Gabon is spearheading a diplomatic effort to consolidate African positions on global digital policy, positioning the continent to exert greater influence at the upcoming International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26).
Mark-Alexandre Doumba, Gabon’s Minister of Digital Economy, Digitalization and Innovation, engaged in high-level African Union ministerial consultations on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The discussions laid the groundwork for an upcoming ministerial summit in Libreville on October 29–30, 2026, aimed at establishing a unified African digital policy framework.
Priority Policy Pillars for the African Continent
The strategic agenda moving from New York to Libreville centers on key operational and regulatory challenges facing African digital ecosystems:
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Digital Content Monetization & Youth Inclusion: Establishing frameworks that ensure African digital creators and young entrepreneurs receive fair revenue distribution and commercial value from global digital platforms.
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Platform & Content Regulation: Harmonizing regional standards for online safety, data sovereignty, and digital platform accountability without stifling local innovation.
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Satellite Internet & Spectrum Policy: Defining clear regulatory standards and licensing conditions for low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet providers entering African markets, ensuring spectrum alignment and local infrastructure integration.
The Road to ITU PP-26 in Doha
The Libreville ministerial summit serves as a key regional milestone before African delegations converge at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26), taking place from November 9 to 27, 2026, in Doha, Qatar.
As the ITU’s supreme policy-making body, PP-26 will convene 194 member states to elect the 48 Member States of the governing ITU Council and set international telecommunications policies for the next four years.
Gabon has formally submitted its candidacy for a seat on the ITU Council, seeking to directly represent African digital infrastructure priorities, cross-border connectivity needs, and technical sovereignty within global governance institutions.
