ATU 2026: GSMA Backs Abuja Declaration, Unveils Pan-African AI Initiative

The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) has endorsed the Abuja Ministerial Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity for Africa, describing it as a major step towards expanding digital inclusion, strengthening investment-friendly policies and accelerating Africa’s digital transformation.

The endorsement came as the association and the governments of Nigeria, Benin, Kenya, Namibia and Togo unveiled ATLAS Umoja AI, a pan-African initiative designed to advance artificial intelligence built around African languages, cultures and development priorities.

Both developments were announced at the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-2026) in Abuja, where ministers and heads of delegation adopted the declaration committing African governments to policies that promote meaningful connectivity, resilient digital infrastructure, technology-neutral regulation and locally relevant digital services.

In a statement signed on Friday by its Press Office, the GSMA said the declaration marked an important milestone in strengthening Africa’s digital future through evidence-based policymaking, increased investment and stronger regional collaboration.

The association noted that the declaration also reinforces collaboration among governments, industry players and development partners to close both the continent’s connectivity and internet usage gaps.

Throughout the conference, the GSMA said it worked with governments, regulators and industry leaders to support these goals through policy engagement, evidence-based research and collaborative initiatives aimed at accelerating digital transformation across Africa.

One of the highlights of the conference was the ATU-GSMA African ICT Regulatory Leaders’ Forum, where policymakers and regulators explored how stronger evidence-based regulation, greater regulatory harmonisation and future-ready policy frameworks could stimulate investment, innovation and sustainable digital growth.

Participants also examined satellite regulation using insights from the GSMA’s Digital Africa Index, with discussions focusing on how technology-neutral licensing frameworks could encourage innovation while extending connectivity to underserved communities.

Senior Director for Public Policy, Africa at the GSMA, Caroline Mbugua, said the declaration reflected a shared commitment among African governments to expand meaningful connectivity.

“The Abuja Ministerial Declaration sends an important signal that African governments share a common vision for delivering meaningful connectivity through modern, evidence-based and investment-friendly policy,” Mbugua said.

She added that the declaration’s emphasis on digital inclusion, technology-neutral regulation, resilient infrastructure and stronger regional collaboration provides “the practical policy foundations needed to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation.”

In support of the declaration’s objectives, the GSMA joined Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Togo’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Transformation, Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Namibia’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Benin’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and Innovation, as well as technology partners Awarri, Zindi, Pawa AI and Mozisha, to launch ATLAS Umoja AI.

The initiative is designed to complement national artificial intelligence programmes by bringing together governments, researchers, innovators and industry stakeholders to share expertise, datasets and best practices in developing trusted and scalable AI solutions for African languages.

According to the GSMA, the initiative aims to accelerate innovation, attract investment and expand African language AI that reflects the continent’s linguistic diversity, cultural heritage and development priorities.

The launch also builds on the momentum of the recently established AI for Good Global Commission. Ministers from Nigeria, Namibia and Togo, who serve on the commission, have committed to supporting the initiative as part of efforts to translate global ambitions for trusted and inclusive AI into practical regional collaboration.

Head of Africa at the GSMA, Angela Wamola, said the future of artificial intelligence on the continent must be shaped by Africans themselves.

“Africa’s AI future must reflect Africa’s own languages, communities and development priorities. Africa Umoja brings together governments, industry, researchers and innovators to build African language AI at scale,” she said.

Wamola noted that making AI and digital services available in local languages would help overcome two major barriers to internet adoption across Africa; digital literacy and the lack of locally relevant content thereby supporting efforts to expand meaningful connectivity.

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said artificial intelligence would be a defining technology for Africa’s future but stressed that its development must be rooted in the continent’s own languages, cultures and knowledge systems.

“Artificial Intelligence will be a defining technology for Africa’s future, but its benefits must be built on our own languages, cultures and knowledge systems,” Tijani said.

He said Nigeria was proud that its National AI Language initiative (N-ATLAS) had evolved into a continental platform.

“Nigeria is proud to have taken the first step through N-ATLAS and is equally proud to see that vision evolve into the continental ATLAS Umoja AI. By working together with governments, researchers and ecosystem partners across Africa, we can build AI that is more inclusive, locally relevant and accessible to millions of people.”

According to the minister, the initiative will strengthen Africa’s digital sovereignty while creating fresh opportunities for innovation, education and economic growth.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Awarri, Silas Adekunle, said the initiative would leverage the lessons learned from N-ATLAS, which had demonstrated the value of combining African language data, local technical expertise and practical AI applications.

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Zindi, Celina Lee, said ATLAS Umoja AI would empower African researchers, developers and data scientists to solve local challenges while strengthening national AI capabilities.

She added that the initiative would help ensure African language AI is developed by Africans, for Africans.

The GSMA said discussions during the conference also focused on future-ready regulatory frameworks, including satellite connectivity, spectrum policy and technology-neutral licensing.

Drawing on its Satellite Regulatory Playbook, participants explored how modern regulatory approaches could encourage investment, expand meaningful connectivity and support the objectives of the Abuja Ministerial Declaration.

The association said the adoption of the Abuja Declaration, the launch of ATLAS Umoja AI and continued collaboration among governments, regulators and industry represent significant progress towards expanding meaningful connectivity, accelerating digital inclusion and advancing Africa’s digital transformation.