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African Ministers Adopt Connectivity Pact and Launch Pan-African AI Language Initiative

CIO Africa· July 27, 2026

African telecommunications ministers have endorsed the Abuja Ministerial Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity and launched ATLAS Umoja AI to develop large language models for African languages. This coordinated effort aims to bridge the continent's digital divide by promoting resilient infrastructure and making digital services more relevant through local language support. The initiatives represent a strategic push for digital sovereignty and unified representation ahead of global digital governance meetings later this year.

During the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-26) in Abuja, ministers adopted a continent-wide declaration focused on expanding meaningful connectivity. The Abuja Ministerial Declaration commits governments to technology-neutral regulation, resilient digital infrastructure, and digital inclusion to close the usage gap where millions of people live within broadband coverage but remain offline. Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, emphasized that this collaboration is vital for presenting a unified African position at the upcoming International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha.

A major highlight of the conference was the launch of ATLAS Umoja AI, a collaborative platform involving the governments of Benin, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and Togo, alongside industry partners like the GSMA, Awarri, Zindi, Pawa AI, and Mozisha. This initiative builds upon Nigeria’s 2025 N-ATLAS project to create AI models that support African languages, which currently account for less than two percent of those supported by modern AI systems despite representing nearly one-third of global languages. By pooling datasets and technical expertise, the project seeks to strengthen Africa’s digital sovereignty and create new opportunities in education and economic growth.

The GSMA welcomed the declaration, noting that evidence-based and investment-friendly policies are essential for delivering meaningful connectivity. Alongside the ministerial sessions, the ATU-GSMA African ICT Regulatory Leaders’ Forum addressed critical telecommunications issues such as spectrum management, regional regulatory harmonization, and satellite licensing frameworks for low-Earth orbit (LEO) services. Angela Wamola, GSMA’s Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, noted that providing AI-powered content in local languages is a strategic move to improve digital literacy and encourage broader internet adoption across the continent.

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