Session
Organizer 1: Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 2: Government, African Group
Organizer 3: Intergovernmental Organization, African Group
Organizer 4: Private Sector, African Group
Organizer 5: Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 1: Matchiane Soueid Ahmed, Government, African Group
Speaker 2: LACINA KONE, Intergovernmental Organization, African Group
Speaker 3: Shikoh Gitau, Private Sector, African Group
Speaker 4: Mlindi Mashologu, Deputy Director General, Department of Communications & Digital Technologies
Speaker 5: Neema Iyer, Founder and Executive Director, Pollicy
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The Roundtable format is ideal for fostering an open and interactive discussion among participants, ensuring that diverse perspectives are heard. Given the complexity of AI governance in Africa, this setup allows for direct engagement between policymakers, and representatives from private sector, civil society and academia. The arrangement encourages exchanges rather than passive listening, making it easier to identify practical solutions and collaborative opportunities. A 60-minute duration ensures a focused and structured discussion while allowing sufficient time for audience participation. The format also supports meaningful engagement from both onsite and online participants, incorporating individual contributions and interactive tools. By prioritizing dialogue over presentations, this session structure helps create a balanced exchange of knowledge and experiences.
Key discussion points include: • Developing AI governance capacity: How can African institutions ensure that AI development serves public interest and safeguards democratic principles and fundamental rights? • Reducing dependency on foreign AI systems: What policy, infrastructure, and investment strategies can strengthen Africa’s digital sovereignty? • AI and digital colonialism: How can Africa ensure control over its data, algorithms, and AI infrastructure and design AI systems that reflect African values, ethics, and culture?
What will participants gain from attending this session? The session will provide a deeper understanding of opportunities and challenges of AI governance made in Africa and its implications for digital sovereignty. Speakers from various stakeholder groups and regions will bring different perspectives, and common solutions and the way forward will be identified. The session will explore practical strategies for local AI ecosystems while addressing the risks of dependency on foreign technologies and external governance models. Participants will gain insights into: • Regulatory approaches that balance innovation with the protection of human rights and democratic governance • Strategies for reducing reliance on foreign AI models and infrastructure • The role of African cultural and normative frameworks in shaping AI governance. The discussion will also examine the geopolitical dimensions of AI, offering a critical reflection on how international competition influences Africa’s digital future, by navigating competing global interests and African perspectives.
Description:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming societies at unprecedented pace. While AI offers potential for innovation and socioeconomic development, inadequate governance frameworks risk deepening inequalities, weakening democratic institutions, and reinforcing global technological dependencies. Nowhere is this challenge more pressing than in Africa. Nations are striving to build sovereign and resilient AI ecosystems while navigating a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape marked by shifting alliances, intensifying technological rivalry, and growing economic pressures. Despite increasing engagement from entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers, Africa remains significantly underrepresented in global AI development. Limited investment in AI research, regulatory gaps, and dominance of multinational tech companies constrain locally driven solutions. Additionally, outsourcing of data processing and model training to low-wage labor markets in Africa raises concerns about digital exploitation and economic disparities. The risk of AI-driven digital neocolonialism is growing. As global powers compete for technological influence, Africa must strengthen its position to ensure AI serves local needs rather than external interests. African nations have a unique opportunity to establish AI governance models rooted in fairness, transparency, and inclusion. Traditions of communal decision-making, deeply embedded in diverse African societies, emphasize consensus-building and social cohesion. These principles can help shape AI frameworks that align with local realities and normative considerations. Fostering homegrown innovation that respects democratic values and human rights will be crucial to securing an AI future that benefits Africa. By bringing together distinguished speakers from various stakeholder groups and regions, the session will highlight shared goals and differing perspectives on challenges and opportunities. This session is co-organized by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Mauritanian Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Administration Modernization, Smart Africa Alliance, Qhala, and the African Research Institute on AI.
This session provides key insights for fostering AI governance in Africa. It offers diverse perspectives from various countries and stakeholder groups that will inform the IGF outcome document and beyond (e.g. AfIGF, WSIS process), ensuring that African voices shape global AI governance. Key outcomes include: • Stronger policy and regulatory pathways – Identifying priorities for AI governance that balance innovation with human rights and democratic governance. • Enhanced multistakeholder collaboration – Strengthening dialogue between governments, civil society, and private sector to align AI strategies with regional needs. • Critical engagement with geopolitical power dynamics – Understanding how international AI strategies shape Africa’s digital future and exploring ways to counter digital neocolonialism. • Output from the session: Actionable recommendations and policy priorities to shape AI governance in Africa.
Hybrid Format: This session is designed to create an engaging and inclusive experience for both onsite and online participants. Mentimeter will be used for live polls and interactive feedback. The results will incentivize the discussion and increase participation and inclusivity. To give online participants a dedicated space for engagement, a separate Q&A session will be held, alongside a moderated chat to highlight key contributions. Online participants are encouraged to join discussions via video and audio, allowing for direct interaction with speakers. Streamlined communication between the onsite and online moderator will ensure smooth interaction between both groups, ensuring balanced participation.
