New Council of Regulators Sets Ambitious Course for Regional Integration, Regulatory Harmonization, and Inclusive Digital Transformation Across West Africa
Lomé, Republic of Togo, April 24, 2026 — The West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Association (WATRA) has concluded its 23rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) with the adoption of a landmark 2026–2030 Strategic Plan and the installation of a new Council of Regulators under the leadership of Mr. Michel Yaovi Galley, Director-General of ARCEP Togo.
Held in Lomé from April 20 to 24, 2026, the meeting brought together national regulatory authorities, development partners, and industry stakeholders to advance a shared regional agenda focused on regulatory harmonization, expanded connectivity, and accelerated digital transformation across West Africa.
The Association underscored its collective commitment to building a more integrated and resilient digital ecosystem, anchored in cooperation, innovation, and harmonized policy frameworks aligned with global best practices.
Key Strategic Decisions and Outcomes
The 23rd AGM delivered a series of major decisions shaping the future of telecommunications regulation in the region:
Adoption of the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan
Member States formally adopted WATRA’s new five-year Strategic Plan, expanding the organization’s mandate beyond traditional telecommunications to encompass the broader electronic communications ecosystem, including emerging and disruptive technologies.
Strengthened Governance and Technical Frameworks
The Assembly adopted key technical guidelines and recommendations developed by WATRA’s working groups, focusing on:
- Consumer Access and Quality of Experience
- Infrastructure Development
- Cybersecurity resilience
These outputs reflect the completion of structured multi-year technical mandates aimed at reinforcing regulatory effectiveness across the region.
Establishment of Four New Ad-hoc Working Groups
To address evolving regulatory priorities, the Assembly approved the creation of new working groups on:
- Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) — improving service standards and regulatory benchmarking across Member States
- NGSO Satellite Regulation — developing frameworks for non-geostationary satellite services
- Infrastructure Sharing — optimizing regional infrastructure deployment and efficiency
- Digital Financial Services Co-regulation — strengthening oversight of digital financial ecosystems
Leadership Transition and New Council of Regulators
A key highlight of the AGM was the installation of a new Council of Regulators following the completion of the outgoing mandate.
The new leadership is composed as follows:
- Chair: ARCEP Togo (Mr. Michel Yaovi Galley)
- 1st Vice-Chair: ARCEP Benin
- 2nd Vice-Chair: ARCEP Burkina Faso
This leadership transition marks a renewed strategic direction for WATRA at a critical moment in its institutional evolution and the implementation of its new five-year roadmap.
Regional Connectivity and Roaming Milestones
In a significant step toward regional integration, the AGM also witnessed the operational launch of free roaming arrangements between:
- Togo and Senegal
- Senegal and Benin
These initiatives represent concrete progress toward the establishment of seamless regional connectivity for citizens across West Africa.
Capacity Building and Stakeholder Engagement
The meeting was preceded by high-level dialogues between regulators, operators, service providers, and civil society, fostering consensus on key sectoral priorities.
A dedicated capacity-building workshop on regional roaming further strengthened Member States’ technical and regulatory readiness, drawing on international best practices to support implementation across the sub-region.
Institutional Modernization and Sustainability
The Association also reaffirmed its commitment to institutional strengthening, including the ongoing review of its Headquarters Agreement with the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to better align governance structures with operational realities.
A Shared Vision for the Future
Concluding the session, Member States reaffirmed their determination to translate adopted resolutions into measurable impact across the region.
“WATRA is rising,” Engr. Aliyu Aboki, WATRA’s Executive Secretary, noted, “to fulfill its mandate of harmonizing telecommunications regulation and fostering the cohesion needed to adapt global best practices to the realities of West Africa. This is just the beginning.”
About WATRA
The West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) is a regional body of telecommunications regulators from West Africa, dedicated to harmonizing regulatory frameworks and promoting affordable, accessible, and high-quality telecommunications services across the region.
