The year 2025 marked a defining moment for Africa’s technology ambitions, with Rwanda’s capital Kigali emerging as a central stage for high-level conversations on digital transformation. From artificial intelligence and fintech to connectivity, cybersecurity, and blockchain innovation, the city hosted a series of continental and global forums that moved discussions beyond theory into partnerships, policy commitments, multilateral collaborations, and action. Throughout the year, policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors convened in the city for summits, research conferences, and innovation showcases, reinforcing Kigali’s growing reputation as a hub for technology-driven development and continental collaboration. Here are some of the key technology events that shaped Rwanda’s and Africa’s tech ecosystem in 2025: Inclusive Fintech Forum (IFF) The second edition of the Inclusive Fintech Forum, held in February 2025, brought together more than 3,000 participants, including government officials, technology experts, financial institutions, and investors. ALSO READ: Kagame roots for conducive business environment, harmonised fintech regulations Organised by Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC) in partnership with Singapore’s Elevandi and the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), the forum explored how fintech can drive financial inclusion across Africa. Discussions focused on strengthening the fintech ecosystem, equipping African SMEs for the digital ecosystem, unlocking investment in fintech for financial inclusion, AfCFTA vision for digital trade, modernizing insurance delivery in Africa, and the credit gap on the continent, among others. Global AI Summit on Africa In April, Rwanda hosted the inaugural Global AI Summit on Africa, a high-level gathering that focused on examining Africa’s role in the global artificial intelligence(AI) ecosystem and the technology’s impact on job creation and economic growth, among others. Organised by the Rwanda Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR), the summit was held under the theme “AI and Africa’s Demographic Dividend: Reimagining Economic Opportunities for Africa’s Workforce.” It attracted more than 1,000 participants, over 100 AI enterprises, and delegates from 95 countries. According to C4IR data, AI could add up to $2.9 trillion to Africa’s economy. The summit concluded with the adoption of the Africa Declaration on Artificial Intelligence, which commits the continent to leveraging AI responsibly for inclusive and sustainable development. Among its ambitions is the establishment of an Africa AI Council and a proposed $60 billion Africa AI Fund to support ecosystem growth. Mobile World Congress (MWC) Africa 2025 Held in October, Mobile World Congress Africa, Africa’s largest connectivity summit, focused on translating advances in artificial intelligence and fintech into tangible economic benefits. ALSO READ: From policy to action: How Kigali became ground zero for Africa’s connectivity revolution With Africa’s telecommunication sector experiencing rapid growth, projected to exceed $82 billion by 2029, driven largely by a young population and growing smartphone adoption, the event provided a platform for governments and industry players to align on infrastructure and policy priorities. One of the key outcomes of the congress was the launch of the Handset Affordability Coalition, a joint initiative aimed at reducing the cost of internet-capable devices. The coalition brings together major telecom operators, namely Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, MTN, Orange, and Vodacom, alongside global institutions such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Bank. Africa Blockchain Festival The Africa Blockchain Festival, held from November 7 to 10 at Kigali Convention Centre, drew more than 1,000 participants to explore how blockchain technology and artificial intelligence can reshape Africa’s economic future. ALSO READ: ‘Time for Africa to shift from tech consumer to innovator,’ experts say Experts at the festival urged African countries to move beyond consuming imported technologies and instead invest in developing homegrown blockchain and AI solutions. Discussions centred on using these technologies to drive transparency, financial inclusion, and sustainable development across key sectors. Africa Cyber Defense Forum As internet use continues to rise across the continent, cybersecurity has become a critical concern. The sixth edition of the Africa Cyber Defense Forum brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and cybersecurity experts to address how Africa can secure its rapidly expanding digital economy while reducing reliance on foreign technologies. Speaking at the forum, Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire warned of the scale of cyber threats facing the continent. “Cybercrime has already cost us billions, but beyond the money, it undermines trust and threatens national sovereignty,” Ingabire said. “If one African country is vulnerable, the entire continent is exposed.” Ingabire highlighted Rwanda’s efforts to strengthen digital resilience, including the establishment of a continental cyber hub centre of excellence for research, training, and collaboration. Africa Health Tech Summit The three-day Africa Health Tech Summit took place in October at KCC and brought together over 1,800 experts, innovators, and policy makers from across the continent to explore solutions and strategies for healthcare in Africa. ALSO READ: Africa in urgent need of digital health solutions - experts During the summit, experts emphasized that technology offers a unique opportunity to transform healthcare delivery to its 1.5 billion people. Africa Conference on Machine Learning, Optimisation and Applications (MLOA) The second Africa Conference on Machine Learning, Optimisation and Applications (MLOA), held on September 23 in Kigali, brought together leading scientists and researchers to advance discussions on locally developed AI solutions. Participants emphasised the need for customised technologies tailored to Africa’s needs in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, water management, and energy. Abebe Geletu, the German Research Chair at AIMS Rwanda, cautioned against overreliance on foreign-developed AI tools. He noted that the conference provided African students and researchers with exposure to world-class expertise, helping to guide research priorities and encourage innovation-driven entrepreneurship.
