NIGERIA – Lesotho has called on African countries to speak with one voice on digital transformation to strengthen the continent’s influence in shaping global information and communication technology policies.
Delivering Lesotho’s policy statement at the Seventh Ordinary Session of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-26) in Abuja, Nigeria, on Thursday, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communication, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr Kanono Ramashamole, said Africa’s strength lies in its unity.
Mr. Ramashamole conveyed greetings from His Majesty King Letsie III to the President and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thanked the Government of Nigeria and the African Telecommunications Union for hosting the conference.
He said Lesotho has learnt during its tenure as Chair of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Communication and ICT (AU STC-CICT) that Africa is most influential when it presents common positions on issues affecting the continent.
Mr. Ramashamole noted that the conference is expected to finalise Africa’s Common Proposals ahead of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference to be held in Doha, consider the Union’s Strategic Plan for 2027 to 2031 and elect new leadership.
He said under the leadership of the Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane and guided by the National Strategic Development Plan II Extended, African Union frameworks and the National Digital Transformation Strategy, Lesotho has made progress in digital governance.
He said the country has developed policies on Artificial Intelligence, Data Management, Broadband and Shared Infrastructure while strengthening cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure and digital government.
Mr. Ramashamole said Lesotho recognises the growing importance of Digital Public Infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence as key pillars of Africa’s digital future.
He said Lesotho has requested the conference to include in Africa’s Common Proposals for Doha a recommendation for the International Telecommunication Union to develop, in collaboration with regional telecommunications organisations, a Digital Public Infrastructure framework and a voluntary Artificial Intelligence-ready data governance framework.
He said the proposed frameworks should promote interoperability, data protection and inclusive digital systems, with particular attention to the needs of Landlocked Developing Countries, Least Developed Countries and Small States.
Mr. Ramashamole also called for reforms that will make the African Telecommunications Union more responsive to emerging technologies.
He said Lesotho has proposed that all official languages of the Union should be treated equally in its documentation, deliberations and public communications.
He further proposed that the planned African Digital Transformation Summit be renamed the African Digital Development Conference, saying the title better reflects the broader objective of advancing digital development across the continent.
Mr. Ramashamole reaffirmed Lesotho’s commitment to working with other African countries to ensure that the continent not only shapes the global digital future but also plays a leading role in its development.
Ends/LENA
