Africa Tax Reforms for Digital Inclusion

Daddy Mukadi, Chief Regulatory Officer of Airtel Africa and Chair of GSMA Africa's Policy Group, has called on African governments to implement two key tax reforms to accelerate digital inclusion across Africa. Speaking at an event in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, attended by President Félix Tshisekedi, Mukadi urged governments to recognize telecommunications as a core economic pillar. He proposed a two-to-three-year exemption on import duties and taxes for entry-level smartphones ($40-$150) and the removal of import duties on telecommunications equipment for at least three years. These measures aim to address the significant gap in digital connectivity, where nearly 75% of Africa's population remains offline despite 95% mobile network coverage, primarily due to device unaffordability. The GSMA's Mobile Economy Africa 2025 report highlights the mobile sector's substantial contribution to Africa's economy, projected to reach US$270 billion by 2030.