Rwanda Seeks Re Election to ITU Council

Rwanda has submitted its candidacy for re election to the International Telecommunication Union Council for the 2027 to 2030 term.

Role of the ITU Council

The ITU Council acts as the Union’s governing body between conferences. It approves budgets, oversees finances, and guides strategy. The Council includes 48 elected Member States.

Candidacy Announcement

Urujeni Bakuramutsa announced the bid on May 4 in Geneva. She represents Rwanda as ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Europe.

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Rwanda is seeking a fifth consecutive mandate. The country has served on the Council since 2010. Its current term runs from 2023 to 2026.

Rwanda’s Contributions

Bakuramutsa stated that Rwanda focuses on global connectivity and inclusive digital access. The country has taken part in discussions on spectrum management, digital policy, and artificial intelligence.

Rwanda has supported initiatives that expand access, promote innovation, and reduce the digital divide. It has also advocated for developing countries in global ICT discussions.

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Global and Regional Engagement

Rwanda contributes to the World Summit on the Information Society Fund in Trust since 2013. It also co chairs the Broadband Commission for Digital Development.

At the regional level, Rwanda promotes digital transformation through the Smart Africa Alliance. The initiative is headquartered in Kigali.

Digital Innovation Initiatives

Rwanda continues to expand its digital ecosystem. The country hosts events such as the Mobile World Congress Kigali and the Global AI Summit on Africa held in 2025.

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It is also developing a national data sharing platform, a cybersecurity hub, e government services, and an AI scaling hub. These projects support sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and education.

Hosting Global ICT Events

Rwanda has hosted major ITU events. These include the World Telecommunication Development Conference in 2022, the Partner2Connect Digital Development Roundtable, and the Generation Connect Global Youth Summit.

Future Priorities

If re elected, Rwanda will focus on digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, digital inclusion, innovation, and the space economy.

Recognition from ITU

Doreen Bogdan-Martin praised Rwanda’s digital progress. She highlighted achievements such as the launch of RwandaSAT 1 in 2019 and efforts to manage electronic waste.

She also noted Rwanda’s early adoption of a national AI strategy to expand digital literacy across the country.