By: Precious Miracle Kargbo (Snr)
Sierra Leone is set to host the West Africa Internet Governance Forum (WAIGF) 2026 this May, bringing together policymakers, technology leaders, innovators, creatives, civil society actors, and youth representatives to deliberate on policies and practical solutions shaping the region’s digital future.
Organisers say WAIGF 2026 will serve as a multi-stakeholder platform to address pressing internet-related issues across West Africa including connectivity and broadband affordability, data protection, platform regulation, cybersecurity, digital inclusion, and the role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). The forum aims to move beyond high-level rhetoric by encouraging session proposals that highlight real-world experiences, policy trade-offs, and actionable recommendations.
A public call for session proposals is currently open via Sessionize (sessionize.com/waigf2026). Organisers are urging diverse stakeholders to submit proposals for panels, workshops, and practical demonstrations. Particular emphasis is being placed on sessions that center youth perspectives, community networks, gender barriers to digital access, and locally driven content and services that expand economic opportunities.
“Digital transformation must be anchored in West African realities affordability, language inclusion, and trust,” an organiser noted.
The timing of WAIGF 2026 is considered significant. Governments across the region are accelerating digital transformation strategies, enacting data protection laws, and reviewing regulatory approaches to social media and platform governance. Meanwhile, private investment continues to grow in fintech, e-commerce, and digital health, even as infrastructure gaps and limited digital skills remain persistent challenges.
The forum is expected to address practical implementation issues such as closing the last-mile connectivity gap, strengthening community networks, enhancing national cyber resilience, harmonising regional data governance frameworks, and designing regulations that protect fundamental rights without stifling innovation. Capacity building and cross-border cooperation will also feature prominently, reflecting the transnational nature of digital opportunities and online risks.
Organisers are positioning WAIGF 2026 as an inclusive and action-oriented forum. By inviting proposals from a broad range of actors, the platform aims not only to identify challenges but also to incubate pilot initiatives and generate regional recommendations for adoption by ECOWAS, national governments, the private sector, and development partners.
As preparations intensify, stakeholders are encouraged to submit session ideas through the official platform and register early. With digital policy decisions increasingly shaping economic and social outcomes, WAIGF 2026 seeks to help chart a distinctly West African path toward an open, safe, and equitable internet.