the continent must recognise its linguistic and cultural diversity and ensure that African people can participate in shaping the technologies that affect their lives.
