US urged to revive tech fellowship for African officials
A former US ambassador and a retired cyber diplomat argue that a discontinued State Department fellowship program for foreign officials was a key
The United States must revive a discontinued fellowship program for foreign officials to secure its influence over Africa's emerging technology and AI governance rules. This call comes from two retired US foreign service officers, who warn that competitors are actively shaping the regulatory landscape while a proven US soft-power tool sits idle.
According to a blog post on the Atlantic Council's site, former ambassador Troy Fitrell and retired cyber diplomat Kathryn Fitrell argue that strategic soft power is essential to protect US economic and national security interests in Africa. The region holds roughly 30 percent of the world's critical mineral reserves, which are foundational for the microprocessors, batteries, and infrastructure underpinning artificial intelligence and digital economies.
A Model for Building Alignment
The authors point to the US State Department's Global Emerging Leaders in International Cyberspace Security (GEL-ICS) fellowship as a model of effective engagement. Launched in 2023 by the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, the year-long program selected rising officials from key partner nations, including in Africa, for training and networking.
The fellowship structure included several key components:
Fellows engaged with US tech leaders, government officials, and civil society experts to champion responsible state behavior in cyberspace. Beyond formal training, the program build lasting professional and personal ties between participants and their American peers.
Demonstrated Policy Impact
The Fitrells state that this modest investment yielded clear diplomatic returns. In 2024, an African alumna of the program reportedly revived a senior-level policy dialogue on cyber and digital issues with the United States, ending a years-long stalemate. By 2025, with alumni in key posts, every participating nation supported a UN decision to establish a permanent global mechanism on cybersecurity.
Kathryn Fitrell, who developed and led the fellowship, wrote that it demonstrated how "access to US expertise and peer networks builds lasting institutional alignment." US officials gained direct insight into foreign ministry perspectives, turning previously unaligned states into diplomatic partners.
A Program Cut and a Call to Restore
Despite this impact, the program was discontinued in early 2025 during a general reassessment of foreign assistance. The Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy was reorganized, and the office responsible for the fellowship was moved to the new Bureau of Emerging Threats.
The authors contend that either bureau could host a resuscitated and expanded program. They argue its mandate should broaden beyond cyber norms to address governance across frontier technologies, including AI, satellite connectivity, and quantum computing. Membership should also expand to include representatives from multilateral institutions, business, academia, and civil society.
Given Africa's mineral reserves, its status as the UN's largest voting bloc, and its projected demographic weight, the Fitrells insist African participation must be significantly expanded. They warn that the United States' chief adversary is actively pursuing its own soft-power strategy, noting that Tsinghua University in Beijing recently invited one of the authors to attend a similar fellowship with an African cohort.
Building enduring technology partnerships requires consistent engagement. The authors conclude that restoring this fellowship would help ensure African digital governance frameworks are developed alongside partners committed to open and secure technology ecosystems.
