Washington, D.C., September 30 – October 2, 2026

The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) successfully concluded its 42nd Assembly of Parties (AP‑42), held from September 30 to October 2, 2026, at the American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. Representatives from 85 Parties attended the Assembly, chaired by Ms. Kadianne Wood (Party of Jamaica), with Dr. Bianca Lins (Party of Liechtenstein) serving as Deputy Chair.

The Republic of the Congo was represented by Mrs. Firmine BOUITY, spouse PAMBOU, Minister Counselor at the Embassy of the Republic of the Congo to the United States. During the session, she outlined the strategic priorities of the Republic of the Congo in the digital sector, stating:

“The Republic of the Congo reaffirms its strategic priorities in digital development: reducing the digital divide, expanding connectivity across the national territory, modernizing and strengthening infrastructure resilience, and progressively digitizing public administration. Congo aspires to become a regional digital hub grounded in innovation, advanced technologies, and secure communications.

In this regard, ITSO is an essential partner whose work directly supports our national objectives and the digital inclusion of our population.”

ITSO is an intergovernmental organization with 149 member states, founded on the principle established in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1721(XVI), which states that satellite communications should be made available to all nations on a global and non‑discriminatory basis. Originally established in 1973 as INTELSAT, the Organization was restructured in 2001.

The Assembly of Parties, convened every two years, reviewed several key matters related to the Organization’s future work and strategic direction, including:

• financial matters,
• implementation of decisions adopted at AP‑41,
• the Parties’ Common Heritage,
• the Public Services Agreement,
• the ITSO Advisory Committee,
• and ITSO’s broader policy and strategic objectives.