Ethiopia Sets Sight on AI Leadership in Africa: Prime Minister Abiy

Addis Ababa, February 14, 2026 (ENA)—Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed highlighted Ethiopia’s pioneering role in artificial intelligence (AI), underscoring the country’s ambition to position Africa as a global leader in the age of intelligence.

The Prime Minister outlined the country’s ambitious plans at the 39th African Union Summit, attended by African heads of state, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, AU Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and representatives of international organizations.

“In 2020, Ethiopia established Africa’s first Artificial Intelligence Institute,” PM Abiy noted.

“Building on this foundation, we are preparing to launch an AI university anchored in the Ethiopian philosophy of Medemer (synergy) through purposeful collaboration.

This institution will unite human values with machine intelligence, local context with global relevance, and scientific rigor with applied impact. It will ensure technology drives growth and positions Africa as a global leader in the age of intelligence,” the PM revealed.

Premier  Abiy emphasized that Ethiopia’s AI ambitions are part of a broader strategy to harness technology for sustainable development.

“Every river we manage, every city we design, and every digital platform we deploy must generate resilience, opportunity, and dignity,” he said, linking technological transformation to human-centered development and industrial growth.

Ethiopia’s AI initiative is closely tied to its Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy, which integrates the national digital ID system, Faida, with payment networks and extensive data exchanges to enable secure, seamless service delivery.

The planned AI University will build on this framework, merging Ethiopian philosophical principles with international AI standards, fostering local innovation while contributing to Africa-wide technological leadership.

Beyond AI, PM Abiy highlighted Ethiopia’s progress in infrastructure and connectivity. “Through Ethiopian Airlines, we connect people, link markets, and move goods.

To sustain this momentum, we are building Africa's largest airport, a next-generation gateway that will anchor our continent in the global value chain. Beyond aviation, EthioTelecom is expanding across Africa, bridging the digital divide, and linking our continent's future through strategic partnerships,” he said.

Framing these initiatives as essential to Africa’s future, PM Abiy concluded: “By 2033, Africa will be defined by what we secure, what we sustain, and what we share. This is our moment, and this is our responsibility.”

Ethiopia’s AI institute and forthcoming university mark the continent’s first major steps toward homegrown AI education and research, signaling a milestone in Africa’s quest for technological sovereignty, digital transformation, and knowledge-driven economic growth.

 Finally, Prime Minister Abiy reaffirmed the nation’s leadership role in shaping Africa’s technological future.