By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
African Union Commissioner
for Infrastructure and Energy H.E. Ms Lerato Dorothy Mataboge has called for an
approach to artificial intelligence (AI) that reflects Africa’s realities,
languages and ambitions as the continent faces gaps in computing infrastructure,
skills and technological capacity.
Speaking at the Forward
Africa Leaders Symposium 2026 (FALS26), Mataboge said Africa’s role in the AI
era should extend beyond adopting technologies developed elsewhere to building
solutions that respond to the continent’s needs and priorities.
“The question is not whether
Africa will use AI. The question is whether Africa will build AI that reflects
its own realities, languages and ambitions.”
The statement comes amid
figures cited by the African Union indicating that Africa accounts for just 1%
of global AI compute capacity and about 3% of the global AI talent pool.
Mataboge’s position places
African ownership, local languages, data and innovation at the centre of
discussions about the continent’s AI future.
The call highlights the
importance of strengthening Africa’s computing infrastructure and skills base
while supporting the development of AI systems that address local contexts and
expand the continent’s participation in the global digital economy.
