Internet stakeholders from all over Africa recently discussed Internet policy at the first African Internet Governance Forum held in Cairo, Egypt. Issues at hand include the management of Internet resources and infrastructure. More specifically, these themes are comprised of cyber security, Internet peering, and general ICT participation. Previously, regional events have yielded great participation from public and private sectors. A main goal of the event was to synthesize viewpoints from the five African regions (North, East, Southern, West, Central).

Perhaps the best way to quickly learn what themes were most discussed is via Twitter. A selection of insights and opportunities for African IG are below.

Human rights

Discussing using ICT to promote for the Human Rights in Africa #AFIGF

— Amany Atef (@AmanyAtef) October 2, 2012

Lack of human capital

How many Africans really have time, resources, and expertise in issues of Internet Governance and ITR #afigf

— Nnenna(@nnenna) October 2, 2012

Egypt

Egyptian minister of ICT – The new gov’t is committed in using ICT for development #afigf

— Sleen Samme-Nlar (@tomsleen) October 3, 2012

#AfIGF in Cairo, Mr. Makane Faye, UNECA:Millions of people in Africa have internet access now. Still, there is a huge potential for Africa.

— MCIT_News (@MCIT_News) October 3, 2012

Results of regional IGFs

Mr ridha from tunisia is talking about the north #AfIGF meeting. Pressing on the importance of multistakholderism and #WSIS

— nashwa gad el hak (@nashwa80) October 3, 2012

Now south #AfIGF they talk about #igf themes and other themes. Like cross border issues in the internet governance

— nashwa gad el hak (@nashwa80) October 3, 2012

Centeral #AfIGF to have the #igf12 on the national level. Have a secretariat coordinating various events

— nashwa gad el hak (@nashwa80) October 3, 2012

Mobile

Jimson Olufuye is presenting on Critical Internet Resources: Spectrum allocation for mobile services + dimension of public interest. #afigf

— Nnenna(@nnenna) October 3, 2012

Internet Exchange Points

FACT: NIXP saved Nigeria 1 million $/year on international connectivity charges. #afigf

— Nnenna(@nnenna) October 3, 2012

A united African perspective on Internet governance can be brought to global events.

About the IGF: The IGF is a United Nations led-activity initiated in 2006 as a global platform for multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on prevailing and emerging issues on Internet governance in order to foster the sustainability, robustness, security, stability, and development of the Internet. The forum is an outcome of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).