Cairo, Jan. 22, 2026 (SUNA) – The 29th Session of the Arab Council of Ministers for Communications and Information concluded on Thursday in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, with the participation of Ministers of Communications and Information Technology from Arab countries, the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs at the League of Arab States, and senior officials from specialized Arab organizations.In his address, Minister of Digital Transformation and Communications Engineer Ahmed Dirdiri Ghandour expressed Sudan’s appreciation to the leadership, government, and people of the Arab Republic of Egypt for their efforts in advancing joint Arab action. He commended Egypt’s experience in digital transformation and its role in strengthening the regional technological environment.The Minister underlined the importance of communications and information technology as fundamental tools for improving the efficiency of government performance and ensuring the continuity of services, in addition to their pivotal role in advancing sustainable development. He stated that Sudan’s vision for the recovery of the communications sector is founded on developing regulatory frameworks, strengthening the resilience of infrastructure, and investing in human capital to achieve comprehensive digital transformation and improved service delivery for citizens.He further noted that this direction is being advanced through the establishment of three specialized authorities—the Digital Transformation Authority, the Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, and the Cybersecurity Authority—aimed at enhancing Sudan’s engagement with regional and international agendas in these fields.The meeting endorsed the recommendations of the Executive Bureau of the Arab Council of Ministers for Communications and Information, including those submitted by the Permanent Committees for Communications and Post. Among the most notable decisions was the approval of the item titled “Supporting the Reconstruction and Restructuring of the Communications Sector,” submitted by the Republic of Sudan.In its final decisions, the Council welcomed Sudan’s efforts to secure the recovery of the communications sector, recognizing its contribution to restoring the sector’s role and strengthening its presence at the Arab and regional levels. The Council also approved a call on regional and international partners to provide technical support to the three newly established authorities in Sudan, within the framework of protecting digital sovereignty and regulating data and services under a unified national framework.The Council further requested the Arab Artificial Intelligence Team, in coordination with willing organizations and partners, to consider proposing initiatives to support the work of the Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, particularly in areas related to the transition toward artificial intelligence, including 5G technology, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and big data analytics.Moreover, the Council approved the Sudanese government’s request to support the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Communications in launching the “Sudanese Technical Cadres Capacity Development” project. It also called on the Secretariat-General of the League of Arab States to engage Arab financing institutions in supporting initiatives to establish social transfer platforms, ensuring the contribution of Sudan’s communications sector to addressing the humanitarian crisis resulting from the war.FA/BH