Africa's AI Declaration: A Promising Start, But Action Must Follow

 

The adoption of the Africa Declaration on Artificial Intelligence during the Global AI Summit in Kigali is a major milestone for the continent’s tech future. The declaration outlines bold goals—to harness AI for innovation, build responsible AI governance frameworks, and position Africa as a leader in ethical AI development.

But while the declaration is a strong statement of intent, the real challenge lies in execution. Across the continent, policies have often looked great on paper, only to fall short when it comes to delivery. To truly benefit from AI, Africa must move beyond declarations and focus on actionable, locally driven strategies.

Key Areas That Need Focus

1. Talent Development
Creating continent-wide AI education programs is essential. But who is designing the curriculum? How will it be rolled out and funded? And most importantly, how can we ensure that skilled individuals stay and contribute to local ecosystems instead of seeking opportunities abroad?

2. Infrastructure Realities
The vision of a pan-African high-speed digital network and sovereign computing systems is inspiring. Yet, many areas still lack stable power and reliable internet. Foundational infrastructure must be prioritized to support the wider AI vision.

3. Data and Trust
Open and accessible data is key to training powerful and fair AI systems. However, sharing data across borders demands strong trust mechanisms, ethical frameworks, and aligned policies to avoid misuse and promote transparency.

The Path Forward

To bring this vision to life, Africa must:

• Invest in Regional AI Hubs that lead in education, research, and innovation.

• Support Homegrown AI Startups solving local problems—from agriculture to language tech.

• Foster Public-Private Partnerships to co-build infrastructure and enable real-world applications of AI.

The declaration is a powerful starting point. Now is the time for Africa to act—with urgency, collaboration, and a deep focus on long-term impact. The future of AI on the continent depends on what we do next.