Maroc Telecom CEO Mohamed Benchaaboun met with Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President of the European Commission responsible for technological sovereignty, security, and democracy, on the sidelines of GITEX Africa 2026 in Marrakech — marking one of the more substantive bilateral engagements to emerge from the event.
The discussions centred on the protection of critical digital infrastructure, data governance, cybersecurity, and the conditions for sovereign and sustainable technological development. Both parties framed digital sovereignty as a shared strategic priority, with Benchaaboun describing it as a day-to-day operational responsibility for an operator managing connectivity for millions of users across Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa, rather than an abstract policy concept.
Maroc Telecom cited its ongoing investments in next-generation networks, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity as evidence of its commitment to building a resilient, locally-anchored digital ecosystem. The meeting also coincided with a broader Morocco-EU digital partnership announced at the event between Morocco’s Minister of Digital Transition, Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, and Virkkunen, covering AI cooperation, digital infrastructure, connectivity, and online trust frameworks.
Benchaaboun noted that the talks confirmed convergent interests between the EU and Africa on these issues, and a shared capacity to develop joint responses to emerging technological challenges.
Editor’s Note: The Maroc Telecom-EU Commission encounter at GITEX Africa is notable for its geopolitical dimension — Morocco is actively positioning itself as a technology bridge between Europe and Africa, and Maroc Telecom’s pan-African footprint through Moov Africa makes it a credible interlocutor on continent-wide digital sovereignty questions. MEA Tech Watch will be watching whether these conversations translate into concrete regulatory alignment or co-investment frameworks under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative.
