Fans wave the South Sudan flag as they watch as the country plays its first national game against Kenya in Juba, South Sudan, July 10, 2011. More than 100,000 citizens flooded to late leader John GarangÕs mausoleum to watch the South Sudanese flag rise as the Republic of South Sudan celebrated its independence on Saturday. (Tyler hicks/The New York Times)
KEY POINTS
South Sudan will be joining 48 other African countries and 54 ICT companies under the ATU umbrella.
The African Telecommunications Union (ATU) has welcomed its 49th member state after the Republic of South Sudan was officially admitted into the Union through an announcement made in Nairobi Kenya at the ATU Headquarters.
South Sudan will be joining 48 other African countries and 54 ICT companies under the ATU umbrella.
As a specialized agency of the African Union in the field of telecommunications/ICT, ATU represents its members’ interests at global decision-making ICT conferences and provides a forum for stakeholders involved in ICTs to formulate effective strategies to improve access to information infrastructure and services in the continent.
When signing the membership agreement, South Sudan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Beatrice Khamisa was joined by the Director-General of the National Communications Authority of South Sudan, Eng. Napoleon Adok Gai.
Mr. OMO lauded the East African State for the decision to join the Union and further reiterated the importance of partnerships. “Collaboration among African countries and regional organizations accelerates the development of ICT in the continent and provides a platform for exchanging information, expertise, and technology relating to info-communications for the benefit of all,” he said.
Both the ATU membership and now South Sudan will be expected to front a stronger position especially in rolling out initiatives to integrate regional markets, implement ICT projects, attract investment into ICT infrastructure, and build institutional and human capacity. Coming at a strategic time when for the first time, Africa will host the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-21) in November 2021 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, South Sudan’s admission into ATU presents the potential of strengthening the African common positions in the conference as well as others in future.
In her remarks, Ambassador Beatrice Khamisa, South Sudan’s top diplomat expressed her country’s openness to partnerships, investments, and innovations in ICT that will create employment opportunities and accelerate the young nation’s development. “It has been a long wait for South Sudan to realize this important achievement in its quest to establish itself as an ICT-centric model country,” she said.
With 49 countries on board, ATU hopes to guide the continent into a future that is more connected and exposed to the full benefits of ICT. This is even as the Internet World Stats observed that by 2019, Africa had experienced an above-average Internet penetration rate at 39.8 percent population against the global average of 57.3 percent. Despite this fact, however, Africa’s ICT development is still at its infancy stage compared to other regions, hence necessitating collaborations to give the continent a head-start. “Collaboration is the most effective way of promoting the rapid development of Telecommunications/ICTs in Africa and enable the continent to achieve the full connection between countries,” concluded Mr. OMO.
Newer articles:
- Thousands flee as villages are flooded south of Sudan's capital - 09/09/2021 12:05
- 2021 Volleyball Nations Cup: Nigeria Beat Stubborn South Sudan - 09/09/2021 02:55
- Africa's COVID-19 cases surpass 7.94M: Africa CDC - 09/09/2021 00:28
- Truckers want container deadline extended after attacks in S Sudan - 09/09/2021 00:02
- Watch: Out-Of-School Students In South Sudan Miss Their Teachers — And Vice Versa - 08/09/2021 13:37
Older news items
- UN calls on South Sudan to resolve current tensions - 08/09/2021 04:16
- Truck drivers resume transportation of goods to South Sudan - 08/09/2021 03:40
- South Sudan begins consultation on ‘permanent constitution’ - 08/09/2021 02:51
- Clashes Between South Sudan Forces Unsettle Western Equatoria State - 07/09/2021 23:16
- Poverty takes heavy toll on education in South Sudan - 07/09/2021 20:22
Latest news items (all categories):
- The Collo Kingdom Remains Underdeveloped: Five Hundred Years Later! - 03/02/2025 12:57
- Attack on South Sudan cattle camps kills 35 - 03/02/2025 12:46
- في صفقة مثيرة.. الإمارات تشتري نفط الجنوب في باطن الأرض لمدة 20 عامًا - 03/02/2025 12:42
- South Sudan: Can oil production save the economy? - 30/01/2025 19:27
- 20 oil workers and crew die in South Sudan plane crash - 30/01/2025 19:20
Random articles (all categories):
- First Saudi-Africa summit: off to a rocky start? - 22/11/2023 00:47
- قصيدة بعنوان امة شلو - 03/03/2011 00:00
- Kenya: Police FC sign South Sudan duo - 30/08/2023 04:37
- Ethiopia kills 16 South Sudan gunmen: Officials - Ahram Online - 20/08/2012 16:07
- South Sudan seeks infrastructure funding as peace deal signed - 26/08/2015 08:15
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 68774 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22366 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21566 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 19255 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19208 times