Monrovia, Liberia – The 7th edition of the Liberia Internet Governance Forum (Liberia IGF 2026), a nationally organized, UN-recognized forum under the Internet Governance Forum’s National and Regional Initiatives (NRI) network, will feature a keynote address by the Minister of Information for the Government of Liberia.
Liberia’s digital advancements must be considered in the perspective of its present connectedness. Approximately 32% of the population, or 1.84 million individuals, utilize the internet as of early 2025, leaving nearly two-thirds offline. Liberia is still one of the least connected nations in West Africa, with less connectivity than the African average of about 39%, despite steady improvement.
Scheduled for 28–30 April 2026 in Paynesville, the Forum will bring together key stakeholders to advance Liberia’s digital future. Aligned with global priorities, it will address issues such as digital public infrastructure, connectivity and affordability, cybersecurity, and inclusion. Over the past six years, Liberia IGF has become the country’s leading platform for digital policy dialogue, with its outcomes informing national discussions and contributing to reports submitted to the UN IGF Secretariat.
The Minister’s participation will center discussions on public communication, information integrity, and trust key pillars of digital governance. The keynote is expected to highlight progress in digital engagement, efforts to combat misinformation, stronger state–citizen collaboration, and alignment with national digital transformation goals. However, affordability remains a major challenge, with basic internet access costing around 5% of average income above global targets. This reinforces the Forum’s focus on consumer protection, pricing transparency, and meaningful connectivity, beyond just access.
Peterking Quaye, National Coordinator and Head of Secretariat of the Liberia IGF, emphasized the importance of high-level government participation, “The presence of the Minister of Information as a keynote speaker underscores the growing recognition of Internet governance as a national development priority. Liberia IGF continues to serve as a bridge between policy, practice, and people ensuring that our national progress is aligned with global best practices and that Liberia’s voice is reflected in international digital governance processes.”
He added that the Forum’s methodical, multistakeholder approach, which is in line with UN IGF principles, guarantees that the results are inclusive and useful for sector development, policy, and research. Despite these challenges, Liberia has made measurable progress. Internet penetration has increased from about 22% in 2022 to over 30% in 2024–2025, driven largely by mobile network expansion and increased smartphone usage. However, this growth remains uneven.
Although over 87% of the population is covered by mobile networks, actual internet usage is far lower because of infrastructural constraints, affordability, and low digital literacy. Liberia continues to lag behind regional peers in terms of internet access as compared to the Mano River Union (MRU) and the larger ECOWAS region. Liberia’s internet penetration rate is still between 30 and 32 percent, despite several West African nations having achieved 40 to 50 percent. This shows both progress and the pressing need for increased investment and legislative reform. This disparity highlights how crucial platforms like Liberia IGF are to promoting coordinated national and regional responses.
With results that enlighten national stakeholders and contribute to regional and international conversations on Internet governance, Liberia IGF plays a crucial role in establishing evidence-based policy and assisting the nation’s digital transformation. The 2026 edition will improve inclusive participation, transparency, and policy coordination, especially for youth and civil society.
The Forum arrives at a crucial time to resolve gaps between infrastructure and actual access, particularly with regard to cost and inclusivity, given the youthful and expanding digital population. Liberia IGF 2026, which is anticipated to bring together more than 300 attendees, will continue to be an essential venue for the creation of inclusive, internationally aligned, and informed digital policies.
