The GSMA has announced that Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, will officially open MWC25 Kigali on October 21 at the Kigali Convention Centre.

This marks the third consecutive edition of the event to be inaugurated by President Kagame.

“We are delighted and honoured to welcome His Excellency Paul Kagame to MWC Kigali once again, where we will gather with innovators, policymakers, and business leaders to address the critical issues driving Africa’s digital ambitions. I look forward to engaging with leaders from various sectors to shape the next chapter of Africa’s digital transformation, from smartphone affordability and AI adoption to connectivity and fintech solutions,”

said Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA.

MWC25 Kigali will bring together government representatives, enterprises, and start-ups from across the technology ecosystem to discuss how innovation can advance Africa’s digital transformation.

The event will focus on four key themes: Connected Continent, The AI Future, Fintech, and Africa’s Digital Frontier.

It will also feature several specialised summits, including a two-day Fintech Summit, a 5G Summit, and the inaugural Security Summit.

The GSMA Ministerial Programme will join the MWC Kigali agenda for the first time, providing an invitation-only platform to explore policy and regulatory topics such as AI and the digitalisation of African economies.

Additionally, this year’s event will include the Orange Social Ventures Prize award ceremony for social innovators across Africa and the Middle East.

The Future of Education & Work in Africa (FEWA) will also be co-located for the first time, bringing together AI experts, policymakers, and innovators to develop scalable solutions for education and workforce transformation.

MWC Kigali 2025 is supported by its founding and headline sponsors Huawei, MTN, and ZTE; industry sponsor Orange; and event partners, the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT) and Smart Africa.

Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Africa, based on image by irinafoto via Freepik