H.E. Mr Nestor Bankumukunzi, Minister of Posts, Information Technologies, Communication and Media

of the Republic of Burundi

Algiers, 12-13 February 2017.

H.E. Nestor Bankumukunzi, minister of Posts, Information Technologies, Communication and Media of the Republic of Burundi was in Algiers from the 12-13 February 2017.

The works of the AfribanInternet Governance conference started 0n 12 February in the presence of the Minister of Post and Information and Communication Technologies Iman-Houda FERAOUN and several other African ministers.

24 African countries, including 17 ministers, representatives of continental institutions like the (ABD) African Development Bank, International Union of Telecommunications (UIT) and the African Union (AU), as well as experts in the field of internet governance are taking part in the meeting.

This high-level meeting “is meant to provide space for debates and exchange of views between the different players of the Pan-African digital sphere, to discuss coordination opportunities for the internet governance in the African countries,” said the organizers of the meeting.

“The direct impact of the internet on the African populations’ daily lives in the social, cultural, economic and political fields is a challenge for Africa, which remains the continent that benefits least from the spin-offs of the digital economy,” added the source.

Through the organization of this meeting, “Algeria, faithful to its African commitments, reaffirms its readiness to act in close collaboration with the other members of the AU with a view to boosting the digital economy in order to ensure better interconnection and exchanges in line with the aspirations of the African peoples.”

On the sidelines of the conference, the Trans-Saharan Optical Fiber Backbone, (CLTD) Liaison Committee will be set up.