Africa’s Next Digital Investment Must Be in Institutions, Not Just Infrastructure

As the global community marks two decades of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), attention is shifting from defining digital ambitions to delivering measurable outcomes. During the high-level WSIS Forum 2026 session, Africa’s Digital Roadmap to 2035: Implementing WSIS+20 Outcomes, Advancing Agenda 2063 and Accelerating Inclusive Digital Transformation, leaders from across the continent converged on a common message: Africa’s digital future will be determined not only by expanding connectivity, but by strengthening digital governance, investing in skills, financing resilient infrastructure, advancing artificial intelligence readiness and deepening regional cooperation. The discussion underscored that implementing the WSIS+20 outcomes requires coordinated action that aligns continental priorities with Agenda 2063 while ensuring that digital transformation creates tangible opportunities for citizens, businesses and communities across Africa.