Burundian Prime Minister Nestor Ntahontuye officially opened the 2025 edition of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) Internet Governance Forum in Bujumbura on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The forum, which runs from February 16 to 21, 2026, is themed “Digital Technology: A Catalyst for Innovation, Inclusion, and Sustainable Development in Central Africa.” Ntahontuye called on Burundian youth and women to make good use of the internet to develop the country, building on the initiatives of the Vision 2040-2060.
According to Nestor Ntahontuye, Africa’s dynamic, creative, and connected youth represent both its wealth and its responsibility in building sustainable, digitally-based development. He indicated that the Burundian government is aware of the potential of a digital divide to accelerate regional integration, create jobs, improve access to healthcare and education, and modernize public administration.
“However, we cannot ignore the challenges that exist. The digital divide, particularly acute in rural areas, the lack of advanced legal frameworks, and issues of cybersecurity and data sovereignty are major obstacles that we must collectively transform into opportunities. The roadmap for internet governance provides a clear framework: moving from intentions to action,” he continued.
Nestor Ntahontuye added that African governments must operationalize their ambitions, transforming political declarations into advanced legal frameworks, concrete projects, and natural partners. For Burundi, the host country of this 2025 edition, this forum demonstrates its unique character. It aligns perfectly with Burundi’s National Vision: an emerging country by 2040 and a developed country by 2060. To achieve this vision, the country will need to establish good digital practices as a central pillar of ethics and development.
For Mr. Ntahontuye, this forum is a unique opportunity for ECCAS countries to learn from experiences, share their own initiatives, and build together a shared vision for a united, inclusive, and resilient Central Africa. He stated that the objectives of this forum are resolutely forward-looking and action-oriented, to achieve professional chain execution and reduce the scope of digital abolition, to build public and shared sovereignty by harmonizing regulations and securing urban infrastructure, and to present a unified Central African position to the world.