Rwanda Engages Cisco on Digital Sovereignty and AI Infrastructure
The engagement underscores Rwanda’s continued efforts to position itself as a regional technology and innovation hub, while leveraging global partnerships to strengthen digital infrastructure, skills, and security.
Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation has engaged Cisco on potential areas of collaboration in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital sovereignty during meetings held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2026 (WEF26).
According to the Ministry, ICT and Innovation Minister Paula Ingabire met with Guy Diedrich, Cisco’s Senior Vice President and Global Innovation Officer, alongside Adele Trombetta, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Customer Experience (CX) EMEA. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation to advance Rwanda’s digital transformation agenda.
Key areas of engagement included cybersecurity capacity building, the development of AI compute infrastructure, and initiatives to enhance Rwanda’s digital sovereignty. The talks also spotlighted Rwanda’s Cyberhub initiative and talent development efforts through the national cyber academy, which are aimed at building a skilled local workforce to support a secure and resilient digital economy.
In addition, both sides explored opportunities for collaboration under Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) programme, which supports national digital strategies through public–private partnerships.
The engagement underscores Rwanda’s continued efforts to position itself as a regional technology and innovation hub, while leveraging global partnerships to strengthen digital infrastructure, skills, and security.
