She made the remarks on May 4, 2026, in Geneva during an official reception held on the sidelines of the ITU Council session, attended by high-level delegates including the ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin.
Bakuramutsa expressed appreciation to Swiss authorities for hosting the session, before highlighting Rwanda’s longstanding role on the ITU Council since 2010, where it represents the African region. She said Rwanda’s engagement has been guided by its commitment to promoting universal and inclusive connectivity in line with global digital development goals.
She noted that Rwanda has actively contributed to international discussions on key issues such as meaningful connectivity, spectrum management, digital policy, and artificial intelligence, while consistently advocating for the interests of developing countries, including affordable access and bridging the digital divide.
The Ambassador also pointed to Rwanda’s broader efforts to position itself as a regional technology hub, citing initiatives such as the Smart Africa Alliance, headquartered in Kigali, and the hosting of Mobile World Congress Kigali since 2022.
She further highlighted national projects aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure and innovation, including a data-sharing platform, a cybersecurity hub, e-government services, and an artificial intelligence scaling hub targeting sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and education.
Bakuramutsa emphasized that despite global progress, about 2.2 billion people remain without internet access, underlining the need for continued international cooperation. She recalled Rwanda’s role in hosting major ICT events, including the World Telecommunication Development Conference in 2022, which contributed to advancing global commitments through the Kigali Declaration and Action Plan.
On the diplomatic front, she formally announced Rwanda’s bid for re-election to the ITU Council, seeking support from Member States to continue contributing to the global ICT agenda, particularly in areas such as digital public infrastructure, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Taking the floor, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin commended Rwanda’s leadership in digital development, both in Africa and globally. She highlighted Kigali’s transformation into a growing innovation hub and referenced key initiatives including the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition and Mobile World Congress Kigali.
Bogdan also praised Rwanda’s progress in artificial intelligence, digital education, and e-waste management, as well as its continued engagement in ITU initiatives. She further acknowledged the role of President Paul Kagame in advancing the country’s digital agenda on the global stage.
karirima@igihe.com
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