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Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, on April 4, 2025, African leaders officially adopted the African Union (AU) Declaration on Artificial Intelligence (AI). This continental Declaration aligns with key regional and international frameworks on digital and cybersecurity, including the AU Continental Strategy on AI and the Malabo Convention on Cybersecurity.

A vision focused on people and African values

In line with the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Declaration reaffirms the ambition of an AI that is human-centered and respectful of African values and fundamental rights.

To realize this vision, Africa’s approach is based on several key pillars classified in three categories:

• First, sovereignty, inclusivity, and diversity, so that AI reflects African strategic priorities and values while benefiting all communities;

• Second, ethics and the protection of rights toguarantee privacy, transparency, explainability, human dignity, and environmental sustainability;
• Lastly, collaboration and investment which aim to strengthen national capacities and infrastructure through regional, international and public-private partnerships, thereby ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth.

Structural commitments for an African AI ecosystem

The Declaration is designed along seven strategic and operational lines of action aimed at building a robust and inclusive African AI ecosystem.

• In terms of talent development, there are plans to train a new generation of AI professionals in Africa through educational programs, continental initiatives and the creation of regional incubation hubs that promote local innovation.

• Regarding data governance, the emphasis is on protection and digital sovereignty, with the creation of open, secure and privacy-friendly African datasets.

• About calculation infrastructure, the objective is to deploy sovereign and regional capacities to support research, innovation and AI applications.

• For research, development and innovation, the goal is to promote experimental work and the creation of local innovation hubs and technological and regulatory sandboxes to strengthen research tailored to African realities and facilitate the development of projects with strong commercial potential.

• In terms of adoption and applications, AI must be integrated into strategic sectors such as health, agriculture and education to accelerate socio-economic development, while leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (“ZLECAF”) to facilitate the cross-border dissemination of projects, products and services.

• In terms of governance and regulation, there are plans to harmonize national and continental policies in order to build a harmonized legal framework for AI in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063.

• Finally, in terms of financing and investment, the priority is to mobilize significant resources, particularly through the African AI Fund and to strengthen regional, international and public-private partnerships in order to support the development of a robust and inclusive African AI ecosystem.

Implications and Outlook of the Declaration

For African States, the Declaration provides a political bedrock for harmonizing AI legislation and governance, particularly in areas such as data protection, algorithmic accountability, intellectual property, transparency and respect for human rights.

For international actors, firms, companies and institutions, it opens up new strategic opportunities and partnerships by enabling them to support artificial intelligence projects and share expertise and know-how. On a global scale, the Declaration affirms Africa’s desire to influence discussions on AI regulation by proposing a model based on sovereignty, equity and inclusion.

Overall, this Declaration expresses a clear vision of using A I in a way that respects fundamental values and rights to benefit African populations and economies. It aims to transform this advanced technology into a powerful tool for innovation and competitiveness, capable of strengthening the continent’s industries and companies. Africa intends to position itself as a leading global player in the adoption of ethical, reliable and inclusive AI. It also emphasizes regional collaboration, alignment with the strategic priorities of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the stimulation of innovation in key sectors such as health, education and climate resilience.