Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, has called for stronger cross-border digital systems across Africa, arguing that greater interoperability is essential for countries to fully benefit from technology and artificial intelligence.
Ingabire made the remarks ahead of the United Nations General Assembly during the GABI Solutions Lab session, “One Barrier, One Bet,” where she highlighted Rwanda’s experience in using technology and innovation to support economic transformation.
She said African countries need to move beyond developing digital solutions independently and instead create systems that can communicate and operate across national borders.
“We need to move beyond working in isolation and start building interoperable systems that allow our countries and citizens to connect, transact and innovate across borders,” Ingabire said.
Rwanda has positioned digital transformation as a key component of its development strategy, with investments in digital public services, connectivity, innovation and emerging technologies forming part of efforts to build a technology-driven economy.
Ingabire said the experience demonstrates the importance of creating an enabling environment where technology can be deployed to address development challenges while opening new opportunities for businesses and citizens.
The minister also pointed to artificial intelligence as an area where greater regional cooperation could help Africa capture more value from the rapidly expanding technology sector.
She argued that fragmented digital infrastructure and differing systems between countries can limit the movement of data, services and businesses, making interoperability an important priority for the continent’s digital future.
The call comes as African countries increasingly explore ways to harness AI for sectors including healthcare, education, agriculture, finance and public administration.
By strengthening connections between national digital systems, countries could create a more integrated digital market, support innovation and make it easier for businesses and citizens to access services across borders.
Ingabire’s remarks at the GABI Solutions Lab therefore placed regional digital cooperation at the centre of discussions on how Africa can move from adopting technology to building an interconnected digital economy capable of leveraging the opportunities presented by AI.
