Marrakech: The Digital Development Agency (ADD) organized the 4th meeting of the African Council of Information Technology Agencies (CAITA) in Marrakech, coinciding with GITEX Africa Morocco 2026. Held from April 7 to 9, 2026, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, this event reaffirms its position as a critical platform for enhancing African digital cooperation that is integrated, operational, and impactful.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the 4th CAITA meeting underscores the increasing significance of this coordination mechanism in driving the continent's digital transformation. As an advisory body to Smart Africa, the Council unites national agencies responsible for digital and information technologies to align strategies, exchange expertise, and develop coordinated responses to Africa's digital challenges.
During the event's opening, Mr. Amine El Mezouaghi, Director General of the Digital Development Agency and current Chairman of CAITA, highlighted the importance of the meeting, which brought together public decision-makers, private sector actors, investors, academics, and civil society representatives to address major digital technology challenges.
Mr. El Mezouaghi expressed honor in chairing the meeting in Morocco and reaffirmed the commitment to actively contribute to CAITA's missions and activities. He also praised Smart Africa's momentum and the dedication of participating African agencies.
The meeting continues the efforts initiated since 2023. The inaugural CAITA meeting, held in Marrakech in June 2023, during the first GITEX Africa Morocco edition, brought together 15 national agencies and resulted in Morocco's election to the CAITA presidency through ADD. A subsequent extraordinary online meeting structured CAITA's operations and adopted its 2024 action plan.
The third meeting, held on May 29, 2024, in Marrakech, furthered this progress through strategic work and capacity-building sessions for members. In July 2025, under ADD's chairmanship, a meeting in Rabat initiated the development of African guidelines for cross-border data exchange, emphasizing digital integration based on interoperability and trust.
In this dynamic, ADD presented a roadmap for CAITA, with an action plan for 2026-2027 focused on accelerating project implementation, strengthening cooperation mechanisms among member agencies, and promoting coordinated, inclusive, and results-oriented African digital governance.
Council members lauded the progress achieved under Morocco's presidency and renewed the Kingdom's mandate, showcasing the trust in Morocco's leadership in advancing this continental initiative.
By organizing this 4th CAITA meeting in Marrakech, ADD reaffirms its pivotal role in framing coordinated African digital governance. Through its efforts at GITEX Africa Morocco, ADD is bolstering a collective drive to expedite the continent's digital transformation, benefiting African citizens, economies, and institutions.