Report
The session was co-organized by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Mauritanian Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Administration Modernization, Smart Africa Alliance, and Qhala.
Background and Objective
· The session explored how African countries can develop AI governance frameworks that foster innovation, while safeguarding human rights, democratic principles, and digital sovereignty.
· It focused on how AI’s potential can support Africa’s socio-economic development but also risks exacerbating inequalities if not managed carefully, particularly through digital dependencies. The session sought to explore pathways for Africa to assert control over its digital future, ensuring AI systems are shaped for African communities and by African values.
Key Messages
· Data Sovereignty and Digital Colonialism: One central concern expressed by several speakers was Africa’s dependence on foreign AI systems and the outsourcing of data processing. Lacina Koné stressed that African data must remain under African control, pointing out that over 1,000 African startups daily download APIs (interfaces for software communication) from foreign AI models. This results in data being processed outside the continent, a practice that undermines Africa’s digital sovereignty and risks deepening dependency on external powers. Matchyane Bakar Soueid Ahmed emphasized that data sovereignty is as critical as territorial sovereignty. She argued that Africa must take control of its data, as outsourcing not only leads to economic exploitation but also poses threats to local cultures and human rights.
· Building AI Capacity and Infrastructure: The discussion also addressed the lack of local infrastructure and computing power. Lacina Koné noted that no single African country has the necessary computational capabilities to independently train AI models, and that Africa, collectively, must work together to build this capacity. Neema Iyer emphasized that beyond infrastructure, the lack of digital literacy in many regions further limits local engagement with AI technologies. She called for investment in grassroots digital education to ensure that the next generation can actively shape AI's development. Mlindi Mashologu emphasized the role of AI maturity assessments in identifying strengths and gaps. He noted that South Africa is using these assessments not only as technical tools but also as political governance instruments that can help shape responsible AI adoption across the continent. Mashologu also stressed the importance of institutional readiness and capacity building in AI, particularly through the development of AI policies that align with South Africa’s developmental priorities.
· Inclusive Governance and Multistakeholder Collaboration: Mlindi Mashologu noted that AI systems must be shaped through collaboration across multiple stakeholders groups, including governments, civil society, and the private sector, to ensure that they serve the public good and uphold democratic principles. Neema Iyer underlined the importance of civil society in overseeing AI deployments and ensuring that marginalized voices are heard. Civil society must act as both a watchdog and advocate, working to mitigate harms like political manipulation and surveillance that can result from AI use. Iyer also highlighted the importance of democratizing digital literacy, ensuring that AI education reaches not just urban elites but grassroots communities, using accessible language and formats that align with local realities. Shikoh Gitau emphasized that companies must not only focus on innovation but also ensure AI deployment is inclusive and equitable. She stressed that the private sector has a crucial role in shaping regulatory environments and ensuring AI technologies reach diverse communities.
· Cultural Preservation and Ethical AI: Lacina Kone spoke about the risks of AI systems trained on foreign models, explaining that these systems often fail to account for Africa’s unique linguistic and cultural contexts. This can perpetuate cultural bias, especially when it comes to Africa’s more than 2,000 languages, which may not be adequately represented in these models. In line with this, Matchyane Bakar Soueid Ahmed emphasized the importance of designing AI systems that align with local ethical values, integrating African traditions of consensus-building and social cohesion into AI governance frameworks.
· Geopolitical Dynamics and Africa’s Strategic Position: Neema Iyer raised concerns about how global AI strategies, particularly from powerful countries and multinational tech companies, often overlook Africa’s specific needs. There was a shared sentiment that Africa must develop its own AI strategies that prioritize local development and innovation, rather than passively accepting external models and frameworks that do not serve African interests.
Practical Examples
· Lacina Kone introduced the Smart Africa AI Council for Africa as a practical step towards creating a unified approach to AI governance across the continent. The Council focuses on five key areas: computing power, datasets, algorithms, AI governance, and market development. It aims to harmonize the national AI strategies of the 19 African countries that have already developed such frameworks while respecting national differences. The Council’s work includes the African AI Governance Toolkit, a resource designed to guide governments in implementing AI strategies that align with Africa’s priorities.
· Shikoh Gitau shared the experience of Qhala’s teacher training programs, which aim to democratize digital literacy and build AI awareness across six African countries. The program has seen a high demand for AI education, particularly from teachers who are key to spreading AI knowledge at the grassroots level. This initiative is a prime example of how the private sector can support education and build trust in AI technologies by directly engaging with local communities, ensuring that AI knowledge is accessible and contextually relevant.
Conclusion
The session underscored the critical need for Africa to develop its own AI governance frameworks that prioritize local needs and sovereignty. The speakers highlighted the urgency of building AI capacity, ensuring data sovereignty, and creating inclusive governance structures that reflect African cultural values. By focusing on the most useful AI applications for sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and education, rather than competing on computational power, Africa can forge a path that supports sustainable development and reduces its dependency on foreign technologies. The multistakeholder approach discussed throughout the session is crucial for fostering collaboration across governments, civil society, and the private sector to ensure that AI serves the public interest and safeguards democratic values.
