Africa’s digital revolution will take centre stage later this month in Rwanda when president Paul Kagame opens the MWC25 Kigali on October 21.
It will be the third consecutive year that the Rwanda leader opens one of the continent’s premier tech and innovation gatherings.
The GSMA-led summit, hosted at the Kigali Convention Centre, is expected to draw government leaders, global tech executives, and start-up innovators from across Africa and beyond.
Vivek Badrinath, director general of the GSMA, stated that the event’s four headline themes, Connected Continent, The AI Future, Fintech, and Africa’s Digital Frontier, will frame discussions on how technology can unlock inclusive growth across the continent.
“We are delighted and honoured to welcome His Excellency Paul Kagame to MWC Kigali once again, where we will gather with innovators, policymakers, and business leaders to address the critical issues driving Africa’s digital ambitions,” he said.
Badrinath underlined that bringing some of the best tech brains in the continent has become key to shaping the next chapter of Africa’s digital transformation, from smartphone affordability and AI adoption to connectivity and fintech solutions.
New features for MWC25 include the GSMA Ministerial Programme, an invitation-only platform for African policymakers to engage on regulation, AI ethics, and cross-border digitalisation.
The Orange Social Ventures Prize will also spotlight social innovators across Africa and the Middle East, while the Future of Education & Work in Africa forum will convene thought leaders on how AI can reshape learning and employment for the next generation.
Building on the momentum of MWC24, which focused on closing Africa’s connectivity gap and empowering youth-led tech start-ups, this year’s edition signals a deeper shift toward AI integration, fintech scaling, and secure 5G adoption as engines of growth.
Under Kagame’s leadership, Rwanda has become a continental benchmark for digital progress, pioneering national e-government services, a thriving startup ecosystem, and Africa’s first drone-powered delivery network.
“Africa’s future will be built on connectivity and innovation. We must ensure technology works for every African, not just a few,” President Kagame said during last year’s opening.
Badrinath emphasized that MWC25 Kigali is a collaborative effort that has drawn support from tech giants such as Huawei, MTN, ZTE, Orange, and the Rwandan Ministry of ICT and Innovation.
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