African Union Champions AI for Africa’s Socioeconomic Transformation

Addis Ababa, April 4, 2025 (ENA) --- In his address at the High-Level Panel on Leadership in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the Global AI Summit on Africa, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, emphasized the AU's commitment to positioning Africa as a leader in the global AI revolution.

The #GlobalAISummit Africa officially launched on Thursday in Kigali.

The African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf alongside AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Lerato Mataboge and AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene  joined key stakeholders to advance discussions on innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable growth.

The Chairperson shared the stage with distinguished leaders, including: Paul Kagame, President, Republic of Rwanda; Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary, Republic of Kenya; Faure Gnassingbé, President, Republic of Togo; Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman, Econet Group; and Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union.

On the occasion, he highlighted the AU's leadership in shaping Africa’s AI-driven future, ensuring the continent is not just a participant but a frontrunner in the global AI transformation.

With the adoption of the Continental AI Strategy, the AU has set a clear policy direction to integrate AI into Africa’s development agenda, leveraging AI as a catalyst for economic growth, innovation, and inclusive digital transformation.

Recently endorsed by the AU Executive Council, the Continental AI Strategy underscores Africa’s commitment to leveraging AI for socioeconomic progress. This strategic framework establishes a foundation for AI governance and innovation at national, regional, and continental levels, fostering an ecosystem that is inclusive, sustainable, and resilient.

Through its five-year implementation plan, the AU is supporting Member States to  integrate AI into National Development Plans and establish harmonized national AI strategies.

The African Union is also helping countries in Africa to develop policies to retain and attract AI talent, mitigating brain drain and fostering local expertise as well as foster public-private partnerships to accelerate AI investments and industry-driven solutions.

Youssouf further reiterated that the AU, through AUDA-NEPAD and its Specialized Institutions, is actively assisting Member States in implementing the strategy by providing technical assistance for AI policy development and governance frameworks as well as organizing regional and continental dialogues to strengthen AI regulatory capacities.

In closing, AUC Chairperson reaffirmed the African Union's commitment to advancing Africa-centric AI solutions, ensuring that AI serves as a force for sustainable development, economic inclusion, and technological sovereignty.

Through collaborative leadership, strategic partnerships, and a shared vision for the future, Africa is poised to thrive in the Age of AI, he underlined.