Document :

ITU-D SG01  Contribution  53

Title :

Harmonization of emergency numbers in Africa: Challenges and issues

Date :

2026-03-09

Source :

Congo (Rep. of the)

AI/Question :

Q5/1

Meeting :

2026-04-13

Access :

Restricted to TIES users [ITU-D]

Abstract :

With its 54 nations and a population of approximately 1.4 billion, Africa has a variety of distinct emergency numbers. While this fragmentation is legitimate in terms of national sovereignty, it leads to significant inefficiencies and poses threats to individual safety. For example, countries in the European Union and a few others have adopted a single emergency number. In contrast, a unified digital code for Africa would enhance the continent's digital sovereignty, promote cross-border security collaboration, and reduce reliance on standards from outside the continent. The challenges are numerous: protecting citizens on the move, achieving regional integration, attracting tourism and international investments, and the continent's ability to establish its own standards for digital governance. To address the challenges of harmonizing emergency numbers, resolution No. 100 was adopted at the latest World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly in India (WTSA 2024, Delhi).