RABAT, Morocco, Feb 5 – Smart Africa, an alliance of 40 African countries representing over 1 billion people, has launched the Africa AI Council to position the continent as a key player in the global artificial intelligence (AI) economy.
The Council will bring together government representatives, private sector leaders, AI experts, civil society, and academia to drive Africa’s AI ambitions, enhance digital transformation, and improve economic competitiveness.
“Africa has a unique opportunity to shape the workforce of the future through AI-enabled industries,” said Lacina Koné, CEO of Smart Africa. “AI is not just a technology—it is a tool that, when guided by ethical frameworks and inclusive policies, can drive Africa’s digital prosperity.”
The Council will focus on fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation to ensure AI benefits all segments of society while accelerating economic growth.
The inaugural 15-member Council will be officially unveiled at the Global AI Summit on Africa, hosted by Rwanda’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) and the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, in partnership with the World Economic Forum.
Following its launch at the High-Level Meeting on Artificial Intelligence for Africa in Rabat, the Council will hold consultative sessions at the Paris AI Action Summit in February and the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in March, where Smart Africa will conduct ministerial and stakeholder engagements.
Smart Africa has partnered with C4IR and Qhala to develop the Council’s strategy and operations. Qhala, with startup funding from the Gates Foundation, is creating an AI governance toolkit, an AI talent readiness index, and a framework for the Pan-African AI Research Center to support the Council’s work.
