By Arasha Soila
The Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) of the Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) has selected a new leadership to steer initiatives aimed at enhancing internet governance frameworks throughout Africa, reaffirming its commitment to a collaborative approach in addressing digital policy challenges.
The selection process unfolded through a multi-stage evaluation framework coordinated by the African IGF Secretariat, which recorded 146 leadership nominations originating from 39 national jurisdictions across Africa, representing a broad spectrum of stakeholders.
The Nominations Committee implemented a merit-based evaluation framework to ensure equitable geographic, gender, and sectoral representation across the MAG’s 10 appointed positions, in accordance with the AfIGF’s governance protocols.
Hon. Alhagie Mbow, a member of The Gambia’s National Assembly and the Pan-African Parliament, assumed the Chair role, while his counterpart, Winnie Kamau—a pioneering data journalist and organizational head of the Association of Freelance Journalists in Kenya will serve as the Vice Chair.
Expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to serve, Winnie Kamau, Vice Chair of the Africa IGF MAG, stated that she was honored to have been elected. She will serve for the 2025-2027 term, contributing to the Africa Internet Governance Forum’s multi-stakeholder efforts.
“I extend my sincere gratitude to the MAG members for their trust and confidence in my leadership. It is a privilege to serve in this role and contribute to shaping Africa’s digital future.” she said.
Ms. Winnie underscored that as she assumes her new role as vice chair, her commitment is to strengthen multi-stakeholder engagement, promote inclusive internet policies, and drive meaningful discussions on Africa’s digital transformation.
“The internet plays a crucial role in economic growth, innovation, and access to opportunities, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that governance frameworks reflect the diverse needs of all communities,” she noted.
Hon. Alhagie Mbow, Chair of the Africa IGF MAG, additionally stated that it is an honour and a privilege to be nominated among other competent personalities to serve the people of Africa. “I sincerely thank everyone who played a role in my nomination and entrusted me with this responsibility,” he reaffirmed.
The Africa MAG employs a collaborative approach to internet governance, bringing together diverse stakeholders including governments, civil society, technical experts, academia, the private sector, and regional bodies like UNECA and the AUC.
This inclusive framework enables the MAG to tackle critical internet governance issues and capitalize on opportunities across Africa.
Under its new leadership, the MAG seeks to enhance digital collaboration, facilitate policy discussions, and back initiatives that propel Africa’s digital development.
This involves supporting initiatives that address emerging issues such as cybersecurity, digital inclusion, and the development of local content, thereby ensuring that the benefits of a viable information society are accessible to all Africans.
