The Africa IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group (AfIGF MAG) has elected a new leadership team to guide its efforts in advancing internet governance across the continent. This election follows a rigorous selection process led by the African IGF Secretariat, which received 146 nominations from 39 African countries, representing a broad spectrum of stakeholders. The Nominations Committee (NomCom) carefully reviewed the applications to ensure a balanced, inclusive, and multistakeholder composition, ultimately appointing 10 members to serve on the MAG in accordance with the AfIGF Charter.
Honorable Alhagie Mbow, a Member of The Gambia National Parliament & the Pan-African Parliament , has been elected as Chair, while Winnie Kamau, a distinguished data journalist and President of the Association of Freelance Journalists in Kenya, will serve as Vice Chair.
MAG Members
The newly elected MAG includes representatives from various sectors, institutions, and regions across Africa:
- Hon. Alhagie Mbow ( The Gambia) – MP
- Bram Fudzulani (Malawi) – Technical Community
- Fatou Sarr (Senegal) – Civil Society
- Dr. Khouzeifi Issakha Doud-bane (Chad) – Youth Representative
- Mohamed Farahat (Egypt) – Academia
- Nanne Mohamedade Farouk (Mauritania) – Government
- Dr. Nazarius Nicholas Kirama (Tanzania) – Technical Community
- Wildiley Barroca (São Tomé & Príncipe) – Private Sector
- Winnie Kamau ( Kenya) – Media
- Dr. Sylvia Sathekge (South Africa) – Private Sector
- Representative from UNECA
- Representative from the African Union Commission (AUC)
Additionally, the MAG includes Regional Coordinators from the five African IGF regions:
- Ahmed Farag – North Africa
- Lilian Nalwoga – Eastern Africa
- Mary Uduma – West Africa
- Jacob Munodawafa – Southern Africa
- Michel Tchonang Linze – Central Africa
Commitment to Africa’s Digital Future
Expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to serve, Winnie Kamau, Vice Chair of the Africa IGF MAG, stated:
“I am deeply honored to have been elected as Vice Chair of the Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) for the 2025-2027 term. I extend my sincere gratitude to the MAG members for their trust and confidence in my leadership. It is a privilege to serve in this role and contribute to shaping Africa’s digital future. As Vice Chair, my commitment is to strengthen multistakeholder engagement, promote inclusive internet policies, and drive meaningful discussions on Africa’s digital transformation. The internet plays a crucial role in economic growth, innovation, and access to opportunities, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that governance frameworks reflect the diverse needs of all communities.”
Hon. Alhagie Mbow, Chair of the Africa IGF MAG, added:
“It is an honour and a privilege to be nominated among other competent personalities to serve the people of Africa as the Chairperson of the Africa Multistakeholder Advisory Group on Internet Governance. I sincerely thank everyone who played a role in my nomination and entrusted me with this responsibility.”
A Multistakeholder Approach to Internet Governance
With representation from governments, civil society, technical experts, academia, the private sector, and regional institutions like UNECA and the AUC, the Africa MAG is well-positioned to address key internet governance challenges and opportunities across the continent. Under its new leadership, the MAG aims to advance digital cooperation, foster policy dialogue, and support initiatives that drive Africa’s digital transformation.
For more information about the Africa IGF and the MAG, visit igf.africa.
For inquiries, please contact the AfIGF secretariat at info@igf.africa or Sorene@un.org.
