On 22 November 2024,  Amb. Shakilla K. Umutoni delivered the opening remarks at the Symposium on Cybersecurity & Digital Identity for Africa, held at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane , Morocco. She highlighted Rwanda’s commitment, under the leadership of H.E Paul Kagame, to cybersecurity and digital transformation which is exemplified by the establishment of Carnegie Mellon University Africa in Rwanda and serves as a regional center of excellence in technology is both a milestone and a model.

Ambassador Shakilla K. Umutoni shared how Rwanda is building an inclusive digital ecosystem where no one is left behind. Rwanda’s vision is manifested in initiatives like Irembo, a digital platform that provides access to government services.

Organized by The Upanzi Network, an initiative launched by Carnegie Mellon University Africa to drive digital public infrastructure initiative across the continent, the symposium aims at addressing key cybersecurity challenges and advances digital identity solutions in Africa.

Launched in 2021, the initiative began with the establishment of a research laboratory at CMU-Africa in Kigali, Rwanda. It is now expanding its scope by forming partnerships with research labs at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco; the University of Botswana in Gaborone, Botswana; and the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Amb. Shakilla commended the initiative as a powerful example of how academia, governments, the private sector and civil society can unite to address Africa’s cybersecurity and digital identity challenges and reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to supporting the collaborative efforts necessary to secure a safer and more resilient digital future for Africa.