The fourth edition of GITEX Africa Morocco 2026, held in Marrakech from April 7 to 9, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, a major global event, brought together more than 45,000 participants, nearly 1,400 exhibitors from over 130 countries, as well as a large number of public decision-makers, technology leaders, and international experts.

At the invitation of the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Chair of the CAFRAD Governing Board, the CAFRAD delegation actively participated in this key African digital event.

A Strategic Immersion in the Innovation Ecosystem
Alongside the official proceedings, including thematic workshops, high-level conferences, and bilateral meetings, CAFRAD conducted a strategic tour of the various booths showcasing digital transformation.

This initiative aimed, firstly, to engage with African and international innovation and, secondly, to explore emerging technological solutions, while identifying new partnership opportunities to support the modernization of public administrations in Africa.

A Structuring Partnership with Laval University
In this context, a high-level meeting took place between CAFRAD and representatives of Laval University (Canada). The meeting culminated in the signing of a partnership agreement between CAFRAD and Laval University, the largest French-language university in North America. Discussions focused primarily on digital transformation in Africa and on opportunities for collaboration between the pan-African institution and this leading academic partner in Canada.

This partnership aims to strengthen international cooperation, particularly between African countries and academic institutions, to support digital transformation and promote greater technological sovereignty.

To this end, the meeting culminated in the signing of a partnership agreement between the two institutions, marking the beginning of a promising collaboration in service of African public administration. GITEX, as a key hub for technological innovation, provided an ideal setting to launch this ambitious cooperation.

Strengthening ties with the African academic community
Furthermore, the Director General of CAFRAD, Dr. Coffi Dieudonné ASSOUVI, held fruitful discussions with Dr. Driss KETTANI, Professor of Computer Science at Al Akhawayn University.

These discussions focused on avenues for collaboration in training, research, digital transformation, and capacity building within African public administrations. They also highlighted the crucial role that African universities can play in efforts to modernize public administration through academic research, continuing education, and technological innovation.

Digital Sovereignty and Co-innovation: A Major Strategic Challenge
On another note, CAFRAD attended the ministerial panel chaired by H.E. Professor Amal El Fellah SEGHROUCHNI, Minister of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, on the theme: “Digital Sovereignty and Co-innovation: Towards a Euro-African Governance Model.”

In her remarks, the Minister emphasized that digital sovereignty is a major strategic challenge for states. She called for strengthening national capacities in technology, data, and skills, while promoting balanced cooperation between Europe and Africa.

Furthermore, she emphasized co-innovation as a key driver for developing joint solutions in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and the modernization of public services, within a framework of shared governance and a focus on sustainable development.

This panel also included Dr. Hamadoun Touré, former Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Founder of Smart Africa, as well as Ms. Élisabeth Moreno, former French Minister and Vice-President of Ring Capital.

Dr. Hamadoun Touré highlighted the importance of international cooperation and the sharing of best practices to support digital transformation, emphasizing that cybersecurity and connectivity are essential pillars of global digital development.

On this occasion, Dr. Hamadoun Touré emphasized the importance of international cooperation and the sharing of best practices to support digital transformation, stressing that cybersecurity and connectivity are essential pillars of global digital development.

For her part, Ms. Élisabeth Moreno emphasized the need to promote responsible and inclusive digital innovation, highlighting the central role of diverse talent, Euro-African cooperation, and co-innovation.

Exploring Innovative Solutions and Technological Partnerships
As part of its visits, the CAFRAD delegation visited the booth of Open Innovation AI, a company specializing in the development of artificial intelligence platforms for public and private organizations. These solutions enable, in particular, the optimization of IT resource utilization, data security, and the strengthening of digital sovereignty.

Following this, the delegation also visited the booth of the UAE Cyber Security Council, a strategic partner committed to strengthening cybersecurity and developing sovereign artificial intelligence in the United Arab Emirates. In this regard, avenues for cooperation were explored to propose solutions tailored to the needs of African public administrations.

Opening up to international innovation ecosystems
CAFRAD also met with the Director General (Entrepreneurial Products) of the National Technology Development Program, an initiative launched as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

This program acts as an ecosystem catalyst by fostering innovation, talent development, and collaboration between the public and private sectors, universities, and international stakeholders.

In this context, discussions focused on prospects for cooperation with CAFRAD, particularly regarding technology transfer, financing for innovative projects, and capacity building in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud computing.

Thus, within a South-South cooperation framework, this program could contribute to energizing African digital ecosystems and accelerating the continent’s digital transformation.

Promoting Technology Players and Startups
Next, the CAFRAD delegation visited several booths of technology companies, including that of Neonovia, a company specializing in digital solutions and IT services. Discussions focused on its contribution to digital transformation in Africa through the modernization of information systems, the development of digital infrastructure, and the strengthening of local skills.

Similarly, the delegation visited the booth of Crossware, an international company specializing in electronic signature and email management solutions. Its solutions contribute to improving the quality, security, and consistency of electronic communications, while facilitating the adoption of modern cloud tools.

The delegation also met with the Moroccan startup Nucleon Security, which specializes in cybersecurity solutions based on artificial intelligence. Through innovative approaches such as Zero Trust and agentic AI, this company develops platforms capable of detecting and responding to cyber threats in real time.

Towards Enhanced Cooperation with Global Technology Leaders
Finally, the delegation visited the booth of global giant Huawei, a major player in digital infrastructure, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.

The discussions explored avenues for collaboration aimed at supporting the digital transformation of African public administrations, particularly through capacity building, skills development, and technology transfer.

In this context, CAFRAD could play a facilitating role by establishing dialogue frameworks between Huawei and its member states, in order to adapt technological solutions to African realities and promote inclusive digital sovereignty.

Artificial Intelligence at the Heart of Sectoral Transformations
On another front, CAFRAD attended the panel entitled “AI Doesn’t Write the Script – You Do,” which focused on the impact of artificial intelligence in the creative industries.

The first part highlighted the transformation of creative professions, emphasizing that AI, far from replacing human creativity, acts as a lever for reconfiguring production processes.

The second part focused on the revolution in content distribution methods, particularly through personalization, data analysis, and the optimization of distribution channels. Furthermore, the discussions raised crucial issues related to platform governance and digital sovereignty.

Morocco, a Regional Hub for Digital Innovation
In addition, CAFRAD participated in the “Morocco Plays Forward” panel, organized as part of the SME x AI Growth Summit’26.

This panel highlighted Morocco’s strategic role as a key player in Africa’s digital transformation. Indeed, the discussions underscored the growing contribution of Moroccan SMEs and startups to the adoption of artificial intelligence, as well as the importance of partnerships and co-innovation to strengthen competitiveness and position the Kingdom as a regional innovation hub.

Conclusion
Through its active participation in GITEX Africa Morocco 2026, CAFRAD reaffirms its commitment to the digital transformation of African public administrations.

The topics addressed, including digital sovereignty, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, highlight major strategic priorities for states.

By strengthening its partnerships, exploring innovative solutions, and engaging in international and South-South cooperation, CAFRAD is positioning itself as a key player in modernizing public governance in Africa, serving inclusive, sovereign, and sustainable digital development.