The Seventh Ordinary Session of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) has ended in Abuja with the adoption of the 2026 Abuja Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity for Africa, aimed at accelerating efforts to bridge the continent’s digital divide.

The declaration was formally adopted by ICT ministers and heads of delegation from across Africa during the summit, with member states committing to prioritising internet access in rural, remote and underserved communities.

The agreement comes amid concerns over the persistent disparity in access to digital technologies between Africa and other regions of the world, with limited connectivity continuing to constrain economic and social opportunities for millions of Africans.

In a statement endorsed by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, who assumed the chairmanship role for Nigeria, member states highlighted the continent’s significant connectivity gap.

The statement noted that global internet usage had reached approximately 68 per cent, rising to about 94 per cent in high-income regions, while internet penetration in Africa remained just above 38 per cent, the lowest among International Telecommunication Union (ITU) regions.

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To address the challenge, the declaration provides a framework focused on stimulating demand, expanding digital infrastructure and ensuring equitable access to digital resources across the continent.

Member states stressed that closing the connectivity and usage gap, particularly in rural, remote and underserved communities, had become an urgent continental priority requiring coordinated and immediate policy action.

The chairperson emphasised the need for African countries to move beyond policy commitments and accelerate implementation of measures capable of extending meaningful connectivity to communities that remain digitally excluded.

The declaration also called for stronger collaboration among governments, development partners, industry stakeholders and civil society organisations to mobilise the investment and expertise required to achieve Africa’s connectivity objectives.

Participants urged international development partners and private-sector players to align their investments with the strategic objectives of the African Union Agenda 2063 and the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa.

The summit’s outcome is expected to strengthen continental cooperation on digital infrastructure, promote inclusive access to technology and support efforts to ensure that underserved African communities benefit from the continent’s digital transformation