Somalia drives AI governance agenda with national readiness assessment

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Somalia is taking steps toward establishing a national artificial intelligence policy framework as the country deepens efforts to prepare for the responsible adoption of emerging technologies.

This was highlighted during a public talk on “Sovereign AI for Somalia,” hosted by the SIMAD University AI Institute in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister. The event brought together policymakers, academics, and technology stakeholders to discuss strategies for positioning Somalia within the evolving global AI landscape.

Speaking on the development, Advisor on Innovation and Emerging Technologies, Mohamed Shafi, noted that the Ministry of Communications and Technology, in partnership with UNESCO, is currently conducting Somalia’s AI Readiness Assessment. The assessment is expected to serve as the foundation for a comprehensive national AI policy framework to guide the country’s approach to AI governance and deployment.

The initiative is aimed at evaluating Somalia’s institutional, technical, and regulatory capacity to adopt artificial intelligence in a structured and responsible manner, while ensuring alignment with international standards and best practices.

Participants at the forum emphasized the importance of collaboration between government institutions, academia, and the private sector in shaping Somalia’s AI future. The discussions also highlighted the need for capacity building and knowledge sharing to support sustainable innovation ecosystems.

The engagement reflects Somalia’s growing focus on digital transformation and its intent to develop governance structures that can support emerging technologies in a secure, inclusive, and forward-looking manner.