African Social Media Influencers Summit Opens in Addis Ababa

He said social media influencers can play a major role in shaping policy directions and advancing African integration by improving understanding among countries, enhancing cross border visibility, and supporting the aspirations of AU's Agenda 2063. Botho Kebabonye Bayendi, Strategic Planning and Delivery Director at the AU Commission, said Africa is entering a decade of acceleration.

She noted that while policies and regional strategies designed to promote digital growth and content creation already exist, implementation by member states remains weak.

"Frameworks are there, the policies are there, we lack implementation," Botho Kebabonye Bayendi said. She added that AU level commitments often take considerable time before they are adopted nationally. Botho Kebabonye Bayendi encouraged digital creators to use the borderless nature of social media to advocate for policy implementation.

She called on member states to align AU and UN policy frameworks with national development plans. The AU official said the effectiveness of strategies should be measured through concrete implementation rather than repeated policy drafting. Botho Kebabonye Bayendi linked digital governance with broader governance values, saying that the treatment of outsiders, tourism management, migration, and exports should reflect a pan African approach.

She underscored the importance of data governance and protection, particularly in situations where content creators may face suspicion or have equipment confiscated under security claims that contradict regional policy commitments. Ashagrie G. Abdi, an international human rights lawyer and strategic advisor, said social media influencers can no longer be viewed merely as entertainers or storytellers.

He said audiences, including policymakers, increasingly rely on influencer generated content to understand events and developments, giving creators growing influence over national and continental decision making. Ashagrie G. Abdi urged creators to speak honestly, including by criticizing failures where necessary.

He called on institutions such as the AU to engage meaningfully with influencer communities instead of overlooking their impact. Panelists at the summit emphasized that accurate information can strengthen public trust and support development agendas, while misinformation can cause serious harm.

They described the role of digital creators as extending beyond promotion to include accountability and public interest engagement.

AllAfrica reported on the proceedings from the Ethiopian News Agency.