UNGA80 High-level Side Event: African Connectivity: The Path to Continental Integration 

However, this dynamic is hindered by a connectivity gap that limits the potential of integration and growth of a continent that possesses all the assets and resources to emerge and embark on a path of sustainable growth, one that can break the vicious cycle of poverty and is able to benefit all the countries of the continent.  

In the area of physical infrastructure sector, the poor condition and inadequacy of roads, railways, ports, airports, and logistics corridors hinder trade flows. Less than 17% of trade in Africa takes place between African countries. Transport costs in Africa are among the highest in the world, reducing business competitiveness and limiting the expected benefits of AfCFTA. 

In the energy sector, more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity. The lack of interconnections between national grids undermines energy security and slows down industrialization processes. Yet the continent holds enormous potential in the energy sector, particularly in the transition to renewable energy, which offers a unique opportunity to accelerate efforts toward sustainable energy integration at the regional and even continental level. 

Furthermore, Africa remains the least connected continent in the world, according to ITU, only 38% of its population was connected online in 2024, far below the global average of 68%. This digital divide impedes digital transformation, deprives youth of opportunities for education, innovation, employment, and exacerbates inequalities and disparities between urban and rural areas both within countries and across the continent. Inclusive digital connectivity is therefore essential to unlock entrepreneurial potential, promote employment and innovation, and strengthen Africa’s position in the global knowledge economy. 

African connectivity—whether physical, energy-related, digital, or human—is thus a strategic lever for achieving the objectives of the AfCFTA, accelerating integration processes at regional and continental levels, enhancing resilience to external shocks, and creating the conditions for shared prosperity. However, the continent still faces major challenges, including institutional and structural weaknesses, governance issues, infrastructure and financing gaps, and capacity building needs. 

Objective: 

This side event, organized by the Kingdom of Morocco jointly with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOOSSC), and in collaboration with other development partners, aims to:

• Bring the issue of connectivity back to the center of multilateral discussions,
• Contribute to the international advocacy for an integrated, resilient, and prosperous Africa by highlighting its role in achieving regional and global agendas, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and
• Emphasize on the strategic role of connectivity in African integration and sustainable development, as well as the role of public-private partnerships and innovative financing in implementing flagship initiatives and projects capable of accelerating continental interconnection.

Agenda: