The city of Lusaka was vital in hosting the 2026 LibertyCon Africa, an event convened by Africa Students for Liberty to promote techliberty, economic prosperity, and free market solution across Africa. The event brought together more than hundred participants including thought leaders, think tank and business founders, community leaders, youth advocates, civil actors, students and young professionals as well as international partners. The LibertyCon Africa provided a forum for cross-border engagement, networking, sharing best practices and inspiring individuals to become agents advocating for liberty.
The two-day conference slated on March 20 – 21, 2026 featured Alumni Breakfast on Founders and Innovators Roundtable. This was a conversation on the topic, The future of open Financial Infrastructure in Africa, with Modibe Matsepane and moderated by Olufemi Ogunjobi. The roundtable highlighted Africa’s robust banking sector that is leveraging on digital banking. Africa has financial access and needs to work towards financial sovereignty. With freezing of account and de-banking of famous during protest, bitcoin comes in handy for financial sovereignty. Therefore, it is important to integrate bitcoin into daily activities and transaction. Whoever hold the key to access, control what you can do. Additionally, open financial infrastructure is needed and estimated to cost $8 billion. However, a collaborative effort is need among African countries to put efforts together in providing open digital and financial infrastructure. During the open discussion, Nathaniel Dwamena, president of YAFO Institute and Alumni Ambassador of Alumni for Liberty, asked how Africa can shift from users of technology to build preparedness for Africa’s solution? In response, platform such as Tando, and Fedi Protocol is aiding Africa innovators and digital founders to build and launch solutions while leveraging on open digital infrastructure.
The Conference Sessions: Day One – March 20, 2025
Day 1 of Liberty Con 2026 brought together policymakers, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to explore how technology, leadership, and trade can unlock Africa’s prosperity. A common theme came up in all of the sessions: trust, access, and mindset are what really drive transformation – not just technology itself.
The opening fireside chat on cross-border remittances made it clear how important it is to make Africa’s payment systems better. Speakers stressed that even though technologies like Bitcoin make transfers faster and cheaper, people still need to solve real-world problems like high transaction costs and lack of internet access before they can use them. The idea of offline wallets came about as a way to bridge connectivity gaps, especially in rural areas of Africa that off the grid. It was also thought that making transaction fees the same in all countries was important for opening up smooth trade and money flows between regions.
The keynote by Linda Kavuka traced Africa’s technological evolution—from early computing and the dot-com era to mobile money and digital currencies. A key highlight was the transformative role of M-Pesa in Kenya, which eliminated traditional banking barriers and expanded financial inclusion. What once required complex bank processes is now accessible via mobile phones, forcing banks to innovate and lower entry barriers. The broader message was clear: technology, when aligned with freedom and accessibility, accelerates economic participation.
She also emphasized the ripple effects of connectivity—Wi-Fi and mobile internet have enabled social media, remote work, e-commerce, and digital entrepreneurship. These shifts are not just technological but structural, allowing Africa to “leapfrog” traditional development stages. Tech hubs across the continent were recognized as critical spaces where young people gain practical skills and turn ideas into viable ventures.
The session on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) examined how digital trade may boost the expansion of MSMEs. The panelists emphasized that policies must result in tangible advantages for businesses and citizens. It was noted that the integration of systems such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) was revolutionary, allowing banks throughout Africa to communicate and do business more effectively. However, there are still issues, such as unequal participation and the requirement for member nations to have uniform commitments. More than 40 nations submitted tariff reductions, indicating progress toward greater economic integration for the good A category.
The emphasis switched from systems to people during leadership training sessions. Rethinking leadership as a mindset rather than a title was a challenge given to the participants by Nathan Fatal. It was suggested that true leadership is about creating new opportunities, inspiring action, and enhancing others’ abilities. A distinction was made between leadership and management: leadership changes systems, but management maintains systems intact. Building communities around common values, or “tribal leadership,” was highlighted as a potent instrument for institutional development. Significantly, many perceived barriers to leadership—like a lack of expertise or time—were reframed as mental constraints rather than real limitations.
The Gen Z panel addressed the disconnect between online activism and real-world outcomes. Even though young people are very active on the internet, this does not always transfer into involvement in institution-building or governance. Panelists challenged Gen Z to go beyond performative activism and take concrete action, emphasizing that long-term participation is necessary for meaningful change rather than merely being visible online.
The final session explored at how decentralized finance and Bitcoin are changing African trust and sovereignty. Speakers emphasized practical applications, such as ecosystems like Bitcoin Victoria Falls, where companies take Bitcoin for regular business transactions. The concept of “dead-trap innovation”—systems that seem inventive but fall short of providing genuine value or trust—was presented throughout the conversation. By eliminating the need for centralized intermediaries, decentralized technologies, on the other hand, were positioned as instruments for restoring confidence.
Overall, Day 1 highlighted a powerful realization: how successfully institutions, leaders, and communities foster trust around technology will define Africa’s future rather than technology alone. Whether through mobile money, digital trade, or decentralized finance, the continent’s path to prosperity lies in making innovation accessible, relevant, and trusted by everyday people.
The Conference Sessions: Final Day – March 21, 2025
Day 2 of LibertyCon Africa 2026 focused on a critical transition point for Africa’s future: moving from innovation to institution-building. At the center of this conversation was the panel session, “From Innovation to Institution: Students for Liberty Alumni Driving Tech-Enabled Liberty in Africa,” where Nathaniel Dwamena represented the YAFO Institute and Alumni for Liberty with a compelling perspective on trust, technology, and long-term impact.
A key message that resonated throughout the session was simple yet profound: “People trust what they understand and see functioning.” This insight framed the discussion on technology adoption, particularly around Bitcoin and decentralized finance. Nathaniel emphasized that adoption is not driven by hype, but by education, context, and practical demonstration.
He emphasized a strategic approach that blends technological innovation and policy reform, drawing from his dual institutional roles. The YAFO Institute works to advance free enterprise, civil liberties, and the removal of illiberal market barriers. Concurrently, the African Institute for DeFi and Blockchain works to promote decentralized finance and encourage the use of Bitcoin and blockchain technologies. This dual-track approach creates a powerful synergy: using technology to leapfrog systemic barriers while simultaneously advocating for policy reforms that sustain prosperity.
Additionally, Nathaniel made a clear distinction between creating startups and establishing institutions, which served as the foundation for a large portion of the discussion. Institutions need to intentionally design their structure, culture, and trust with consistency to ensure that they survive beyond their founders, whereas startups prioritize speed, testing, and scaling. This viewpoint reaffirmed how crucial long-term planning is to Africa’s development.
On the question of technology adoption, Nathaniel emphasized the importance of “education before adoption.” Through YAFO Institute’s initiatives such as Decentralized Business Empowerment, the objective is to build “Bitcoin-ready businesses” by simplifying complex concepts and aligning them with real-world needs. For example, presenting Bitcoin as a tool for business resilience, financial independence, and cross-border payments rather than as a speculative asset – making it more applicable for African entrepreneurs to adopt.
He also underlined the need for deliberate community development and a strong digital infrastructure to support strong institutions. His advice to young participants, “spread your seeds, build your team,” encapsulated the notion that impact is created through networks and shared vision rather than in isolation.
Importantly, Nathaniel highlighted the tangible impact of the YAFO Institute, including its contribution to policy advocacy efforts such as the abolishment of the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) in Ghana. This illustrated the critical role think tanks can play in influencing reform outcomes and national dialogues.
Looking ahead, he expressed a vision for Africa over the next 20 years: the emergence of independent, resilient institutions that remain firm in their mandates and are not overly influenced by political power. This is essential for creating an environment where prosperity is not dependent on individual leaders but on systems that uphold freedom and innovation.
In a thought-provoking reflection, Nathaniel challenged students to think beyond the present and recognize how leadership patterns can shape future constraints. He pointed out that recurring political lineages across countries suggest that future leadership may continue to reproduce systemic barriers unless today’s generation takes deliberate action. His call to action was clear: build impactful solutions now to shape a freer, more prosperous Africa tomorrow.
The Africa DigiFree Competition, which featured creative pitch from all over the continent, concluded the day. of Burundi’s winning proposal, Free Choice Campus, received funding, training, and mentorship support, proving LibertyCon’s dedication to transforming ideas into real-world uses.
The winning pitch, Free Choice Campus, by Guy Steve Ninihazwen from Burundi, received funding, training, and mentorship support—demonstrating African Students for Liberty commitment to turning ideas into real-world impact through LibertyCon 2026.
Overall, Day 2 emphasized YAFO Institute’s role as a thought leader in bridging innovation and institution-building, reaffirming that institutions that inspire trust, educate, and endure will be essential to Africa’s transformation.
In a nutshell, LibertyCon Africa 2026 brought to light a crucial reality: Africa’s prosperity depends not only on innovation but also on robust institutions that make technology reliable and usable. Tools like Bitcoin and M-Pesasucceed because they are understood, relevant, and embedded in everyday life.
The YAFO Institute demonstrated this approach by merging policy reform with technological advocacy, focusing on education before adoption and long-term impact. According to Nathaniel Dwamena, real transformation occurs when institutions—rather than startups—are built to preserve trust and endure beyond the founders. The conference also encouraged young Africans to move from awareness to action, creating solutions that will impact future systems. Finally, leaders and institutions will shape Africa’s future by linking innovation to trust, freedom, and a lasting societal impact.
