Rwanda: President Kagame to Inaugurate MWC25 Kigali on October 21

The GSMA has confirmed that President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda will officially open MWC25 Kigalion October 21, 2025, at the Kigali Convention Centre. This marks the third consecutive edition of the event to be inaugurated by President Kagame, underscoring Rwanda’s leadership role in driving Africa’s digital transformation.

Welcoming the announcement, Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA, expressed appreciation for President Kagame’s continued support.

“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,” Badrinath said. “I look forward to engaging with leaders across sectors to shape the next chapter of Africa’s digital transformation—from smartphone affordability and AI adoption to connectivity and fintech innovation.”

MWC25 Kigali will convene governments, enterprises, and start-ups from across the technology ecosystem to explore how innovation can accelerate Africa’s digital growth. The conference will centre on four key themes: Connected Continent, The AI Future, Fintech, and Africa’s Digital Frontier.

The programme will feature a series of high-level summits, including a two-day Fintech Summit, a 5G Summit, and the inaugural Security Summit. For the first time, the GSMA Ministerial Programme will join the MWC Kigali agenda, providing an invitation-only platform for policymakers to discuss regulatory priorities such as AI governance and digital economy frameworks.

This year’s event will also host the Orange Social Ventures Prize award ceremony, celebrating social innovators from across Africa and the Middle East, as well as the Future of Education & Work in Africa (FEWA) forum, which will focus on leveraging AI to reshape learning and workforce development.

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

The gathering is expected to reinforce Kigali’s position as a leading hub for innovation, policy dialogue, and digital collaboration across Africa.