WATRA Enhances Security for West Africa's Digital Economy

The West African Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) held its 4th working group meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to address the rapid expansion of the region's digital economy, valued at $216 billion. The meeting brought together regulatory authorities, technical experts, and stakeholders to discuss building a secure, inclusive, and resilient digital ecosystem in West Africa, which has a combined population of approximately 400 million and a GDP estimated between $700 billion and $800 billion.

Nigeria accounts for two-thirds of this economic output. The meeting, led by WATRA's Executive Secretary, Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, was described as a significant milestone in the organization's evolution, marking a transition towards delivering practical regulatory tools.

The discussions aimed to strengthen Africa's voice in global digital policy and telecommunications development, with the digital economy contributing about four to six percent of GDP across the African market, and mobile technology alone accounting for roughly four to five percent of West Africa's GDP.