The 23rd Annual General Assembly of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) is ongoing in the Togolese capital, Lomé, with the opening of the Regulators’ Conference, scheduled to run until April 23, 2026.
Launched on April 20 in Lomé, the activities of this regional gathering will continue through April 24, 2026, bringing together national regulatory authorities to address key challenges in the electronic communications sector across West Africa.
In his opening remarks, WATRA Executive Secretary Aliyu Yusuf Aboki stressed that much of the groundwork had already been laid through prior high-level dialogues and technical workshops.
These preparatory sessions notably focused on the implementation of free regional roaming, supported by European experts. They resulted in concrete recommendations spanning economic, technical, legal, and regulatory dimensions, tailored to the realities of the sub-region.
The General Assembly also marks a transition to a new cycle, with the anticipated presentation of the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan. This document aims to broaden the organization’s scope beyond traditional telecommunications to encompass the wider digital ecosystem and emerging technologies.
The previous plan (2022–2025) helped establish solid foundations, particularly through technical working groups that developed guidelines on customer experience, infrastructure, and cybersecurity.
Speaking as host authority, ARCEP Togo Director General and First Vice-President of WATRA, Michel Galley, underscored the need for collective action in the face of increasingly complex sector challenges.
He called for deeper cooperation among regulators, particularly on priorities such as service quality harmonization, accessibility, competition, and the development of regional roaming.
“None of us can respond effectively in isolation,” he said, highlighting WATRA as a key platform for sharing experiences and building more effective regulation.
Officially opening the proceedings, WATRA President Dr. Herry Mané reiterated the organization’s strategic role in building an integrated digital market in West Africa.
He pointed to progress made in regulatory harmonization and cooperation with institutions such as ECOWAS.
Future priorities include regional connectivity, digital security, inclusion, and adaptation to technological change.
Speaking on the sidelines, ARCEP Togo’s Director of Legal Affairs and Consumer Protection, Kader Ouro-Agoro, outlined key pillars of the upcoming strategic plan.
One major objective is the harmonization of quality-of-service indicators at the regional level to achieve higher and more consistent standards.
At the national level, Togo has recorded significant progress, with performance now among the best in the region. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding affordability for low-income users.
“Tariffs remain high for low-income consumers, despite recent improvements,” he noted, calling for more inclusive measures.
Bringing together 16 countries and over 460 million potential consumers, WATRA is positioning itself as a central player in West Africa’s digital integration.
The Regulators’ Conference, held over these two key days, is expected to consolidate achievements and accelerate ongoing initiatives, particularly in regional roaming and policy harmonization.
In Lomé, regulators are thus demonstrating a clear ambition: to build a more integrated, competitive, and accessible regional digital space for all.
Albertine A.
