Sudan’s Minister of Communications and Digital Transformation Reaffirms Commitment to Supporting Digital Transformation Programs and Adopting Modern Applications
2024
H.E. Mr. Adel Hassan, Sudan’s Minister of Communications and Digital Transformation, reiterated Sudan’s commitment to supporting Arab efforts in advancing digital transformation and enhancing technological infrastructure to facilitate the adoption of modern applications and ensure access to sustainable technological solutions.
Speaking at the 28th session of the Arab Ministers of Communications Council, the Minister emphasized the significance of the session within the framework of joint Arab action and the collective aspiration to unify efforts and objectives in building an Arab digital society, where the citizen is at the core and telecommunications and information technology serve as the foundation.
The Minister stressed the importance of reinforcing confidence in the seven key pillars adopted by major regional and international organizations, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). These pillars encompass access to telecommunications and ICT infrastructure and services, maximizing the effective and diverse use of digital technologies and data, fostering innovation driven by technologies and data, providing employment opportunities related to digital transformation, ensuring the fulfillment of essential citizen needs with inclusion, enhancing trust in the digital economy among institutions and individuals, and promoting more open markets.
He reaffirmed Sudan’s commitment to the agenda of the current session and the implementation of resolutions from previous sessions, particularly those aimed at improving digital infrastructure efficiency. The Minister underscored that digital infrastructure should be a fundamental component of joint Arab efforts, given its critical role in establishing the foundations of the digital economy. He highlighted Sudan’s determination—during its reconstruction phase—to mobilize the necessary regional and international support to rehabilitate the information infrastructure that has been damaged by the terrorist militia of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which continues to affect the quality of internet and network services in areas under militia control. He reaffirmed Sudan’s commitment to restoring the telecommunications sector and advancing automation and digitalization initiatives, while calling on Arab nations to play an active role in addressing the damages inflicted upon the sector due to the militia’s actions.
The Minister commended the efforts of the Arab League and its specialized ministerial councils, particularly the Arab Ministers of Communications Council and its key bodies, including the Permanent Committee on Communications and Information, the Internet and Indicators Task Forces, the Coordination Mechanism between Relevant Organizations, and most recently, the Artificial Intelligence Task Force. He expressed confidence in the potential of these initiatives to drive the desired positive change in Arab digital transformation.
He also praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s initiative to establish the Arab Cybersecurity Ministers Council and host its inaugural session on December 23rd. The Minister reaffirmed Sudan’s steadfast position on the necessity of strengthening collective action and Arab coordination to confront evolving regional and international cybersecurity threats. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of updating frameworks and mechanisms for multilateral cooperation to support the concept of comprehensive Arab national security, which remains a cornerstone of joint Arab action.
The Minister applauded the efforts of the Arab League Secretariat and Arab nations in fostering cooperation with leading international institutions, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), while encouraging Arab participation in major international forums related to telecommunications and information technology. He stressed that such engagement ensures Arab contributions to global digital and technological agendas while safeguarding Arab priorities.
He highlighted the Arab ICT Strategy as a unifying Arab charter that outlines the region’s directions in these sectors, incorporating clear priorities, globally benchmarked indicators, and best practices. This strategy, he noted, reflects the Arab world’s ability to articulate unified visions, proposals, and positions, and to present them effectively in international forums to garner support and influence global digital policy.
Finally, the Minister expressed Sudan’s gratitude to H.E. Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, for his personal efforts in fostering a technologically advanced Arab environment. He also extended his appreciation to all Arab joint action institutions, including the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport and the Arab Organization for Information and Communication Technology, for their role in supporting digital transformation initiatives and serving as Arab centers of expertise that contribute to comprehensive development efforts.
