From strategy to sovereignty: Crafting Africa’s AI future

Artificial intelligence is no longer an abstract concept in Africa. From health diagnostics in Nairobi to smart farming tools in Accra, it is beginning to shape how Africans live and work. A recent study by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace estimates that AI could add between US$2.9 billion and US$4.8 billion to Africa’s economy by 2030. Yet the same analysis reveals a central paradox: while AI strategies are proliferating, implementation remains inconsistent, leaving the continent at risk of becoming a consumer of AI rather than a creator.

The key question is no longer whether Africa will adopt AI, but how it can do so in a way that safeguards its sovereignty, generates value for local enterprises, and empowers its people.

A wave of strategies

Over the past two years, a wave of national AI strategies has swept across the continent. Ethiopia, Nigeria, Libya, Zambia and Mauritania published frameworks in 2024, while Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Namibia, Lesotho and Tanzania followed in 2025 with their own plans or drafts. In total, at least fifteen countries now have national AI strategies, in addition to two continental frameworks.

At the continental level, the African Union’s 2024 AI Strategy outlines fifteen recommendations for member states, ranging from the creation of national roadmaps to investment in shared infrastructure and regulatory harmonisation. This flurry of policy activity demonstrates ambition, but it also raises a pressing question: will Africa’s AI future be defined on its own terms, or shaped by external interests?

Shared priorities, common challenges

Despite national variations, the same themes recur across Africa’s AI blueprints. Agriculture, healthcare and public administration consistently emerge as priority sectors — areas where AI can deliver transformative impact through precision farming, climate adaptation, improved service delivery and faster disease diagnostics.

These ambitions rest on several key enablers: governance and regulation, talent development, digital infrastructure, research and innovation, and financing. Yet progress across these pillars is uneven. The continent hosts less than one per cent of the world’s data centres, and only around three per cent of global AI talent is based in Africa. Without greater investment in computing power, data pipelines and skills development, AI strategies risk remaining aspirational rather than operational.

Voices from the policy frontlines

At a ministerial dialogue held alongside the 2025 Global AI Summit, African leaders delivered a clear message: AI must not simply be imported, but built with Africa, by Africa, and for Africa. They warned against replicating models from other regions, emphasising that Africa’s linguistic diversity, energy constraints and connectivity gaps demand tailor-made solutions.

There is growing interest in lightweight, energy-efficient AI models that can function effectively in resource-constrained environments. Talent development also remains a central concern. Togo, for instance, has pledged to train 50,000 people each year in AI skills — an ambitious move to strengthen local capacity.

Leaders further stressed the importance of data sovereignty. Building African datasets, particularly in indigenous and local languages, is essential not only for relevance but also to reduce dependency on foreign models. On financing, calls have been made for pooled resources, public–private partnerships and greater engagement with the African diaspora. Partnerships with global technology firms are welcomed, but leaders insist they must avoid creating new forms of dependency. The recent US$720 million “Africa AI Factory” investment by Cassava Technologies and NVIDIA illustrates how cross-continental initiatives can be structured to combine international capital with African agency.

From paper to practice

The greatest challenge lies in bridging the gap between strategy and implementation. Many governments lack the funding, infrastructure and coordination needed to move from declaration to delivery. Businesses often struggle with fragmented regulatory environments, while the absence of tangible progress risks fuelling another wave of brain drain as Africa’s best talent looks abroad.

Moving forward requires pragmatic and context-sensitive action. National frameworks should align with the African Union’s overarching vision but remain flexible enough to suit local realities. Investment in skills pipelines across education and industry will be vital, as will measures to encourage diaspora professionals to return and contribute. Expanding regional data centres and green energy–powered computing hubs could provide shared infrastructure serving multiple countries, while the development of local datasets and cross-border governance frameworks would help protect data sovereignty. Transparent, pooled AI funds and blended finance models could ensure that innovation receives sustained support.

For African businesses, the opportunity is clear. AI offers first-mover advantages across sectors such as agriculture, fintech, healthtech and logistics. Companies that invest early in locally relevant AI solutions will be best placed to thrive as adoption accelerates.

Seizing the moment

Africa’s AI journey has reached a pivotal moment. The continent has already advanced from awareness to strategy; the next leap must be from strategy to sovereignty — ensuring that AI development strengthens African economies, reflects African realities and serves African people.

The decisions taken today will determine whether AI becomes another imported technology to which Africa must adapt, or a field in which the continent actively contributes, innovates and leads. With coordinated action, bold investment and an unwavering commitment to inclusion, Africa has the potential not merely to catch up with global developments, but to set new benchmarks for how AI can drive equitable and sustainable growth across the Global South.

Source: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, “Understanding Africa’s AI Governance Landscape: Insights from Policy, Practice, and Dialogue,” September 2025.