A Historic Summit for the Continent
On April 3rd and 4th, 2025, Kigali hosted the first Global AI Summit on Africa. The event, organized by the Rwanda Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, has been one of the largest initiatives ever launched in Africa on this front. The summit hosted over 2,000 participants from 97 countries, including Prime Ministers, industry experts, investors, and academics, marking a crucial moment for shaping the future of artificial intelligence in Africa. The conference ended with the adoption of the Africa Declaration on Artificial Intelligence, a collective commitment to promoting the ethical, inclusive, and sustainable adoption of AI across the continent.
Rwanda: Africa’s Innovation Lab
Among African countries, Rwanda is one of the most active in promoting policies and investments related to artificial intelligence. In 2024, the country scored 51.25 out of 100 on the Oxford Insights Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index, ranking above the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 32.70. In this sense, its capital, Kigali, aims to transform itself into a technological hub that attracts capital, startups and innovators.
An Ecosystem Still Under Construction
Despite the enthusiasm, AI adoption remains limited across the continent. The scarcity of digital skills and access to data represents a structural obstacle. Infrastructure poses the greatest challenge: data centers, connectivity, and energy are crucial assets for technological development. These issues are compounded by the need for a regulatory framework to support innovation. All these factors are essential for creating a fertile ground for alternative economic and social development models focused on AI. The cities of Kigali and Nairobi are emerging as pioneers in this regard, but the challenge is continental.
Artificial intelligence could profoundly impact key sectors of Africa’s development. In healthcare, it could enable faster diagnoses and better resource management, even in rural areas. AI also has the potential to assist farmers with soil management and weather forecasting. Furthermore, AI-driven technologies may help eliminate language barriers and offer cutting-edge educational resources for individualized learning.. Finally, AI can make public services more efficient and help governments prevent crises and conflicts. In this context, the role of large tech companies is crucial as they begin to see Africa not only as an emerging market but as a laboratory for developing solutions adaptable to other global contexts. Google, Microsoft, and Huawei are collaborating with African governments to experiment with localized, linguistically inclusive AI models.
The Geopolitical Dimension of AI in Africa
It is important to highlight that AI is not just a technological issue, but rather a strategic one. The growing attention to Africa from actors such as the United States, China, the European Union, and private foundations indicates the rise of a new competition for control over digital infrastructure, machine learning models, and data flows. The Gates Foundation recently announced a $7.5 million investment to support the development of AI systems applied to public health, education, and climate resilience across the continent. This is one of the largest initiatives ever launched in Africa on this front.
An African Future for AI?
The Kigali summit marked a statement of intent: Africa does not want to be merely a testing ground but a fully aware actor in defining the rules of the global technological game. If it succeeds in building a solid, inclusive, and autonomous ecosystem, artificial intelligence could become the catalyst for a new season of growth, sovereignty, and innovation for the continent.
Sources :
https://c4ir.rw/global-ai-summit-on-africa
https://www.africaeaffari.it/ruanda-sviluppo-ia-arrivano-75-milioni-dalla-gates-foundation/
https://www.africarivista.it/il-ruanda-punta-sullintelligenza artificiale/256937/
https://entrevue.fr/it/sommet-de-lia-au-rwanda-tracer-la-voie-technologique-du-continent/