Mr. Jacques Rodrigue Ragnimpinda Guiguemde
Nationality: Burkinabe
Country of Residence: Burkina Faso
Organisation or affiliation: Smart Africa
Position: Advisor
Brief Motivation
Motivation Statement – Board Member Candidacy
I am honored to submit my candidacy for the AFRINIC Board of Directors. With over 15 years of progressive experience in ICT policy, Internet governance, and digital transformation across Africa, I bring a unique blend of technical expertise, policy leadership, and multistakeholder engagement.
As former Vice-Chair of the ICANN Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) and current Unit Manager at Smart Africa leading continental Internet governance initiatives, I have consistently worked to safeguard Africa’s digital sovereignty and strengthen its representation in global forums. I have also coordinated national and regional strategies on IPv6 deployment, infrastructure resilience, and digital regulation, while supporting capacity-building programs with AFRINIC, ICANN, and ISOC.
My recognition with the ICANN Dr. Tarek Kamel Award for Capacity Building and the Burkina Faso Order of Merit reflects a career dedicated to inclusive and credible Internet governance. I believe AFRINIC must regain stability, transparency, and stakeholder trust to serve the continent effectively.
If elected, I will prioritize institutional reform, accountability, and stronger collaboration with governments, operators, and the technical community to ensure AFRINIC remains a trusted steward of Africa’s Internet resources.
Professional Background
Rodrigue Guiguemde is a Internet governance leader, and digital development strategist with over 15 years of progressive experience in African digital transformation, public policy, and multistakeholder governance.
He currently serves as Unit Manager for Resilient and Inclusive Digital Infrastructure Initiatives at Smart Africa, where he leads continental programs on Internet governance, infrastructure resilience, and digital sovereignty. In this capacity, he has advised African governments and regional institutions on Internet governance reforms, spectrum and data policies, and capacity development through the Smart Africa Digital Academy. He has also been at the forefront of Smart Africa’s engagement in the AFRINIC governance crisis, working with governments, regulators, and global partners to safeguard Africa’s Internet resources.
Previously, he was Vice-Chair of the ICANN Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) (2019–2022), where he represented African interests in global Internet policy-making, coordinated with governments worldwide, and advanced Africa’s voice within ICANN. Earlier in his career, he served as General Director of Digital Industry Development at Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Digital Economy.
Rodrigue has also contributed as a consultant with DETECON Germany, supporting regulatory and innovation projects, and as Smart Africa’s Country and Regional Advisor, providing direct technical and policy guidance for member states. At the operational level, he has supervised digital platform development for public administration, coordinated IPv6 deployment strategies in collaboration with AFRINIC, and gained hands-on experience with IT infrastructure, DNS, and resilience.
His board and leadership roles include Founder & Executive Director of Digitales Solidaires, Secretary General of ROPTIC-UEMOA, and contributor to the Association Burkinabè des Domaines Internet (ABDI), where he advanced local multistakeholder Internet governance frameworks.
Rodrigue is recognized internationally for his contributions to Internet governance and capacity building. In 2024, he was awarded the Dr. Tarek Kamel Award for Capacity Building by ICANN, acknowledging his impact in training, mentorship, and knowledge transfer across Africa. Nationally, he has been distinguished as Knight of the Order of Merit of Burkina Faso.
He is also deeply committed to digital diplomacy, representing Africa in global forums including ICANN, ITU, and the Internet Governance Forum, and engaging development partners and financial institutions to bridge policy with investment.
Rodrigue holds advanced degrees in International E-Services (University of Carthage) and Computer Science for Business (Burkina Institute of Arts and Crafts). He has also pursued executive training in FinTech and Regulatory Innovation at the Cambridge Judge Business School, alongside certifications in project management (PMP, PRINCE2), cybersecuri(Ethical Hacking) and cloud administration.