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Freetown is hosting the 2026 edition of the West Africa School on Internet Governance (WASIG), bringing together digital policy experts, young professionals, and internet governance fellows from across the West African sub-region at a time when artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital regulation are becoming central to Africa’s technological future.
According to information released by the organizers, the regional training programme has assembled more than 30 fellows drawn from countries within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to strengthen participants’ understanding of internet governance, digital policy, and emerging technology issues affecting the region.
The programme is focusing on key areas including artificial intelligence governance, cybersecurity, digital sovereignty, platform regulation, and internet policy literacy, as governments and institutions across Africa continue to respond to the growing impact of digital transformation.
Organizers said the training is intended to build the capacity of participants to engage more effectively in national, regional, and global internet governance discussions, while also promoting collaboration among digital policy stakeholders within West Africa.
The 2026 gathering in Freetown forms part of a broader regional initiative that has, since 2018, trained more than 1,600 participants across all 15 ECOWAS member states. The initiative has contributed to the development of a growing network of internet governance and digital policy practitioners across the sub-region.
Officials involved in the programme noted that the increasing influence of artificial intelligence, online security threats, and digital regulation has made internet governance training more important for policymakers, civil society actors, technology professionals, and young innovators across Africa.
The training is expected to continue tomorrow with additional technical sessions ahead of the planned Youth Participation Event, where young people will engage in discussions focused on digital rights, innovation, and online safety.
The hosting of the 2026 WASIG in Sierra Leone is being viewed as part of wider regional efforts to strengthen digital knowledge, improve policy engagement, and encourage inclusive participation in shaping the future of internet governance in West Africa.
