Africa AI Council Officially Established

In a historic move to position Africa as a strategic leader in the global artificial intelligence (AI) economy, the Africa AI Council has been established by Smart Africa— an alliance of 40 African countries representing over 1 billion people. This Council, comprising multiple stakeholders from the government, and private sector, as well as prominent AI experts from civil society and academia, will spearhead Africa’s ambitions to uniquely position itself in the AI of age.

Africa, home to the world’s youngest and fastest-growing workforce, stands to benefit immensely from the productivity gains offered by AI technologies. The continent has a unique opportunity to design the workforce of the future, driven by AI-enabled industries, thereby accelerating digital transformation and enhancing economic competitiveness.

The Africa AI Council will catalyze these ambitions, working in synergy with ongoing national and continental efforts. By aligning and amplifying initiatives, the Council aims to unlock AI’s vast potential to accelerate growth and foster inclusive transformation across Africa.

“The establishment of the Africa AI Council marks a significant step towards realizing Africa’s potential in the AI-driven global economy,” said Lacina Koné, CEO of Smart Africa. “AI is not just technology to us, it’s an African arrow that, when thrown with the right ethical frameworks and inclusive policies, can pierce the way to African digital prosperity and resilience for the benefit of every citizen.”

The Africa AI Council’s mission includes fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation to position Africa as a strategic actor in the global AI landscape. The Council will work to ensure that AI technologies are harnessed in ways that benefit all segments of society, driving inclusive growth.

The inaugural 15-member Council will be formally unveiled at the upcoming Global AI Summit on Africa, hosted by Rwanda’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) and Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation, in partnership with the World Economic Forum.

Following the announcement of the Council at the High-Level Meeting on Artificial Intelligence for Africa in Rabat, Morocco, on 4 February 2025, consultative sessions are expected to take place on the sidelines of the Paris AI Action Summit in February, and the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in March, where Smart Africa will hold extraordinary Ministerial Council sessions and broader stakeholder engagements.

C4IR and Qhala will partner with Smart Africa in developing the strategy and operationalization of the Secretariat that will run the Council.

Qhala has raised startup funding from the Gates Foundation to support Smart Africa in developing the Council’s strategic plan. It is already developing an AI governance toolkit, an AI talent readiness index, and a framework for the Pan African AI Research Center that is expected to be instrumental in the Council’s work.

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